Haymarket Veterinary Service

06/24/2025

A quick reminder that July 4th is right around the corner! 🎇🧨

We want to make sure you are prepared to keep your equine friends calm during any fireworks or festivities. Please give the office a call if you need any medications or would like to chat about recommendations to make it a safe holiday!

The office number is 703-754-3309

06/19/2025

The hot weather is coming 🔥The heat index next week is climbing up, so now is the time to chat about keeping our horses safe and comfortable.

Tips and recommendations for keeping horses hydrated and cool:
-always provide clean and fresh water
-add flavor like Gatorade or a handful of senior grain to water to entice drinking
-add daily electrolytes, a sprinkle of salt on grain, or electrolyte paste dosed orally
-allow access to water in small increments throughout the ride or just after finishing
-continuous cool water hosing is the fastest way to lower body temperature

Always trust your gut on the temperature/humidity when deciding whether to ride!

06/18/2025

If you ever find a sharp object in your horse’s foot, resist the urge and DO NOT pull it out! Call us immediately!

See this great post from the AAEP to read more.

Puncture wounds in the foot qualify as medical emergencies, due to the amount of vital structures just beneath the sole that can be physically damaged and/or contaminated with bacteria when they are penetrated by a sharp object.

If your horse steps on a nail or other sharp object and it remains embedded in the hoof, resist the temptation to pull the nail out and consult with your veterinarian first. Leaving the nail in place will allow the vet to take x-rays of the foot before removal, which helps to identify exactly what structures have been penetrated, and to plan the most appropriate strategy for dealing with the situation.

If your veterinarian advises, carefully remove the nail to prevent the horse from stepping on it and driving it deeper into the hoof cavity. As you remove it, be sure to mark the exact point and depth of entry with tape and/or a marker so the veterinarian can assess the extent of damage. Apply antiseptic to the wound, and wrap to prevent additional contamination while you wait for your appointment.

Penetrating hoof wounds can be extremely serious and shouldn’t be underestimated. The prognosis for successful recovery depends on quick action to identify the path of the nail, treatment of potential infection and mechanical damage to the foot, and proper aftercare. As always, consult your horse doctor for more information and advice!

06/08/2025

Case of the Week!

Meet Chip! He is a beloved member of Ride-on Ranch team, and unfortunately underwent an enucleation of his left eye this week.

HVS was called out several weeks ago and found that Chip was suddenly unable to blink with his left eye. A full physical and neurologic exam gave him the diagnosis of left-sided facial nerve paralysis for an unknown reason. The facial nerve is crucial in many motor and sensory functions of the face, one of which is controlling the blink response which is very important for protecting the eye. Many times this is temporarily caused by a trauma or pressure from a halter under anesthesia, none of which applied to Chip. The team was puzzled but hoped with supportive care and protecting the eye that function would quickly return.

Dr. DeArmas placed a temporary tarsorrhaphy, using several sutures to temporarily hold the eyelids shut until his body could heal. Unfortunately, Chip still developed a large and deep corneal ulcer that caused immense pain and was going to be difficult to treat.

Ultimately, the team decided the best and least painful option for Chip was to remove the eye. Dr. Smith and LVT Charlotte performed a standing enucleation this week on the farm—this procedure is done with heavy sedation and many nerve blocks to numb the area, so Chip did not have to undergo general anesthesia. He was the perfect patient, and the surgery went smoothly.

Send Chip and his family all of your thoughts and prayers for a speedy recovery!

06/06/2025

Dr. DeArmas catching up on medical records with the help of a long-eared friend!

05/28/2025

Congratulations to the newest addition to the practice! The HVS team has waited many months for this cutie’s arrival, so we thought we could share their story.

We met Rose late last fall to confirm whether or not she was pregnant with an unknown timeline of breeding. Because of her smaller size (too small to palpate rectally) and hesistance to be handled, we tested her blood for hormones present during pregnancy—it was positive, and levels suggested she was later in gestation. Donkeys have similar gestation length to horses but also can go much longer, up to 14 months!

We used the ultrasound trans-abdominally to see that her fetus had already turned to position itself for birth, which can happen in the last 3-4 months of gestation. Then was the waiting game! Because of her owner’s diligence, we returned every 2-4 weeks to check the fetus’ heart rate and activity and to examine Rose to make sure the pregnancy was healthy. Every check showed good news, and we got to help Rose learn to trust veterinarians.

Rose foaled a healthy filly this morning! She and her baby passed the new foal exam with flying colors ❤️ They have a lifelong home with a fantastic owner, and we can’t wait to see this little one grow up!

05/23/2025

Announcement!

With the upcoming holiday weekend, we will have more limited hours. The office will close at 2pm on Saturday, 5/24 and reopen at 9am on Tuesday, 5/27.

On call veterinarians are available for any emergency needs during this time!

Happy Memorial Day!

05/15/2025

Happy Thursday! We hope everybody is staying dry this week and getting to enjoy time with their 4 legged friends 🐴

Pictured are LVT Megan’s adorable duo, Dasher and Jimmy!

05/08/2025

See this post from AAEP with a good reminder of what things we need to see ASAP vs what can wait!

05/07/2025

🌟Just 3 days to go! Cloverleaf’s 19th Annual Ride to Thrive Horse Show is happening this Saturday at Frying Pan Farm Park!

We want to thank this year's Blue Ribbon Sponsors:
EY
GHD Group
Haymarket Veterinary Service
Our Giving Circle

Your support helps make this special event possible, and we’re so grateful for your commitment to our mission!

05/02/2025

It’s the last official day of Spring Special! To celebrate, our team is taking a well deserved break, and the office will be CLOSED on Saturday, 5/3. As always, on call veterinarians will be available for any emergencies.

Thank you to all the clients and patients for a fabulous spring wellness season!

02/16/2025

Photo dump from our clinic event last night! We celebrated a fantastic 2024 year with a big spread of food and drinks, great gifts, and many laughs 🎉

Thank you to all of our clients and their 4-legged family members for being the reason we all do the jobs we do! We are so looking forward to 2025 👏

Stay tuned for a post about our 2025 Spring Special…it’s starting very soon 🤞