White Oak Veterinary Service, P.C.

07/28/2025

While it’s a common equine emergency, esophageal obstruction (“choke”) can look alarming, especially if you've never seen it before. Unlike in human medicine, where choking refers to a tracheal (or windpipe) obstruction, choke in horses refers to an obstruction of the esophagus (the muscular tube that carries food from the mouth to the stomach).

Most commonly, choking occurs when horses eat concentrated feed too quickly without chewing appropriately, which results in a firm bolus lodged in the animal's esophagus. However, esophageal obstruction can also occur with hay or straw, hard treats, carrots, or nonfood objects. Poor dentition, which leads to inadequate chewing, is also a frequent cause of choke.

While common, choke can have serious consequences. So, be sure to call your veterinarian as soon as you notice signs of choke. A bad choke is fairly obvious to both veterinarians and horse owners, but a mild choke could be confused with an upper respiratory tract infection or colic.

07/22/2025

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As many horse owners start the process of planning out their fall and winter hay supply, many may be considering purchasing round bales for their equine companions due to cost-effectiveness and greater convenience for feeding pastured animals. However, it's important to remember that there are a few things to consider when choosing between square or round bales.

• Are you equipped/prepared to store your hay correctly?
Improperly stored round bales can lose much of their nutritional value and are also more susceptible to mold, dust, and bacteria growth, which can cause respiratory issues and even colic.

• Are your horses protected from botulism?
Round bales provide an optimum environment for the development of the botulism toxin. This toxin is produced when "Clostridium botulinum" is exposed to the right environmental conditions — such as when forage materials are baled and stored while still damp, or when they include the carcasses of dead animals, like birds and mice.

Prevention of this disease through vaccination is critical, especially in areas where the condition is prevalent (such as Kentucky, Ohio, Maryland, Pennsylvania, California, and Tennessee).

• Are round bales a good choice for your horse?
Horses prone to respiratory conditions usually have increased problems with round bales due to their higher dust content.

• Do you have a feeder to place your round bales in?
Round bales not placed in a feeder can create more waste, which means your horses may not be meeting their nutritional requirements.

• Can you secure high-quality round bales?
Not all hay is created equal. Be sure to choose high-quality hay to meet your horse's nutritional needs and minimize the risk of impaction colic, which increases with lower-quality, less digestible forage.

As always, your equine veterinarian remains your best source of information and advice—consult your horse doctor on best practices when feeding hay this fall and winter!

For more information on botulism, visit our website at: https://aaep.org/resource/botulism/

07/17/2025

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"I think it's in the shoulder doc!"

Picture this: You notice your horse has a lameness in the front end.
Two scenarios - it has come on over time or it has shown up overnight. In either case, it is often in the foot!

The most common cause of lameness in horses is in the foot, despite the way your horse may present the pain to you. For example, foot abscesses are capable of causing acute pain and three-legged lameness in a very short period of time. Other common instances of lameness in the front end that may be less acute are a result of changes to the navicular bone or surrounding soft tissue, changes to the coffin bone or joint, thin soles, etc.

As the old adage goes, "no foot, no horse!" and now you know why!

Additional resource: https://open.lib.umn.edu/largeanimalsurgery/chapter/lameness-diagnosis/

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

07/15/2025

Uh oh! Horses sure do get into trouble sometimes! A big boo boo for Dr. Amy to clean up and suture! Heal fast and well grey beauty! 💜💜💜💜

07/14/2025

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'Tis the season to be vaccinating your horses against Potomac Horse Fever!
Because this disease typically coincides with the onset of hot weather, in order to protect your horses, vaccination should be timed to precede the summer/fall months. Connect with a vet about the best vaccination plan for your horses. https://aaep.org/guidelines/vaccination-guidelines/risk-based-vaccination-guidelines/potomac-horse-fever?utm_campaign=coschedule&utm_source=facebook_page&utm_medium=American%20Association%20of%20Equine%20Practitioners

07/10/2025

A visitor to the White Oak Office this AM. He was released safely outside by Dr. Amy where he can grow up to be a reeeely beeeeg toad!

07/10/2025

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07/02/2025

Worth a repeat! Have a happy and safe🇺🇸 fourth of July holiday! ❤🤍💙🇺🇸https://www.facebook.com/share/p/16Rt4aCLQV/

Fourth of July Fireworks... bringing beauty and celebration AND yearly stress to horse owners EVERYWHERE. Some of our beloved equine partners don't seem to mind fireworks at all, whilst others can suffer different degrees of stress and/or panic. Horses can react to either the light flashes, the sounds or the resulting concussion, especially of the big boomers. A few helpful suggestions for horse owners.... 🐴1) Figure out where large events of fireworks are going to be legally set off in your area and the scheduled times. Neighbors are not so predictable but generally those local displays are around dusk. 🐴2) Make sure wherever your horses are kept the fences and stable areas are in good repair and remove or repair anything that a horse could run into and injure themself on. 🐴3) Horses generally do best with friends so if you are keeping your horses inside they may have less stress of they are all brought in with their buddies or turned out with their calmer friends. 🐴4) Some people find that ear plugs can help cut down the sound of the fireworks, but practice putting them in your horses' ears to see if they will tolerate them. A radio on in the barn might also distract them from the booms. 🐴5) Keeping lights on in your barn or outside lights "on" can distract horses from the flashes of the fireworks 🐴6) The resulting concussion from the big boomers also can scare sensitive horses. Having a generous supply of tasty hay and having calmer buddies all around them munching loudly can help. 🐴7) Ask your veterinarian about calming supplements and perhaps some tranquilizing medications for your really super sensitive equine pals. 🐴8) Make sure someone is home or can check on your horses until your local firework displays are over. Whoever is watching them needs to stay safe and avoid injury.... very sensitive horses may panic and react in ways you do not expect. 🐴9) Try to stay as calm as possible around your horses during the firework displays. Being sensitive creatures they can pick up on your feelings. 🐴10) Never ride during fireworks displays. 🐴11) Check out your pastures the days following the fireworks and clear away any resulting debris. 💜 🦄We hope that all our clients and their beloved pets and equine partners have a safe fourth!💜🦄 be safe... be kind...be considerate... celebrate with friends and family ....Happy Fourth!🦄🦄 ( the picture depicts "imaginary"fireworks... the safest kind of fireworks!)🦄🦄

06/30/2025

Fourth of July celebrations are this week! Fireworks! Animal lovers recoil at their mention! Some great tips on the chart from AAEP...Dr. Steve and Dr. Amy are also happy to help make suggestions for the comfort of the equine portion of your family. There are medications that may help them cope with the sights, sounds and vibrations fireworks cause. 💜Be considerate of your neighbors and stay safe!💜

06/30/2025

Poisonous plants= bad for all equines/equids

06/27/2025

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As a large portion of the country continues to experience extreme heat, it's imperative that horse owners do their due diligence to keep their horses safe and healthy during heat waves.

One of the side effects of the heat for some horses is the inability to sweat properly. This condition, called anhidrosis, is potentially dangerous for horses because it compromises their ability to thermoregulate even in weather that doesn’t seem that hot, and therefore puts them at higher risk of heat stress.

Anhidrosis is not fully understood yet; it is widespread in the hot and humid regions of the southeastern United States and the Gulf states, but it is also widely reported elsewhere during the summer and particularly during heat waves. If your horse has a high respiratory rate and does not seem to tolerate turnout on hot days, be sure to discuss it with your veterinarian.

Remember that administering unnecessary medications without consulting your horse doctor first could do more harm than good, as it puts your equine friend at risk of developing harmful side effects!

06/24/2025

A good healthy weight is a huge positive stepping stone to good health for your equine partners. Body score charts vary but this is a good baseline chart that's easy to understand. Dr. Steve and Dr. Amy are happy to help you find a good body score and weight for your equine partners and equine family members and their activity levels and individual health needs or issues💜 Call us with any questions💜