Laurel Oak Equine Veterinary Services

06/19/2025

🥵 It is HUMID! And this means we are asked, “Is it too hot to ride?”

👍 Per the American Association of Equine Practitioners: When outside temperature + relative humidity =150 or above, it's hard for a horse to keep cool because their ability to sweat is compromised — especially if the humidity contributes to over half of the 150.

💧 Provide access to plenty of clean water. Check water levels regularly as it's a good way to monitor water intake & refresh the water supply. One may consider providing an additional water bucket containing electrolytes or administering oral electrolytes.

☂️ Make sure horses in turnout have access to shade so they can escape the sun.🌞

💨 Airflow is key for stabled horses. Open doors/ windows and utilize fans whenever possible, but be sure that wires are not causing additional hazards.

🐎 Try to ride during the coolest hours of the day. If it's unavoidable, keep your mid-day rides short. A horse maintains normal temperature in hot weather by moving heat through the muscles and out through the skin in the form of sweat. Horses that cannot sweat, known as anhydrosis, will usually overheat.

🚿 Post-ride: help your horse cool down quickly by hosing his neck & chest first with cool water. Then hose the whole body, sweat scrape, and hose again.

👁️ Keep an eye out for symptoms of heat stress and contact your veterinarian immediately if you notice:
-Labored breathing and/or rapid respiratory rate
-Above normal temperature at rest
-Unusual sweating (too much or too little)
-Decreased appetite
Just to name a few.

🐴 Special care should be taken of foals and horses with heavy muscling, excess fat or are in poor condition. In some cases, one might consider clipping horses that still have a long hair coat.

⛑️ Maybe over these next couple of days consider unmounted barn activities such as organizing and restocking your first aid kit. Or double checking you have the required paperwork for the next horse show. Or just being with your horse.

🐎 Simply, be attentive to your equine partner and your own needs during this heatwave. Be safe!

06/15/2025

Happy Father’s Day from the Laurel Oak Equine family!

Wishing all of the dads out there a very happy ! Thank you for putting up with our horse obsessions and supporting our dreams! A special shout-out to our AAEP members who balance the demands of fatherhood with their dedication to equine care—you inspire us every day! 🐴❤️

06/14/2025

As the temperatures rise and the sun stays out longer, make sure your equine friends are adequately protected from harmful UV rays. ☀️

Hot summer weather puts horses at risk not only for dehydration and heat stress but also the skin damage and discomfort that accompany a sunburn— just like humans.

A lot of equestrians love some chrome on a horse, but it's important to remember that those beautiful white markings and the non-pigmented pink skin underneath are more likely to suffer from sunburn, especially in areas where the skin is more sensitive — like around the eyes and the nostrils.

In addition to the pain and discomfort, horses that are prone to recurrent sunburn may also face other long-term consequences, like the increased likelihood of developing squamous cell carcinoma (a common cancer).

If your horse is susceptible to sunburn, contact your veterinarian for more information about sun damage and recommendations to keep your equine protected this summer.

06/11/2025

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.

Source: Equus Magazine and AAEP member Dr. Anthony Blikslager. More information about offering a horse water can be found at https://equusmagazine.com/horse-care/offering-a-horse-water-after-exercise-8622

06/11/2025

HOW AND WHY DO HORSES GET ULCERS?

Equine gastric ulcers can affect any horse of any age. Up to 90% of racehorses and 60% of show horses, as well as non-performance horses and even foals are affected by equine gastric ulcers. Gastric ulcers result from the erosion of the stomach lining due to a prolonged exposure to the normal acid present in the stomach.

Unlike ulcers in humans, bacteria do not appear to cause equine gastric ulcers. Instead, this condition is often a man-made disease. Stall confinement alone can lead to the development of ulcers. A horse’s feeding schedule and high-grain diets can also contribute to the development of ulcers.

Stress, both environmental and physical, can increase the likelihood of ulcers, as can hauling, training, and mixing groups of horses. Strenuous exercise can decrease the emptying of the stomach as well as the blood flow, thus further contributing to the problem.

The treatment and prevention of gastric ulcers is directed at removing these predisposing factors, therefore decreasing acid production within the horse’s stomach. Prevention of ulcers is the key in helping your horse, as neutralizing the production of stomach acid is nature’s best antacid.

Please note that the only way to definitively diagnose ulcers is through a gastroscopy. An equine veterinarian should always be consulted in any case of suspected gastric ulcers to determine the best course of action and treatment for the individual horse.

06/06/2025

06/03/2025

"Cool" hot weather tips! ☀️

The notion that a hot, recently exercised horse needs to walk until they are completely cooled off is a myth. A 2020 study found that out of the five methods tested, the quickest way to return to normal body temperature was stationary with continuous tap water application. This doesn't mean that you should abruptly stop exercise—finish your ride or training session with a slow walk to allow your horse's heart rate and breathing to gradually return to normal, but after that your sweaty, hardworking horse should be offered a cool shower and drinking water (small but frequent amounts) without delay.

Overall, enjoy your summer rides but be aware of signs of heat stress in your horse. When heat and humidity soar, even moderate exercise can push your equine friend's body temperature beyond safe limits! Be sure to contact your veterinarian for more information about heat stroke and for recommendations tailored to your horse's individual situation.
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Information brought to you by the AAEP Horse Owner Education Committee.

05/30/2025

05/26/2025

On this Memorial Day, we make time to remember and honor those who made the ultimate sacrifice to defend our freedom and democracy.

📸 U.S. Army photo by Staff Sgt. Dana Clarke

05/11/2025

Happy Mother’s Day to all the amazing moms out there! 💐 A special shout-out to our AAEP members who balance the demands of motherhood with their dedication to equine care—you inspire us every day! 🐴❤️

04/30/2025

Here's another great question that was posed on our recent "Ask the AAEP Horse Doctors" post:

Are oral supplements better than joint injections?

Anything you give to your horse needs to be carefully evaluated for if it lives up to the claims it is making.

Oral supplements are not required to have studies that prove their marketing claims. That being said, some companies have invested in outside research and can provide you with peer-reviewed published research.

Products approved by the FDA (including some injectable joint medications) have to prove safety and effectiveness and can only market based on proven claims. There are many injectable products that are not FDA approved, however, so they should also be questioned for research on safety and effectiveness.

Make sure you are spending your money on a product that is backed by research as there are a lot of unproven options out there.

Before starting any supplement or medication, it is important to know what change you expect to see. It's recommended to evaluate your horse before you start and then again after 30 days. Do you see the change that the product said you would? If yes, continue on. If no, it's time to work with your veterinarian and decide on a potential new plan.

04/23/2025

April showers bring…

…the increased risk of your horse developing a skin condition like rain rot, a contagious bacterial skin disease (often mistaken for a fungal condition) called dermatophilosis which is caused by the bacterium "Dermatophilus congolensis.”

How does rain rot happen?
The organism responsible for rain rot lives in the outer layer of the skin; if the skin is compromised by too much moisture or cracks, or if the horse has a weaker immune system, it’s easier for the pathogen to activate and establish an infection that causes from pinpoint to large, crusty scabs (pro tip: Your horse will NOT thank you for picking at them!).

Why should you not mistake rain rot for a fungal disease?
Antifungal medications and topicals have no effect on the bacteria responsible for rain rot, therefore diagnosing the condition correctly is critical! If left untreated, the condition can even progress to a point where it opens the door for more serious, secondary skin infections. It’s also important to note that this organism is contagious and may be passed to other horses by tack, equipment or insects, therefore disinfection of equipment is vital to prevent spread.

If you suspect your horse has rain rot, be sure to consult your veterinarian on the best treatment plan. While there are a million over-the-counter products available, your horse doctor may have cause to prescribe a specific course of action based on the severity of your horse's case.