Alliance Equine Health Care

08/11/2026

Fall is just around the corner, which means it's time to start planning your horse's seasonal vaccines!
As the seasons change, we recommend staying up to date on:

F/R (Flu/Rhino)
PHF (Potomac Horse Fever)

Keeping your horse vaccinated is one of the easiest ways to help protect them from preventable diseases and keep them healthy throughout the fall season. Appointments are filling quickly, so don't wait to get on the schedule!

Call Alliance Equine Health Care at (610) 942-9866 to schedule your horse's fall vaccination appointment
today.

08/07/2026

🐴 August is Itchy Pet Month! 🐴

Does your horse seem extra itchy this time of year? While a little scratching is normal, excessive itching can be a sign that something more is going on.

Common causes of itching in horses include:
🐜 Insect bite hypersensitivity (sweet itch)
🌾 Environmental or contact allergies
🦠 Skin infections
🐛 External parasites, such as lice or mites
🧴 Dry or irritated skin

Signs to watch for include:
• Excessive rubbing on fences, trees, or stalls
• Hair loss or broken hairs, especially along the mane and tail
• Scabs, crusts, or sores • Thickened or irritated skin
• Persistent scratching or biting at the skin

Early treatment can help prevent skin damage and keep your horse more comfortable.

08/05/2026

National Work like a Dog Day!!

We think some of the hardest working individuals are people who care for horses. We salute all of you who spend countless hours in the barn, no matter the weather or the time of day, to make sure your horses are well cared for!

Equine veterinarians certainly fall into the category of hard workers! Being an equine vet can be a really tough job, and in recent years the number of individuals interested in becoming equine veterinarians has really dwindled. That’s the reason our team has been making a concerted effort to show veterinary and pre-veterinary students just how great equine medicine CAN be when you have wonderful patients to work on and wonderful clients to work for, like we do.

Thanks to our clients for being patient, interested, and welcoming to the students who have been riding with us this summer. Hopefully we can all show these bright young people that being an equine veterinarian is a great career, even though you do sometimes have to work like a dog!

07/30/2026

If you feel hot, your horse feels even hotter.

Horses have a much harder time processing heat and humidity than humans. And among horses, foals usually cannot handle as much heat as adult horses. A mare may be fine, but her foal may be getting sick from being out on a hot day.

Horses with heavy muscling or excess fat or in poor condition will also be more susceptible to heat exhaustion. Keep in mind that exercise is a major source of body heat and strenuous work on a hot, humid day can lead to problems in a short period of time for even the best-conditioned horse.

Does this mean you should not ride on a hot and humid day? Not necessarily. It just means you should take precautions and use common sense. And remember: don't push it! If your horse looks tired, it’s time for a drink, a cold bath, and a break in the shade.

07/27/2026

Now Offering Equine Gastroscopy!

We're excited to announce that our veterinary team is now equipped and trained to perform gastroscopy right here in the field.

Gastroscopy is the only way to definitively diagnose Equine Gastric Ulcer Syndrome (EGUS) and allows us to directly examine your horse's esophagus, stomach, and upper small intestine.

Gastric disease is incredibly common in the equine population, especially in horses that travel or compete frequently. Although gastric disease may be very uncomfortable for your horse, the symptoms of gastric disease can be very subtle. Signs that your horse may benefit from a gastroscopy include:

• Poor performance
• Weight loss
• Decreased appetite
• Behavioral changes
• Girthiness
• Recurrent mild colic
• Poor body condition

If you think your horse may be showing signs of gastric ulcers, contact our office to learn more or schedule an appointment!

07/23/2026

Equine asthma is a breathing problem caused by inflammation in the airways. It can range from mild to severe, but across all forms, one thing matters most: reducing dust and irritants in the horse's environment.

What many owners think of as "dust" is more than just visible dirt. It can include bacteria, mold and fungal spores, mites, endotoxins, and other tiny particles that trigger inflammation in the lungs. Some of the worst particles are actually too small to see.

The key is the horse's breathing zone - the air right around the nose. Dust in that area matters much more than dust elsewhere in the barn. Even a stable that looks clean can still have harmful tiny particles in the air.

Common dust and irritant sources can include:
• Hay
• Bedding
• Sweeping or mucking stalls
• Barn blowers
• Round bale feeding
• Very dry, windy conditions
• Pollens or other allergens
• Unusual triggers like nearby manure piles, chemical sprays, chickens, or certain bedding materials

Management often focuses on lowering dust exposure:
• Reconsidering hay and bedding
• Using wood shavings
• Feeding a pelleted diet or hay cubes
• Soaking hay
• Steaming hay correctly
• Considering haylage
• Avoiding round bale feeding in horses prone to severe asthma

Note that medication may help control inflammation or open the airways, but there is no replacement to environmental management. Long-term improvement depends on reducing dust in the horse's environment, especially in the breathing zone.

If you have questions or concerns about your specific equine, contact your veterinarian.

07/21/2026

National Lost Pet Prevention Month is a great reminder that identification isn't just for dogs and cats—horses can benefit from microchips, too!

A permanent microchip provides a reliable form of identification if a horse is ever stolen, displaced during an emergency, escapes fencing, or is separated from its owner.

✔ Permanent identification
✔ Quick and simple placement
✔ Helps verify ownership
✔ Valuable during natural disasters and emergencies

While halter tags can break or be removed, a microchip stays with your horse for life.

Talk to our team about whether microchipping is right for your horse!

07/17/2026

07/15/2026

Today is National Pet Fire Safety Day🚒🔥

Barn Fires are horrible and tragic, yet unfortunately common occurrences, which all horse owners fear. When a fire gets started in a barn it can spread rapidly because of the fuel that is readily available- straw, hay, wood shavings, and plenty of dust. Animal fatalities often occur as a result of these fires.

The most common causes of barn fires are electrical system failures and spontaneous combustion of damp hay. Summer is a high risk time for barn fires to occur, because of the heavy use of electrical devices (fans) and the presence of newly harvested and often wet hay.

To help reduce barn fire risk:

⚠️Store freshly cured or wet hay OUT of the barn until it has completely dried. If this is not possible, monitor newly baled hay for excessive heat buildup

⚠️Inspect your electrical wiring regularly. Moisture, ammonia, and rodent activity can result in damage to barn electrical wiring.

⚠️Utilize electrical devices that are rated for barn or agricultural use.

⚠️Keep all electrical equipment and machinery well maintained and inspected

⚠️Avoid storing flammable materials within the barn when possible. Remove dust and cobwebs.

⚠️Keep fire extinguishers easily accessible.

A few simple preventative steps can protect your horses, your barn, and everyone who works around them!

07/10/2026

World Zoonoses Day

Zoonotic diseases are illnesses that can spread between animals and people. While the risk is generally low with proper precautions, awareness helps protect both horses and those who care for them.

Common equine zoonotic diseases include:
• Rabies
• Salmonellosis
• Ringworm
• Leptospirosis
• Anthrax (rare)
•Clostridial Enteritis

Practicing good hygiene, wearing appropriate protective equipment when needed, vaccinating horses, and working with your veterinarian are important steps in reducing disease risk.

Healthy horses help support healthy people.