Countryside Equine Hospital

03/28/2025

🚨 Is your horse ready to get back to work? 🐴
Spring is here, and whether you’re gearing up for show season or just getting back on the trails, it’s time to think about conditioning.

In this episode of The Equine Vet Connect, Dr. Dan Carter and Dr. Zoe Latimer explain what it really takes to bring your horse back after time off—safely and smartly. From tendon strength and cardio to nutrition, terrain, and the “weekend warrior” dilemma, we’re covering all the angles.

🎧 Now streaming on our website, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and YouTube.

https://countrysideeq.com/podcast/

🎙️ Episode: “From Pasture to Performance: Bringing Your Horse Back Into Work”

🧠 Plan ahead. Prevent injury. Enjoy the ride.

From expert insights to heartfelt stories, you can find a wealth of information in The Equine Vet Connect Podcast. Give it a listen!

03/27/2025

Answer Thursday!

Y’all had some wild guesses— ranging from rolling on an antler shed to bitten by a cookie cutter shark. 😅 However, no one guessed BITTEN BY CAMEL!

🦷 Did you know that camels have four canine teeth? This wound was caused by the upper canines of a camel. Our team worked diligently to combat the infection, remove sequestered bone, and manage the complex drainage issues that come with such an injury. After several weeks of intensive, daily care at our hospital, the horse was healthy enough to return home—this time to his own pasture, free from sharing space with the camel. 🐫

03/26/2025

What's Up Wednesday? 🧐

What caused this wound on the withers and shoulder of this horse? Give us your wildest guesses and you may be right!

You won't want to miss tomorrow's post where we reveal the answer (and some more pictures) 😉

03/25/2025

Coco Chanel: Update #2- 11/22-27/24

🩺 Coco is extremely fortunate to have such a dedicated and humble team of doctors curating her treatment plan! The 4 Countryside Equine doctors, along with numerous veterinarians and specialists consulting on her case virtually, set Coco up for every chance at recovery possible. Now, the questions were raised- can she handle it? Is it fair to her? How do we manage her physical pain and psychological stress throughout this extensive process?

💊 Pain Management and Mental Health:
Despite her substantial wounds, Coco remained inquisitive and has maintained her feisty personality from day 1: greeting every horse and human coming into the barn and nickering at feeding time with a vivacious appetite. For the first two months of hospitalization, she received Flunixin Meglumine (Banamine) via IV catheter every 12 hours and Acetaminophen as needed. She was also on a maintenance dose of Trazodone orally every 12 hours. Every day we assessed her physical and mental state and adjusted our treatment plan accordingly. It was determined by her owners and our team of veterinarians that, if at any time, Coco showed us signs that she was done fighting, that we'd listen to her. She never did and never has to this day. Coco did struggle psychologically with coming in/out of her stall, doorways, and close quarters. We hypothesized that this was due to injuries sustained in her stall or during her rapid exit out of the burning barn. With every interaction, our staff worked with her to create positive experiences and help her work through this aspect of her trauma, as well. We truly believe in providing care beyond the physical aspect. After a brief period of time, as Coco became more comfortable, she was walking through her stall and doorways without cowering and her confidence grew from there.
**See the video in comments below of her greeting our staff each morning on our way into work.

🩹 Bandaging, Wound Care, and Debridement:
While Coco still looked like much of her skin was intact, the tissue she had was burnt and damaged beyond repair. Her neck and back were a giant eschar and felt like dried leather. Each day, more of her damaged skin declared itself (showing necrotic tissue that needed to be removed to allow healthy cells to replace them). For months, we spent 2 hours every single day performing the following: ivory soap baths and manual exfoliation, debriding dead tissue, lavaging deeper lesions as needed, completing additional therapies, and then rebandaging. If you take a look at the photo of Dr. Cait lasering her back, you can begin to see where her skin is splitting due to excess fluid accumulation and swelling. In our next update, you will see where we have lanced this seroma and relieved an immense amount of pressure for Coco. Her personality and comfort level changed drastically within the next 12 hours and she was able to lie down to sleep for the first time.

As always, comment with any questions for us or words of encouragement you may have for Coco and her family. Next week, we will share more of Coco’s story and healing process. See the barn fire news article link here 👉 https://www.fox5atlanta.com/news/eatonton-horse-burned-barn-fire

03/24/2025

Did you catch the podcast about Arthramid Equine that aired last Friday?
It could be a game changer for your horse’s joint health!

💜 For the treatment of joint lameness including early and late stages of OA.
💜 Proven efficacy, in multiple clinical trials across all equine disciplines.
💜 Non Pharmaceutical.
💜 No competition with-hold time (WHT).
💜 Safe to use in conjunction in intraarticular steriods.

🎙 Wanna know more? Stream the every episode of The Equine Vet Connect podcast on our NEW website here 👉 https://countrysideeq.com/podcast/

03/22/2025

Stocked and Ready! ⏰ Did you know that since opening our doors in 1991, our equine emergency service has never closed? That’s right—we’ve had a doctor on-call and ready to handle your emergencies 24/7 for 300,000 HOURS!

☎️ Call us anytime, day or night, for ambulatory ER services! 770-787-4711

Countryside Equine Hospital | We're "For The Horse" | Diagnostically Driven | Bringing You Answers | Serving the Covington, GA area for over 30 years. Independently owned & operated.

03/21/2025

🚨 Game-Changer in Joint Health! 🚨

If you’re passionate about keeping horses sound and performing at their best, this episode of The Equine Vet Connect is a must-listen! 🎙️ Dr. Dan Carter sits down with Dr. Meg Green to break down why it’s not just about cartilage—it’s all about the synovium! 🐴💡

They’re diving deep into Arthramid Equine, a cutting-edge treatment that’s changing how we manage osteoarthritis in horses (and even dogs!). From the science behind bio-scaffolding to real-world success stories, this episode will make you rethink everything you thought you knew about joint health.

🎧 Available now on our (new) website, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, & YouTube! Don't miss it!

https://countrysideeq.com/podcast/

03/20/2025

Answer Thursday!

This donkey is dealing with chronic bacterial dermatitis, which often flares up in warmer, wetter months. Increased moisture, humidity, and pesky bugs can irritate the skin, creating the perfect environment for bacteria to thrive.

Keep an eye out for signs like scabby, irritated patches, hair loss, redness and tenderness, or excessive scratching. Regular grooming, keeping their coat dry, and providing a clean environment can help prevent and manage this skin funk! As always, contact your local veterinarian with questions regarding your horse's health. 🌿🐴

Got more questions about donkey care or equine dermatitis? Drop them below! Don't forget to listen to the dermatology episode of The Equine Vet Connect Podcast! https://creators.spotify.com/pod/show/countryside-equine-hospit/episodes/The-Equine-Vet-Connect-Episode-29---Under-the-Skin-Tackling-Equine-Dermatology-from-the-Inside-Out-e30510f/a-abr40q6

03/19/2025

What’s Up Wednesday?🧐

Spring has officially sprung, and with it comes the not-so-fun side of the season—skin funk! 🌿🐴 As moisture, humidity, and bugs ramp up, donkeys can start to feel the effects on their skin. Can you guess what’s going on here? 👀 Drop your thoughts below!

03/18/2025

📣 Introducing Coco Chanel, Barn Fire Survivor
⚠️ Trigger Warning: This post contains images that some viewers may find graphic or unsettling. Viewer discretion is advised.

On the morning of November 14, 2024, seven horses were involved in a devastating barn fire in Eatonton, GA. Due to the quick action of their owner, who entered the blazing barn without regard to personal harm, six of the horses were evacuated to safety. The owners immediately called for veterinary assistance and Dr. Caitlyn McCaulley promptly arrived to provide medical assistance.

Upon Dr. Cait’s arrival to the farm, five of the six horses were evaluated and treated for minor injuries, however the sixth horse, who escaped the barn with her mane on fire, covered in ash and open wounds, was going to require much more care. After triage, Coco Chanel, a 5-year-old Quarter Horse mare, was treated for systemic shock, smoke inhalation, and burns. Initially, wound care and treatment was performed at home by the owners.

Six days later, Coco was struggling. The owners brought Coco to Countryside Equine Hospital for reevaluation where it was determined that her wounds were much more extensive than on initial presentation. Just like with humans, burn wounds in horses take days to fully mature and for the damage to declare itself.

We estimated that approximately 30% of her skin would be lost in the coming weeks. Extensive body burns of this nature on horses generally result in the horse being euthanized. Coco’s will to live and cooperative temperament set her up for success to begin the long road ahead to recovery.

For the past 4 months, Coco has been undergoing daily treatments ranging from the most primitive wound care techniques to innovative medical therapies. In this series of posts, we will cover several aspects of her care and bring you along as we witness her fight to defy the odds. 🙌🏼

03/17/2025

🍀 Lucky Us - A New Website! 🍀

We’re excited to introduce the brand-new, equine dedicated, website for Countryside Equine Hospital—and it’s officially LIVE! 🎉✨

We feel so 𝒍𝒖𝒄𝒌𝒚 to serve this amazing equine community, and now, caring for your horses is easier than ever. Our updated website is packed with helpful equine health resources, appointment scheduling, and details on our expert services.

Don’t rely on luck for great horse care—visit our new site today! 👉 www.countrysideeq.com

03/16/2025

💙 Welcome to Countryside Equine Hospital, where innovative, expert care meets compassionate service.

Available 24/7 for emergencies ☎️ 770-788-4711

03/15/2025

Have you checked out our sister practice, Countryside Animal Hospital, on Facebook? 🎉 Give them a like and follow to stay updated on adorable pet moments, helpful tips, and all things furry and fabulous! 🐶🐱

Don't forget to tag them in all your cute dog and cat posts—we’d love to see your pets featured! 📸❤️

03/14/2025

🚨 No More Scratching Around for Answers! 🚨

Is your horse dealing with mystery skin issues, stubborn scratches, or frustrating hair loss? 🐎💨 Skin problems can be more than just surface-level—they can be signs of something bigger.

In this episode of The Equine Vet Connect, Dr. Dan Carter and Dr. Caroline Brown dive deep into equine dermatology, breaking down the layers (literally!) of what makes your horse’s skin such a critical part of their overall health.

🔍 What’s Inside?
✔️ The most common skin conditions and how to spot them
✔️ Why the Southeast is a skin disease hotspot 🌴🔥
✔️ The right way to diagnose & treat persistent skin problems

🐴 Whether you’re dealing with an itchy, scabby, or downright stubborn skin issue, this episode is packed with must-know tips from the pros!

🎧 Tune in now on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or YouTube! 🎙️

https://linktr.ee/countrysidevetsga

03/13/2025

Answer Thursday!

Dr. Cait determined this horse has Nasofrontal Suture Exostosis. In this case, "suture" refers to the connections between the bone plates forming the horse's face. While often caused by trauma to the area due to injury or following surgery, suturitis can also occur idiopathically, which means "of unknown cause."

As far as treatment, Dr. Cait recommended monitoring, noting any changes in breathing, pain upon touching the area, or discharge of the eyes or nose, and anti-inflammitories as needed.

03/12/2025

What's Up Wednesday? 🧐

This horse presented for "facial swelling." After an exam, Dr. Cait discovered the cause of the lumps on this horse's face. What're your thoughts on the diagnosis??

Check back tomorrow to see if you were right!

03/11/2025

Phew! February flew by, with an impressive 221 dental floats completed by our team! 🦷

Didn't get on the schedule? Don't worry! We perform "occlusional adjustments" and sheath cleanings all year long!

📱Call or text 770-787-4711 to get scheduled!

03/10/2025

☀️ Happy Daylight Savings! Spring is right around the corner and that means foaling season!

😍 Here's just a few of our babies from last year. We can't wait to see your 2025 foals!