Bristol Veterinary Service

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

08/19/2025

Here's some interesting information about Polysaccharide storage myopathy (PSSM) from our friends at Rhinebeck Equine. Have you heard about this condition before? Let us know in the comments below!

"💪🏼 Last week, we discussed Exertional Rhabdomyolysis (ER) aka tying-up. We mentioned that PSSM (Polysaccharide storage myopathy) is associated with genetic susceptibility of ER.

💪🏼 What is PSSM?
PSSM is a disorder that causes muscle soreness and tying up in horses from abnormal glycogen storage in the muscles. The two types of PSSM are Type 1 and Type 2.

♦️ PSSM Type 1 is caused by a mutation in the GYS1 gene (glycogen synthase 1). The mutation causes muscle cells to produce glycogen continually. PSSM Type 1 is more commonly observed in Quarter Horses, Paints, Appaloosas and draft breeds; however, it has been documented in 20 breeds.

♦️ PSSM Type 2 occurs without genetic mutation yet results in abnormal glycogen storage in the muscles. It is still unknown the exact cause of PSSM Type 2. PSSM Type 2 is more common in warmbloods, but it has been linked to other breeds.

🩺 What are the clinical signs?
Sweating, lameness, sore muscles, weakness, undiagnosed lameness, poor performance, and muscle tremors that may occur with or without exercise. Not all horses will exhibit severe clinical signs.

🥼 How do we test for PSSM Type 1 and 2?
Testing for PSSM Type 1 requires hair samples with the roots attached to test for the GYS1 variant. Testing for PSSM Type 2 requires a muscle biopsy.

🩸 Additional testing of insulin may be warranted due to PSSM Type 1 horses are commonly more sensitive to it. Insulin causes the GYS1 gene to produce more glycogen.

💪🏼 How do we treat PSSM once diagnosis is made?
Diet and regular exercise are crucial to managing these horses. Often these horses are on a low non-structural carbohydrate (NSC) grass hay and a ration balancer. However, each horse is an individual and may need more calories which can be achieved by adding a low-NSC or high fat feed. Additional supportive care may be necessary during an active episode of tying up.

🤔 What is the prognosis?
Sadly, there’s no cure, but with dietary and exercise management horses can do well and reduce the frequency of active tying-up episodes."

If you have any concerns about your horse exhibiting signs of PSSM Type 1 or 2, talk to your veterinarian.

📸: Dr. Laura Javsicas, ACVIM, performing a muscle biopsy.

08/06/2025

🎉 Exciting News from Bristol Veterinary Service! 🐾

We are thrilled to congratulate Dr. Curran on her purchase of our small animal division, now proudly operating as Hometown Veterinary Service! 🏥🐶🐱

While we move forward as separate practices, we will continue to share the same location at 26900 75th Street, Salem, WI, as well as the phone number: (262) 859-2560, and our existing webpage for now.

Be sure to check out and follow their journey on their new page – Hometown Veterinary Service!

We are excited to watch this fledgling clinic grow under Dr. Curran’s compassionate care and leadership. Join us in wishing her and the Hometown team every success in this exciting new chapter!