Eagle Fern Equine Hospital

06/21/2025

Great information to get ready for any emergency.

Come to a Community Emergency Preparedness Event this Saturday at the Eagle Creek Grange!

06/21/2025

It's the first day of summer, and, unfortunately, wildfire season in Oregon has already started. Health advisories for air quality also apply to animals. Birds are particularly susceptible to particulates in the air.

If you need to evacuate, take your pets. Plan ahead for equine and livestock evacuation as much as possible. An evacuation order may come while you are away from home. If possible, make arrangements in advance for a trusted neighbor to evacuate your pets with them. Have a go bag for every person in your home and one for your pets.

06/21/2025

Happy first day of summer! ☀️

As the temperatures heat up, unfortunately some of our equine friends struggle to sweat properly in the summer heat, which can put them at an increased risk of heat stress.

Though there is limited evidence in regard to effective treatments for horses diagnosed with anhidrosis (the inability to sweat properly), there are a few therapies that have been proposed to help, including offering horses dark beer!

Overall, watch closely for signs of heat stress if your horse is diagnosed with anhidrosis. During the summer months, monitor your horse's response to the heat and ensure they are sweating an appropriate amount. If you have concerns about your horse's ability to sweat, please contact your veterinarian.

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

06/03/2025

"Cool" hot weather tips! ☀️

The notion that a hot, recently exercised horse needs to walk until they are completely cooled off is a myth. A 2020 study found that out of the five methods tested, the quickest way to return to normal body temperature was stationary with continuous tap water application. This doesn't mean that you should abruptly stop exercise—finish your ride or training session with a slow walk to allow your horse's heart rate and breathing to gradually return to normal, but after that your sweaty, hardworking horse should be offered a cool shower and drinking water (small but frequent amounts) without delay.

Overall, enjoy your summer rides but be aware of signs of heat stress in your horse. When heat and humidity soar, even moderate exercise can push your equine friend's body temperature beyond safe limits! Be sure to contact your veterinarian for more information about heat stroke and for recommendations tailored to your horse's individual situation.
•
Information brought to you by the AAEP Horse Owner Education Committee.

05/26/2025

05/11/2025

Happy Mother’s Day! To all the amazing moms

Happy Mother’s Day to all the amazing moms out there! 💐 A special shout-out to our AAEP members who balance the demands of motherhood with their dedication to equine care—you inspire us every day! 🐴❤️

05/07/2025

Good luck to all OHSET teams!Have a fantastic time!

04/17/2025

Recent wildfires in various regions of the U.S. have not only caused devasting losses for those directly affected by the flames but also has caused poor air quality concerns for humans and animals.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency ranks air pollution and air quality on a scale of 0 to 500. Though the ranking system is geared toward people, the classifications also apply to horses. Particulate levels begin to pose dangers to horse health when they exceed 150, especially to horses with pre-existing health concerns. At this level owners should limit riding and exercise until the smoke clears and air quality improves. An AQI value above 300 is considered hazardous.

The negative effects of smoke inhalation are not always immediately apparent and will be variable from horse to horse and the degree and type of smoke exposure. We encourage horse owners in affected areas to be diligent in monitoring the local air quality and to take extra caution with horses at higher risk of respiratory distress. Be sure to contact your veterinarian to evaluate horses showing any signs of respiratory inflammation (like coughing, respiratory distress, nasal discharge, fever).

To read more about how air quality can affect your horse’s respiratory health, please read this article courtesy of AAEP Educational Partner The Horse: https://thehorse.com/1110445/how-air-quality-impacts-horse-health/?fbclid=IwY2xjawJriohleHRuA2FlbQIxMAABHnywyLhHNAkGenfxrXnrtNBefCXytYl2LuixpjrmneO_uE3IvfHBr5Y5bJyS_aem_mI2HfZllMfpf9yiqS7EXJA

03/20/2025

Happy Spring!

Shedding season is right around the corner!

If, however, you notice that your equine friend is clinging to their winter coat longer than they should, it might be time to give your veterinarian a call — especially if your animal is 15+.

A long haircoat that fails to shed according to normal seasonal patterns is the most classic sign of Equine Pituitary Pars Intermedia Dysfunction (PPID), also known as Cushing’s disease. This disorder of the pituitary gland results in hormonal imbalances and is one of the most common diseases of middle-aged and geriatric equines.

Early diagnosis and treatment are key to helping animals with PPID live long, happy lives. Without treatment, symptoms tend to worsen over time and many equines are euthanized as a consequence of laminitis, recurrent foot abscesses or complications related to bacterial infections.

It is also important to note that donkeys and mules tend to shed later than horses, so keep this in mind before getting too worried about other underlying causes. As always, if you have concerns about if your equine companion is shedding appropriately, contact your veterinarian.

03/12/2025

Remember when your parents used to tell you to wait 30 minutes after eating before going for a swim? Unlike us, horses can actually benefit from eating forage before they exercise, as it may help reduce the risk of gastric ulcers.

While a variety of things can contribute to the development of stomach ulcers (medications, diet, stress, etc.), one train of thought is that these areas of irritation result as a consequence of the acid of the stomach splashing against unprotected parts of the stomach lining. When a horse eats forage, the hay can help absorb some of that acid and thus reduce the risk of ulcer formation.

It is important to note that a forage meal (one comprised of long stem hay) provides the most benefit, while eating large volumes of concentrate feeds (such as oats, corn, or other cereal grains) can actually increase the amount of acid within the stomach.
As always, please be sure to consult with your vet regarding further diagnostics and treatments if you have concerns that your horse may have gastric ulcers.

Brought to you by the AAEP Horse Owner Education Committee.