Southport Veterinary Services, PLLC

03/14/2026

02/17/2026

https://equimanagement.com/podcasts/the-business-of-practice-podcast/the-business-of-practice-preventing-barn-fires/?fbclid=IwQ0xDSwQBXxVleHRuA2FlbQExAHNydGMGYXBwX2lkCjY2Mjg1NjgzNzkAAR7iCqsYmsFjdBQauxFe9DievhrwdwVfH5HvtR0TnnkhvQzXhXcf-Pf9Qc9Ntw_aem_fuvhs7gIJ-lYUO69OjXZuA

In this episode, Dr. Rebecca Gimenez Husted explained how equine veterinarians can help their clients prevent barn fires.

02/13/2026

I came to a realization the other day that many people don’t know that we offer many different in house lab tests for your animal.
Southport Vet has the ability to test for:
1) Complete Blood Count(CBC)
2) Chemistry Panel
3) Triglycerides
4) serum amyloid A
5) IGG levels- newborn foals
6) Progesterone testing (equine and canine)
7) F***l examinations (large animals)
8)Urinalysis
9) ACTH and insulin via Truforma testing

Being able to offer these tests in house allows us to make faster and better informed decisions on your animals care and treatment.

Give us a call or text at 607-317-6781 or call 607-734-5755 during business hours today!

02/09/2026

News!!
We are excited to offer the ability to test your horse for Cushing Disease or Metabolic Syndrome in our own lab - in house!!
Contact us for more information!

02/09/2026

This is important now more than ever with the current cold temps.
Unfortunately, many calls the last few weeks have been animals that are down and unable to get up due to one or more of these problems.
It is better for them to have to be put down on a good day than a bad day….🥲

02/09/2026

🩸 We are sure your social media feed has posts about more positive EIA horses across the United States. As a horse owner, you have your veterinarian out for a yearly physical and dental exam, administer vaccinations, and pull blood for a Coggins test. But what is EIA?

🩸EIA is Equine Infectious Anemia, is caused by the Equine Infectious Anemia Virus. It only affects equids. Most infected horses are asymptomatic. The incubation period ranges from a week, 45 days or even longer.

Clinical Signs of Acute Infection:
🌡️ Fever
🤢 Inappetance
🪦 Sudden death

Clinical Signs of Chronically Infected Horses:
🏋🏻‍♀️ Weight loss
🐴 Ataxia/weakness
🩸 Anemia
🦵Swelling of the legs, chest and ventral
abdomen.

🩸 Once a horse is infected they serve as a lifetime reservoir for potential transmission. The most common type of transmission is vector; however, other types of transmission include iatrogenic (through contaminated needles, syringes, surgical instruments and blood transfusion from an infected horse etc.), and even reports of EIA transmission from mare to foal and stallion to mare.

🩸 Unfortunately, there is no known treatment for EIA nor vaccine for the prevention of this virus. And once horses are infected they become lifelong carriers of EIA which poses a risk of infection to other horses. The only options for an EIA infected horse is euthanasia or lifetime quarantine and isolation at least 200 yards away from non-infected horses.

🥼 What is a coggins test?
The test is named after a virologist named Leroy Coggins who developed EIA testing. A coggins test is a diagnostic blood test used to identify the presence of antibodies for EIA. EIA testing is A positive test indicates the presence of EIA-specific antibodies. The ELISA test can detect antibodies earlier than the AGID test: however, it is important to note that an AGID test be run to confirm the positive ELISA test due to the ELISA test may produce false positive results. The laboratory will report a positive test result to local state or federal animal health officials within 24 hours of the result. ElA is a regulated disease in the U.S. The animal health official will locate the positive horse, quarantine the horse, and obtain a second sample for confirmatory testing.

🩸 How do we protect horses from contracting the EIA virus?
We protect horses by practicing our due diligence when it comes to veterinary procedures, administering blood products, sterilizing surgical instruments, biosecurity measures and more.

📸: Dr. Cara Rosenbaum pulling blood on a Chincoteague Pony. Yes, they even get a yearly coggins done.

01/24/2026

Dear Southport vet clients,
Dr. Hannah is on call this weekend if you have an emergency.
We are praying that all the animals play nice Sunday into Monday during the snow storm.
If you do have an emergency (colic, dystocia etc.), please call asap.
It may take Dr. Hannah awhile to get to your place due to poor road conditions if she can make it.
Telemedicine consults will be available if needed for current clients only.
Stay warm and be safe!!

01/16/2026

01/16/2026

DO YOU KNOW HOW TO SPOT COLIC IN HORSES? 🔎

Colic indicates a painful problem in the horse's abdomen (belly), which can be caused by a number of different conditions. Less than 10% of all colic cases are severe enough to require surgery or cause the death of the horse; nevertheless, every case of colic should be taken seriously because it can be difficult to tell the mild ones from the potentially serious ones in the early stages.

Horses show signs of abdominal pain in a wide variety of ways, and usually a horse shows only a few of the signs during an episode of colic. A good rule of thumb: the more obvious the signs of pain, the more serious the problem.

If you suspect the horse is suffering from colic, we suggest that you:

• 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. Don't approach the animal if it's not safe.

• Keep the horse under close observation until the signs of colic resolve or the veterinarian arrives.

The key to increasing the chances of a good outcome is to identify the problem early and get your veterinarian involved from the start.

Please note that this is not an exhaustive list of colic signs. Horses are individuals and may display signs of pain in a variety of ways. Always consult your horse doctor for more information.

01/12/2026

Tetanus is included in spring vaccinations

Did you know horses are especially sensitive to tetanus? Tetanus is caused by a toxin from the bacteria Clostridium tetani, which lives in soil and manure. It can enter your horse’s body through wounds, hoof abscesses, or even the umbilical area in foals.

What to Watch For (note this is not an exhaustive list):
• Stiffness and trouble walking
• “Sawhorse” stance (legs stiff and spread apart)
• Difficulty eating or swallowing
• Protruding third eyelid
• Agitation
• Trismus (lock jaw)
• Muscle spasms, especially after noise or touch

Tetanus is often fatal, but it’s almost 100% preventable with annual vaccination. Even small or unseen wounds can lead to infection, so don’t take chances! It's also important to note that the vaccine takes weeks to start working, so once a wound is present the tetanus antitoxin (TAT) is necessary. However, availability of TAT is variable, so do not rely exclusively on its use.

Protect your horse:
• Keep up with yearly tetanus shots
• Clean and monitor wounds right away
• Call your vet if your horse is injured or showing any signs of illness

If you have questions or concerns about tetanus, be sure to reach out to your equine veterinarian.

01/07/2026

FOALING SEASON IS UPON US! Do you have any mares due soon? Here's what to expect when you're expecting (a foal): 🐴

If your mare has made it through 11 months of pregnancy, you're almost there. Labor and delivery, while momentous, are generally uncomplicated. However, being a prepared and informed owner will help you keep your anxiety in check so you can assist the new mother and foal get off to a great start.

Here are some things you can do to prepare for the arrival of the foal:

• Consult with your veterinarian well in advance of the birth. Know how to reach your regular veterinarian after hours and ask about a back-up or referring veterinarian in case your regular horse doctor is not available.

• Clean and disinfect the stall as thoroughly as possible. Provide adequate bedding.

• Wash the mare's udder, v***a and hindquarters with a mild soap and rinse thoroughly.

• Wrap the mare's tail with a clean wrap when you observe the first stage of labor. Be sure that the wrap is not applied too tightly or left on too long, as it can cut off circulation and permanently damage the tail.

• Time each stage of labor to help you keep accurate track of the mare's progress. Take written notes! When you're worried or anxious, your perception of time can become distorted.

As always, these are general guidelines, and you should contact your veterinarian for more information specific to your situation. Good luck!