Double JH Equine Veterinary Services

07/31/2026

Fact Friday

07/28/2026

Summer travel is really heating up! Check out these tips from to help prevent colic while on the road.

07/23/2026

Colic can range from mild to severe, but it should never be ignored. If you suspect your horse is suffering from colic:

• Alert your veterinarian immediately.
• Remove all hay and grain from the horse's surroundings.
• Don't medicate without your veterinarian's approval, as pain medications can mask clinical signs.
• Walk the horse around if it's continually rolling or in danger of hurting itself—but do not tire the horse with relentless walking.
• Keep the horse under close observation until the signs of colic resolve or the veterinarian arrives.

Be sure to review this graphic from showing some of the common signs of colic.

07/20/2026

Dr. Handlin will not be taking appointments July 24-August 2. Extra appointments are available this week.
If your horse needs to be seen, call today to get on the schedule at
903-932-3866!

07/16/2026

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.

07/14/2026

Have you ever been told to not allow a hot, sweaty horse to drink cold water because it could lead to colic, founder or tie up?
This notion is actually a myth, and a dangerous one too, because it could lead to dehydration and very serious (and real) consequences. A sweaty, hardworking horse needs to be rehydrated without delay (i.e. don’t wait for the horse to cool down first).
The key, however, is to know how much water to allow at one time — because of the equine stomach’s relatively small capacity, offer small amounts of water every 20 minutes until the horse drinks his fill rather than letting the animal drink it all at once.
Remember that water is the most vital nutrient for a horse. A horse’s daily water requirements are influenced by many factors, but the average idle 1,100-pound horse in a cool environment will drink 6 to 10 gallons of water per day. That amount may easily double or triple in a hot environment! Therefore, it goes without saying that providing cool, clean water to your horses at all times is of paramount importance.

07/08/2026

Summer is really heating up!

Keep your horse cool with these tips from the American Association of Equine Practitioners.

07/06/2026

Monday Mythbuster!

Hot weather puts horses at risk not only for dehydration and heat stress but, just like humans, the skin damage and discomfort that accompany a sunburn. Horse prone to sunburn are also at a higher risk for a cancer called squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) which is associated with UV light exposure. If your horse has reduced pigmentation (pink eyelids or pink tissue) around the eye, be sure to use a fly mask with greater than 90% UV light protection.

07/04/2026

07/03/2026

With the Fourth of July just around the corner, now is a good time to make preparations to keep your horses, farm animals and pets safe during any fireworks that will be happening in your area.