Bristol Veterinary Service

08/08/2024

An oldie, but it’s that time of year again.

Slobbers is a well-known mold problem in red clover. Rhizoctonia leguminicola is the mold responsible for black spot disease in red clover. This mold produces the toxin slaframine, which causes slobbers. Slobbers can occur after eating affected clover in pasture or hay. Horses with slobbers can fill several five-gallon pails with saliva in one day. Although not deadly, if your horse has slobbers, make sure they have free access to water to prevent dehydration. For more information on slobbers and feeding clover, visit https://extension.umn.edu/horse-nutrition/feeding-clover-your-horse

02/08/2024

Happy Friday!

18/07/2024

The summer heat and sun won't be letting up any time soon, so make sure your equine friends are adequately protected from harmful UV rays. ☀️

Hot summer weather puts horses at risk not only for dehydration and heat stress but also the skin damage and discomfort that accompany a sunburn— just like humans.

A lot of equestrians love some chrome on a horse, but it's important to remember that those beautiful white markings and the non-pigmented pink skin underneath are more likely to suffer from sunburn, especially in areas where the skin is more sensitive — like around the eyes and the nostrils.

In addition to the pain and discomfort, horses that are prone to recurrent sunburn may also face other long-term consequences, like the increased likelihood of developing squamous cell carcinoma (a common cancer).

If your horse is susceptible to sunburn, contact your veterinarian for more information about sun damage and recommendations to keep your horse protected this summer.

15/07/2024

Bristol Veterinary Service is sad to notify the horse community that Dr. Borri is dealing with recent medical issues that will take him out of the clinic for 2-3 months. Calls will be scheduled with our two associate veterinarians until his return. We thank you for respecting the family’s privacy during this time. Please contact the clinic with any concerns or needs that you have. Thank you for your patience and understanding.

27/06/2024

Puppy fever! These babies are English Mastiffs and at 7weeks most weighing ~14lbs!

18/06/2024

Endless cuteness welcomed to the Bristol family!

18/06/2024

Bristol Veterinary Service is excited to announce that we will now be offering veterinary spinal manipulative therapy (VSMT) for equine and canine patients. Veterinary spinal manipulative therapy is a neurology-based healthcare modality that is used to restore normal movement to joints. It can be used as a complementary therapy in a variety of situations including but not limited to: maintenance of healthy animals, unexplained lameness, incontinence, and much more.
In the spring of 2024, Dr. Tamara Baranczyk attended and successfully completed the most rigorous and only true certification program in the country offered by the Healing Oasis Wellness Center in Sturtevant, Wisconsin. Following completion of the program, Dr. Baranczyk also completed and passed the competency examination offered by the College of Animal Chiropractic (CoAC) to become a fellow of the CoAC.
If you are interested in scheduling an appointment with Dr. Baranczyk or have questions about VSMT, please call the clinic at 262-859-2560. We look forward to seeing you and your four-legged friends!

06/06/2024

Wagging on wheels with these cuties!

04/06/2024

We apologize, but due to the fact that we are in the process of changing our software program, we have found that not all reminders are being sent out to our clients. If you think that your pet(s) is/was due for a visit, please call the clinic and we will be happy to help you out. Thank you for your understanding.

31/05/2024

05/05/2024

BUG SEASON IS HERE!

Besides being very irritating, it's important to remember that some of these insects can spread infection and disease to your horse (and, in some cases, to you as well). Therefore, a smart strategy is to control the problem before it gets out of hand and minimize populations from the beginning.

The attached infographic contains some suggestions to get you started. Please keep in mind that there are many variations of these suggested programs that will still meet the same goals and follow the same principles.

As always, reach out to your veterinarian for recommendations suitable for your horse’s specific situation!

19/04/2024

Happy Friday!!

18/04/2024

We are aware of the neurologic form of EHV-1 in Florida, and we are monitoring the situation closely. Currently there are two known cases in Florida from a single private facility in Ocala which is quarantined with restricted movement and ongoing oversight of the state veterinarian’s office. Due to concern that horses at the World Equestrian Center (WEC) may have been exposed, the WEC has recommended increased biosecurity measures to keep horses safe.

Although there is no evidence that the EHV-1 outbreak in Europe is linked to the cases in Florida, because horses from Europe are commonly imported into the United States, horse owners should increase monitoring of any horses that have recently traveled to horse shows or were exposed to horses that have traveled.

We would like to remind everyone to be mindful of biosecurity particularly when traveling. Equine Herpesvirus (EHV-1) is spread from horse to horse through contact with nasal discharge or spread as aerosol droplets. Horses can also contract the virus by coming into contact with contaminated surfaces such as stalls, water, feed, tact, transport vehicles, handlers etc.
Because of possible exposure that can occur at shows, we recommend the following biosecurity precautions.

Always stay up to date on the latest alerts in your area, by signing up for email subscriptions: https://bit.ly/2MOD21cor by checking the EDCC website www.equinediseasecc.org

16/04/2024

13/04/2024

: Unlike humans, horses don’t have collarbones. Their shoulders are held to the rest of their skeleton via a sling of muscles and ligaments instead, often referred to as the “thoracic sling.”

Why is this important? We often ask our equine athletes to perform complex movements that require tremendous strength and coordination, and horses carry the majority of their weight in their front end. Therefore, it is imperative that the bulk of the muscles that support the front end are kept healthy and conditioned, and the horse is trained to use their “motor” — that is, engaging the large hind end muscles as much as possible to avoid excessive weight bearing on the front end.

If the front end of the horse is consistently overweighted or not at an appropriate level of fitness, repetitive biomechanical stresses get transferred down the leg to the smaller ligaments and tendons that were not designed to bear this weight, which can then lead to injury.
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Brough to you by the AAEP Horse Owner Education Committee

11/04/2024

Keeping your equine friend healthy at horse shows starts with biosecurity! The Equine Disease Communication Center and US Equestrian have teamed up to create FREE biosecurity how-to videos for horse owners.
Watch to learn:

• Pre-competition prep: Learn essential steps to take before you even leave home.
• Staying safe during the show: Discover practices to protect your horse while competing.
• Post-competition care: Ensure a smooth transition back home.

Plus, get tips on developing an isolation plan!

Click the link to access the videos and safeguard your equine partner: https://equinediseasecc.org/news/article/Biosecurity-How-To-Videos

15/03/2024

Puppy love in full swing! ❤️

08/03/2024

Bristol Vet is happy to announce we are offering banding to all kids, lambs and calves 35days old and younger for $5 each. We have new Lidobands which provide local anesthetic for up to 48days. This makes the banding process more comfortable for your livestock.

06/03/2024

Abruptly putting a horse on pasture can lead to colic or laminitis. Here’s advice to help avoid health problems.

04/03/2024

Happy puppy Monday from these cuties!

23/02/2024

Happy feathered Friday!
Chickie here was attacked by a hawk and lived to tell the tale. Check out her before and after pictures!

16/02/2024

New members with hooves and paws.

09/02/2024

Welcome to Bristol Vet ❤️

23/01/2024

Is your horse’s nighttime vision better than your daytime vision?

When comparing equine vision to human vision, the horse has a smaller visible spectrum (see image) which means they see a smaller range of colors than we do. However, horses have a structure in the back of their eye—called the tapetum lucidum—that humans do not have. This enhances vision in low light conditions and allows a horse to see better in the dark than a human does. However, reflections from the tapetum lucidum can also blur images and lead to poor depth perception at night.

Dilation of the pupil allows all species to see better in the dark. This process takes longer in a horse (45 minutes) than it does in humans (25 minutes). So when a horse is asked to do something in a dark environment, it’s important to allow their vision proper time to fully accommodate.

Overall, the nighttime vision of a horse is better than the nighttime vision of a human. However, the horse’s nighttime vision is NOT better than the daytime vision of a human. Anytime you are asking your horse to function in a dim light situation, give them time to adjust. And if they are fearful, be patient and try to understand how things look from their perspective!
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Brought to you by the AAEP Horse Owner Education Committee

19/01/2024

Some cute new members to the Bristol gang!

12/01/2024

Due to the weather and driving conditions we will be closed for the remainder of the day. As always we will be available for Equine Emergencies.

Stay safe and warm everyone!

12/01/2024

Jax braved the snow for his appointment today!

12/01/2024

Helpful Horsey Hints for the Upcoming Cold

❄️ Keep these helpful tips in mind when managing horses during this week's cold snap. ❄️

⏰ Maintain your normal schedule if possible. Research from Virginia found that an increase in colic episodes following adverse weather was a result of sudden changes in management and not the weather itself.

⚡️ Energy needs for a horse at maintenance increase about 1% for each degree below 18°F. For example, if the temperature is -18°F, a 1,000 pound idle, adult horse would need approximately 4 additional pounds of forage (e.g., hay) daily. It is best to provide the extra energy as forage since heat is produced from the microbial fermentation of forage.

🏡 Horses must have access to shelter from wind and moisture. A horse’s hair coat acts as insulation by trapping air, but when wet, the insulating value is loss.

💧 Water should be kept between 45 to 65°F to maximize consumption. Most adult horses require a minimum of 10 to 12 gallons of water each day. Horses should always have access to fresh, clean water. Check water sources often to ensure they have not froze.

🧤 Take care of yourself! Protect yourself from the cold by wearing multiple layers of coats and pants. Ensure the outer layer is wind and waterproof. Additionally, wear insulated, waterproof boots; warm gloves; a winter hat; and a scarf or neck gaiter to cover your face.

For more information on winter care, visit https://extension.umn.edu/horse-care-and-management/caring-your-horse-winter