Tufts Veterinary Field Service

10/31/2024

We had a friendly little costume competition this morning....
Happy Halloween from TVFS!

10/29/2024

As the Cummings School continues to grow, so do we! Please welcome the newest member of the TVFS team, Zachary Paige, as a Client Relations Assistant! That's right, you'll hear a new friendly voice answering your call these days, and we're excited to be growing our support staff to better serve our clients and our clinicians. We thank you in advance for your patience as we are training and shuffling duties around over the coming months.

Zach is a graduate of Gordon College with a B.S. in Biology and Music. He is a native of Northeast CT and is excited to work with Tufts and help service the area he grew up in. In his free time you can find Zach training for and racing 5ks, half-marathons, and full marathon, as well as working on his barista skills with an espresso machine. In January, he will tie the knot with his fiancée, Marly.

09/18/2024

Have you heard of the barber pole worm?

This is an internal parasite of sheep and goats. It causes internal blood loss, or anemia, by attaching to the lining of the stomach and ingesting the blood of the host animal.

This worm loves heat and humidity, making our recent weather the perfect storm for disease. With this, we've seen a large surge of anemia cases in sheep and goats due to barber pole worm. Unfortunately, severe anemia often leads to death.

The best way to stay on top of this worm is by frequently checking the color of the lower eyelids of your sheep and goats, called FAMACHA scoring. If their color becomes lighter than normal, this indicates a need for deworming.

Selective deworming, or only deworming those who need it, is the best method of parasite management. Routine deworming makes these worms, and other worms, resistant to common deworming drugs.

These are very basic recommendations, and parasite management looks different for every herd or flock. Call us to schedule a specific, tailored-to-you parasite consultation!

09/11/2024

Just this week Eastern Equine Encephalitis was confirmed in a horse in CT. There have also been equine cases in Maine and New Hampshire this season, as well as two cases of West Nile Virus in NY. Due to the high prevalence this year, we are recommending boosters for any horses that were vaccinated before May 1!

If you have any questions, or if your horse needs a booster please give us a call.

https://www.nbcconnecticut.com/news/local/horse-in-connecticut-tests-positive-for-eee/3382984/?_osource=SocialFlowFB_CTBrand&fbclid=IwY2xjawFOiJdleHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHa6bex-2Wf1adbVp3M3w1h0v51zKnVCzOFdnfA1up2EwIXKSejCPJ6Oy2A_aem_tvjf7w1xAx1kRN8i-YQCHw

A horse in Connecticut has tested positive for EEE, marking the state’s first case of the disease in a domestic animal this year. The Connecticut Department of Agriculture said EEE, or Eastern equine encephalitis, was detected in a 23-year-old unvaccinated gelded horse in Fairfield County. Officia...

08/30/2024

TVFS will be closed through Monday’s Labor Day holiday. As always a veterinarian will be on call for your emergency needs, though we hope our clients and patients have a lovely and safe few days ahead. Enjoy the long weekend all!

07/22/2024

Welcome Dr. Savannah Coslett, the new Tufts Veterinary Field Service Intern!

Savannah Coslett was born and raised in Brooklyn, New York. She spent weekends riding horses and competing in hunter jumper shows throughout the Northeast, eventually moving to Massachusetts to work with horses full-time. She then attended Smith College, where she earned her Bachelor’s degree in Anthropology with a minor in Chemistry. Outside of the classroom, Dr. Coslett worked in an organic and polymer chemistry lab and spent time rock climbing on and off campus. Dr. Coslett earned her Doctorate in Veterinary Medicine from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. While in Wisconsin, she discovered a passion for dairy and small ruminant medicine. Some of her professional interests include equine imaging and lameness, ruminant internal medicine, technical large animal emergency rescue, and dairy production medicine. Dr. Coslett enjoys spending her free time solving crossword puzzles, watching reality TV, and hiking with her dog Winnie.

07/17/2024

Congratulations to Dr. Trevor Copes on finishing your yearlong internship with TVFS! Our clients, faculty and staff thank you for your ever positive attitude, willingness to jump into anything thrown your way, support of every team member, and compassion for your patients. Good luck on your next adventure--we wish you a bright future ahead and will miss you! Don't be a stranger!

07/10/2024

Families continue to grow here at TVFS 👶🏼 Dr. King and her family welcomed baby girl #2 last week! Join us in welcoming little Caroline to the world💜

07/02/2024

🇺🇸⚾️🇺🇸🌭🇺🇸 HAPPY 4TH OF JULY 🇺🇸🍉🇺🇸🌽🇺🇸

A note from the AAEP regarding holiday 🎆 festivities and our 🐴 equine 🐎companions. Please call the office today or tomorrow with any questions, drug refill requests, etc.

We will be ***CLOSED on Thursday, July 4th*** however a veterinarian will be on-call as always for your emergency needs.

The Fourth of July is almost here, and many horse owners are concerned about how their horses might react to loud fireworks. 🎆

In the graphic below are some tips to keep your pets and equine companions safe during the festivities.

If your horses are staying out overnight, now is a good time to check fencing and look for any hazards like rocks, branches, or holes that could lead to injury if an animal starts running. If you have a high level of concern about your horse's response, consult your veterinarian about the appropriateness of calming agents and sedatives in advance.

No matter what your plans are, please remember to practice safety and be considerate of the people and the animals living around you so everyone may enjoy the celebration.

Thank you to our Horse Owner Education Committee for providing this information.

06/25/2024

Our TVFS family had a blast celebrating Dr. Ward down the aisle this past weekend! Congratulations to Adam & Ryan 🩵💚 We wish you so much love and happiness as you start this next chapter together!!

05/31/2024

04/24/2024

We still have several seats available for the Equine Client Dinner on May 29th! Please use the link below to RSVP if you'd like to join us, or share the link with someone you know may be interested!

https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/EquineClientDinnerRSVP

04/13/2024

Between March 26th and April 4th, sixteen dairy herds were diagnosed as having avian influenza in their cattle in the United States. The herds affected were in Idaho, Michigan, Ohio, Kansas, New Mexico and Texas.

Signs of decreased milk production, thick milk, anorexia and abnormal manure were observed in lactating cows and 10-20% of the lactating cattle in each herd were affected. Herd level milk production was observed to decrease by about 10% and most herds recovered previous production levels over the course of the next two weeks. No mortalities have been reported to be part of this avian influenza infection in cattle and no new cases have been reported in the United States since April 4th.

The clinicians at TVFS are following this disease outbreak closely and are available for questions if you have any concerns about this disease affecting your herd. We have compiled a summary flyer with more detailed information, available upon request by email to [email protected].

04/10/2024

Our support staff team is growing this spring, with the addition of Large Animal Tech, Courtney Doda! You will likely hear a new voice on the phone and welcome a friendly face facilitating various equine appointments as she takes on this new role with TVFS. Please help us welcome her to the team!

Courtney grew up in Rhode Island where she participated in local 4-H groups, went to county fairs with her chickens and rabbits, and competed with her horse, Ellie. She decided to pursue her passion of caring for animals and her love of horses and received her bachelor’s degree in Equine Business Management at Johnson & Wales. Courtney continued to gain experience in the industry by working at local barns, grooming at horse shows, completing a study abroad trip to Germany and more. After graduating, she started working as an equine vet tech at an ambulatory practice. She also obtained her MA riding instructor’s license and taught riding lessons and coached at horse shows. Courtney has recently moved to Connecticut where she is excited to be able to have her horse Felix and mini mule Cupcake at home. After work and on weekends Courtney enjoys spending time with her two dogs Henry and Oliver, gardening and competing in local dressage shows.

04/06/2024

Check out what we’ve been up to!

A collaboration between Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine at Tufts University and UMass Chan Medical School, supported by a grant from the National Institutes of Health (NIH), has led Cummings School's Dr. Rachael Gately and Dr. Heather Gray-Edwards from UMASS to explore sialidosis in sheep.

Using Dr. Gately’s particular interest in assisted reproductive techniques — including knowledge of semen cryopreservation, embryo collection, and embryo transfer in sheep and cattle — and Dr. Heather Gray-Edwards research in human genetic neurologic diseases, they are exploring the possibility of treating sialidosis in the generation of a new CRISPR/Cas9 sheep model of sialidosis.

Read more: https://vet.tufts.edu/news-events/news/exploring-sialidosis-sheep

[📸: Anna Miller, Tufts University]

03/14/2024

Don't forget to vote on your top two topics to be presented at the Annual Equine Client Dinner on May 29th!

**Voting closes Friday, March 15th at 5pm**
https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/YY8YFWH

Formal invitations to register for the event will be sent by email in the next two weeks.

03/10/2024

A horse recently tested positive for Equine Infectious Anemia in Windham County. This is the disease we test for when we do a Coggins Test. There is no vaccine for this disease and the facility is currently under quarantine. The AAEP has some great resources on Equine Infectious Anemia that we want to share.

https://aaep.org/horsehealth/equine-infectious-anemia

https://aaep.org/sites/default/files/Documents/Outside%20Linked%20Documents/DiseaseFactsheet_EIA%20Cobranded.pdf

FROM THE WINY RADIO NEWSROOM: Windham County Horse Confirmed Positive for Equine Infectious Anemia

HARTFORD, Conn. — Connecticut Department of Agriculture’s (CT DoAg) State Veterinarian, Dr. Jane Lewis, DVM, MSFS, DACVPM, announced today a confirmed case of Equine Infectious Anemia (EIA) in a six-year-old Quarter Horse in Windham County. The diagnosis was confirmed by the National Veterinary Services Laboratories (NVSL) on March 7, 2024.



Other horses on the premises have been placed under quarantine for 60 days and will be tested at regular intervals; there is no immediate risk to other premises in the region. State Veterinarian Dr. Lewis said, “The infected horse did not display any clinical symptoms at the time of testing for EIA. This horse was an unqualified import that had entered Connecticut without meeting the requirements of a negative Coggins test and a Certificate of Veterinary inspection issued by a licensed and accredited veterinarian within 30 days of entry. There is an on-going U.S. Department of Agriculture and multi-state investigation to determine the source of infection.”



EIA is an infectious and potentially fatal viral disease transmitted from horse to horse by large biting insects such as horseflies and deerflies. It may also be spread through re-use of medical equipment such as syringes and needles that have been contaminated with infected blood from a positive horse.



Clinical signs of Equine Infectious Anemia vary widely but may include fever, weight loss, anemia, swelling in the limbs, and weakness. However, not all horses infected show signs of illness, and these animals serve as carriers. Any horse confirmed positive for EIA must be quarantined and isolated from all other horses for the remainder of its life, although most are usually humanely euthanized. There is no vaccine or treatment for the disease.



Diagnosis of EIA infection is available through a blood draw, known as a Coggins test, to test antibody levels in the blood. It is required that any horse being imported into Connecticut obtain an official interstate health certificate within 30 days prior to entry and a Coggins test stating that it has been tested and found to be negative within a period of 12 months prior to entry. Routine testing is important to determine the status of horses in an area and prevent the spread of disease.



“As equine owners schedule spring wellness visits, this confirmed diagnosis serves as a reminder that in addition to recommended vaccines, each horse should have a current negative Coggins test along with health certificates required for inter- and intrastate travel,” said State Veterinarian Dr. Lewis. “This is especially important for those who have plans to transport horses off-premises, whether that be for competitions or trail rides where they will encounter other horses.”



5 Reminders for Equine Owners to Prevent EIA infection:

Require proof of a recent negative Coggins test at the time of purchase or for newer horses entering the premises.
Only participate in events that require evidence of a negative Coggins test
Practice good fly control
Use sterile needles and syringes for all injections or treatments
Disinfect any surgical or dental equipment thoroughly between horses.


Equine Infectious Anemia is a reportable disease and must be communicated to the State Veterinarian at [email protected] or 860-713-2505.



For more information about Equine Infectious Anemia, visit the Equine Disease Communications Center or American Association of Equine Practitioners.

02/27/2024

Don’t forget to join Drs. Gately, Uden and Berger tomorrow night for some new small ruminant and camelid content!

Come join Dr. Rachael Gately, Dr. Alex Uden, and meet one of the new kids on the block, Dr. Julia Berger, for some new topics of discussion and our first ever camelid talk!

Join the Meeting
https://tufts.zoom.us/j/98156875646...
Meeting ID: 981 5687 5646
Passcode: 372098

02/15/2024

Come join Dr. Rachael Gately, Dr. Alex Uden, and meet one of the new kids on the block, Dr. Julia Berger, for some new topics of discussion and our first ever camelid talk!

Join the Meeting
https://tufts.zoom.us/j/98156875646...
Meeting ID: 981 5687 5646
Passcode: 372098

10/20/2023

We’d like to take a moment to send a HUGE note of appreciation to our techs, Jen and Cassidy, for their dedicated efforts and support of our clients, students and clinicians! TVFS would not be able to function without your knowledge, hard work and loyalty. Thank you for all you do!

Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine proudly celebrates the 30th anniversary of National Veterinary Technician Week, October 15–21, recognizing the outstan...

09/19/2023

Feel good post coming atcha! Dr. Wilkinson was greeted by some friendly furry helpers at her chiropractic adjustment appointment today. Great way to start the day🌞!

08/10/2023

The number of animals we are seeing affected by parasites this Summer is the highest it has been in years! The high volume of rain and elevated humidity has created the perfect environment for Haemonchus contortus (ie- Barber Pole Worm). Our sheep and goat populations are doing all they can to survive this "Worm Armageddon", but they need our help! Be on the lookout for weight loss, pale mucous membranes (the tissue below the eyeball is the best place to check as seen below), and weakness. If the disease process caused by these worms is noticed early, we can usually treat them with a deworming protocol, but more advanced cases can require advanced interventions such as blood transfusions. Look out for your four legged friends in the coming weeks!

08/07/2023

You may have already seen her friendly face at a call, or heard a new voice answer the phones--please officially welcome our new Large Animal Vet Tech, Cassidy Narkawicz!

Cassidy has been passionate about large animal management from a young age. She fostered her passion through her adolescence, dedicating her time to her local Equine 4-H club, FFA chapter and showing her horses on the local breed circuits. She has spent over a decade managing equine training facilities, and recently expanding into equine reproductive management in her time with the UCONN horse program.

She is excited to join the TVFS team and work with such a diverse community of farms and other clients. She is excited to expand her knowledge in bovine and small ruminant reproduction care with us. She looks forward to making a positive difference in the lives of not only the animals but their owners at our practice.

In her free time Cassidy enjoys spending time with her family, gardening, training her riding clients and working with her horse.