Bristol Veterinary Service

11/20/2025

With cases of equine herpesvirus appearing in other states, it’s natural to wonder which signs to watch for and what steps help prevent disease. Good biosecurity and early recognition are key to protecting your horse’s health. 🛡🐴

To learn more about equine herpesvirus visit: z.umn.edu/ehv

11/16/2025

Scratches, also known as pastern dermatitis, is a common skin condition that affects the lower legs of horses, especially around the back of the pastern and fetlock. It often looks like scabby, crusty, or raw patches and can make the area sore or swollen.

What Causes Scratches?
• Wet, muddy, or dirty conditions
• Irritation from sand, bedding, or rough surfaces
• Bacterial or fungal infections
• Sometimes, tiny mites or allergies

What to Look For:
• Redness, swelling, or heat in the lower leg
• Scabs, crusts, or hair loss
• Horse may be sensitive or sore in the area

How to Help Prevent Scratches:
• Keep your horse’s legs clean and dry
• Avoid letting your horse stand in wet or muddy areas for long periods
• Avoid sharing wraps or boots between horses, especially without cleaning/disinfecting between uses
• Check legs regularly for early signs

How to Treat Scratches:
• Clean the Area: Gently wash the affected area with a mild antiseptic shampoo or solution to remove dirt and scabs. Be gentle—don’t scrub hard or pick at scabs.

• Dry Thoroughly: After cleaning, make sure the area is completely dry. Moisture can make the problem worse.

• Apply Topical Creams: You can use creams or ointments recommended by your veterinarian, such as those containing silver sulfadiazine or other antibacterial/antifungal agents.

• Keep the Area Protected: If possible, keep your horse out of wet or muddy conditions while healing.

• Monitor for Infection: If you notice increased swelling, pain, or pus, or if the condition doesn’t improve, contact your veterinarian.

Remember, severe or persistent cases should always be checked by your veterinarian to make sure your horse gets the right treatment. If you have questions or concerns about your own equine, contact your veterinarian.

11/11/2025

As winter approaches, it's time to revisit the topic of blanketing. Although blanketing tends to be a personal decision, blanketing a horse is necessary to reduce the effects of cold or inclement weather especially when:

🏡 Shelter access is not available during turnout periods and the temperatures or wind chill drop below 5°F. Be mindful of shelter size and herd dynamics.
🌧 There is a chance the horse will become wet from rain, ice, and/or freezing rain. Becoming wet is usually not a problem with snow.
✂️ The horse has had its natural coat clipped.
⏰ The horse is very young or very old.
🏝 The horse isn’t acclimated to the cold.
🐴 The horse has a body condition score of three or less.

If blanketing a horse, make sure the blanket fits properly. Poorly fitted blankets can cause sores and rub marks. Remove the blanket daily, inspect it for damage, and reposition it. Make sure the blanket stays dry and never put a blanket on a wet horse.

11/01/2025

Just like people, the needs of horses change as they continue to age. Join members of the AAEP Horse Owner Education committee for a wide-ranging educational presentation on how to properly care for the elderly equine in your life. Register: https://aaep.org/event/horse-owner-education-committee-webinar-preparing-your-horse-for-aging/

10/26/2025

10/14/2025

“Cushing’s disease,” or more correctly, pars pituitary intermedia dysfunction (PPID), is a metabolic condition that tends to affect middle-aged and older horses. In PPID, the pituitary gland in the brain produces an excessive amount of the hormone ACTH, which stimulates the production of large amounts of cortisol, the stress hormone.

Signs of PPID include weight loss, loss of muscle (especially along the topline), a long hair coat that does not shed out in the summer, chronic infections that seem to recur or linger (e.g., hoof abscesses), and laminitis.

In some cases, a veterinarian can diagnose PPID based on clinical signs alone, while in others, the combination of clinical signs plus a blood test measuring ACTH is needed for diagnosis. ACTH levels vary throughout the year in all horses, which can complicate the interpretation of blood tests for PPID. Most normal horses show an increase in ACTH in the fall; however, the magnitude of this increase is much higher in horses with PPID. Therefore, a veterinarian may choose to test for PPID in the fall.

The main treatment for PPID is the daily administration of a medication known as pergolide. However, there are other management considerations for horses with PPID, including special attention to dentistry, body condition, body weight, nutrition, and parasite control.

10/13/2025

Sometimes you have to replay an old one you can’t top!
🥳 PLEASE JOIN IS IN RECOGNIZING OUR STAFF 🥳 during National Vet Tech Week!
Without them (and GPS) we’d be lost.

🎉It’s national vet tech week! 🎉We like to celebrate our entire staff this week, so please feel free to offer high fives and atta girls when you see/talk to them❤️

10/09/2025

09/30/2025

If your horse has a cough that persists into exercise or is heard while your equine friend is at rest in the barn, be sure to talk to your veterinarian about evaluating your horse for respiratory disease. It could be a problem with the upper airway (the nasal passages and throat) or the lower airway (the lungs).

While waiting for your appointment, try decreasing your horse’s exposure to dust, as that is a primary trigger for lower respiratory disease such as asthma or heaves.

Some simple things you can do include avoiding straw bedding, not using a leaf blower on barn aisles, and not storing hay or bedding above your horse’s stall. Last but not least, while us humans may be more comfortable with all the barn doors closed on colder days, your horses’ lungs will appreciate open doors/windows and good ventilation!

As always, if you have questions or would like to learn more about preserving your horse’s respiratory health, your equine veterinarian remains your best source of information!
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Brought to you by the AAEP Horse Owner Education Committee.

08/29/2025

🤔 What is "Slobbers" in Horses? 🐴

If you've noticed your horse drooling excessively, it could be due to slobbers—a condition caused by a compound produced by a fungus that grows on red clover 🍀.

🔍 You can spot the fungus by checking the underside of red clover leaves—look for tiny black dots. It thrives in hot, humid weather and can affect horses grazing on fresh pasture or eating infected hay.

👉 While slobbers may look alarming, it’s usually harmless as long as your horse stays hydrated 💧.

Want to learn more? Visit our website: https://extension.umn.edu/horse-nutrition/feeding-clover-your-horse

08/26/2025