At The Farm Mobile Veterinary Service, Inc.

03/26/2026

Spring is here! And with that comes a warning about Leptospirosis, a disease caused by infection with Leptospira bacteria.

All dogs are at risk of leptospirosis, regardless of age, breed, lifestyle, geographic location, time of year, and other factors. The following situations can increase that risk:

➡Exposure to or drinking from slow-moving or stagnant water sources, like ponds, rivers, lakes, or streams
➡ Roaming on rural properties (because of exposure to potentially infected wildlife or farm animals or urine-contaminated water sources)
➡ Exposure to wild animals (especially rodents) or farm animals, even if in the backyard
➡ Contact with other dogs (such as in urban areas, dog parks, or boarding or training facilities)

For more information on the signs of leptospirosis, how to prevent it, and more visit: https://bit.ly/4rHvtrq

03/26/2026

This is my favorite thing to do as a vet!

03/18/2026

Happy St. Patrick's day!

02/17/2026

Did you know that February is ? 🦷

Your equine's dental health is an essential part of their overall health and well-being. Therefore, it is imperative that your veterinarian perform AT LEAST one dental exam on your horse per year to ensure that their teeth, gums, and other oral structures are healthy. Poor dental health can also have adverse effects on other areas of the body if not addressed.

This graphic offers a quick overview of things you might not know about equine teeth and tooth wear.

If you're interested in learning more about equine dentistry, check out the recording of the webinar for horse owners that was presented last week on the topic of dentistry here: https://youtu.be/ABqWu9XMAi8?si=_O-L_OGFbyfaIh3p

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

If you have questions or concerns about your horse's dental health, contact your veterinarian.

02/12/2026

Massachusetts law requires that dog and cat owners vaccinate their pets for rabies, but a recent recall is impacting some of those vaccinated pets.

02/12/2026

Many people think of donkeys as hardy, low-maintenance “small horses.” However, while they have similarities, donkeys are a completely different species and, as such, have a different physical, mental, and emotional makeup.

Here are a few things to keep in mind while caring for our long-eared friends during the colder months:

❄️ Donkeys are more sensitive to changes in temperature than their equine friends. You can help by making sure that they have shelter from wind and precipitation, ensuring they have a good body condition, offering adequate food and water, and checking their temperature during freezing weather.

❄️ Donkeys grow winter coats differently than horses do. Although they may grow thicker coats, they are generally not water resistant or as insulating as a horse's coat in the winter. This makes it even more crucial that donkeys have access to a dry shelter so they can stay warm.

❄️ Being stoic animals, donkeys often don't show signs of hypothermia until they are very sick.

Remember that every animal is different depending on age, breed, and other health conditions, so be sure to talk to your primary veterinarian to address any concerns or questions!

This information is brought to you by the AAEP Horse Owner Education Committee.

📸 Dr. Iris Foote

02/12/2026

🛡️Protecting California from invasive pests is a team effort! Look out for New World Screwworm (NWS) flies and maggots.

🪱Screwworm maggots eat living tissue after burrowing into wounds. Signs of screwworm maggots in birds and animals include agitated conduct, head shaking, a foul odor, and maggot-filled wounds.

☠️ NWS is excruciating and can be fatal. Always check animals after traveling abroad. If you think your animals may have NWS, get in touch with your state veterinarian.

📰Learn how you can help by recognizing the signs of an infestation and reporting it.

https://plantingseedsblog.cdfa.ca.gov/wordpress/?p=29232

02/12/2026

We call this body condition scoring!

I don’t count calories, I count cats. 🐱

02/12/2026

02/05/2026

02/05/2026

FOALING SEASON IS UPON US!

Are you ready to assist your broodmare? Here are some tried and true guidelines to remember during foaling:

• Unless there's an emergency, allow the foal time to break the fetal membranes. Once the foal breaks through, be sure it’s breathing.

• Generally, it’s not recommended to cut or break the umbilical cord. If it has not broken during delivery, it will usually break when the mare or foal gets up.

• Encourage the mare and foal to rest as long as possible. Give them an opportunity to bond undisturbed.

• Following birth of the foal, the mare and her newborn should be monitored for normal breathing, brightness and alertness. The mare should be non-aggressive, curious and accepting of the foal.

• The foal should stand and nurse within two hours of birth. If the foal has not nursed within three hours, call your veterinarian. The foal may be weak and in need of assistance or medical attention.

• By the third hour, the mare should pass the placenta, and the foal should pass meconium. Once the placenta has been expelled, examine it to make sure it is intact, particularly at the tips of the horns. The afterbirth will be Y-shaped and should have only the hole through which the foal emerged.

• A foal must receive colostrum (the mare's first milk) within the first eight to 12 hours of life in order to absorb the antibodies. If a foal is too weak to nurse, it may be necessary to milk the mare and give the colostrum to the foal via a stomach tube.

Contact your veterinarian to learn more so you can be prepared to help the new mother and foal get off to a great start! If your mare and foal are not meeting these milestones in the appropriate timeframe, call your vet immediately.