Beretta Equine Veterinary Services

04/14/2026

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03/10/2026

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IT'S MUD SEASON! 🌧️ DO YOU KNOW WHAT CAUSES A HOOF ABSCESS?

The scenario is all too familiar for many horse owners: yesterday your horse was sound, but today you find him three-legged lame, with no apparent injury. What could have happened? Well, you say, my horse is likely working on a foot abscess. But what does that actually mean?

Although most commonly seen during the wet winter and spring months, hoof abscesses can plague horses year-round and usually occur when debris and bacteria enter the foot through hoof cracks and wounds, even horseshoeing holes. The bacteria then get trapped between the sensitive laminae (the tissue layer that bonds the hoof capsule to the coffin bone) and the hoof wall or sole and create pus; the pus builds up over the course of time and puts pressure behind the hoof wall or sole, until it causes the sudden onset of acute lameness when the pain finally becomes too great.

The diagram below shows a simplified view of the equine hoof to help you visualize the structures involved in this process.

Hoof abscesses can mimic other more serious diseases or injuries, so involving your veterinarian early on in the diagnosis and prompt treatment of this condition is always a good idea. Some abscesses will be uncomplicated and rupture on their own like a large pimple at the coronary band or heel bulbs; other abscesses, however, could require radiographs and will need to be surgically drained.

03/09/2026

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01/27/2026

Chilly day for a tumor removal. We won’t have to worry about flies bothering the incision. The roads in long creek are still a work in progress. Hope Long Creek gets their power back soon.
Side note, the Gauge coffee shop is open. Their bagels are delicious and the coffee made my day☕️💕

01/15/2026

Attention:
Unfortunately, due to Verizon Outages, I am unable to receive phone calls. Please text or WhatsApp and I will continue to check my messages as soon as possible.
Thank you for your understanding
Dr Beretta

12/27/2025

Maude and Frank 💕

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Maude Shope and her mule, Frank, appear in Foxfire Book 2. Maude got Frank when he was just 18 months old, and by the time this photo was taken around 1972, they had been together nearly 30 years—Maude in her 80s and Frank about 32.

Living in rural Macon County, NC, Maude rode Frank to Otto for groceries and sometimes as far as Franklin. She raised pigs, kept a few cows, and shared years of stories and hard-earned lessons about Appalachian living with Foxfire students.

“I never did try t’drive a car. My mule is th’way I got around. Used t’ride him t’Otto [North Carolina] t’get groceries. I’ve drove him all th’way t’Franklin and back years ago. ’Course you couldn’t do it now. There’s too many cars on th’road. I’ve had him since he'uz eighteen months old. He’ll be thirty-two in February. You can drag wood with him—anything y’want t’do. He’ll do any kind of work you want done. Yes, sir. He’s something.”

-Maude Shope, Foxfire Book 2

11/27/2025

If you weren't able to join the live EHV-1 Updates webinar last night, be sure to take advantage of our on-demand recording. Please remember that the situation is evolving rapidly and the best place to get up-to-date information is the Equine Disease Communication Center's website, or ask your local veterinarian!

You can find the recording here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0XzuuYmIEQY

Thank you to our speakers for joining us and providing all of this invaluable information.

11/27/2025

11/21/2025

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11/20/2025

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What is Equine Herpesvirus (EHV)?

You've probably heard it called Rhinopneumonitis, a respiratory tract disease that results in "snotty noses," but EHV is more than that. Depending on the strain, this virus can also cause abortion in broodmares, and equine herpesvirus myeloencephalopathy (EHM) — the often-deadly neurologic form of the disease.

Because EHV is endemic in many equine populations, most mature horses have developed some immunity through repeated natural infection. However, they remain a source of infection for other susceptible horses, like weaned foals and yearlings, who usually display symptoms of the respiratory form of the disease in autumn and winter. Performance and show horses are also more vulnerable to the disease, as they commingle with unfamiliar equines in close quarters while under stress from travel and competition.

Proper biosecurity protocols can help reduce EHV outbreaks and other disease transmission. A variety of vaccines are also available for protection against both the respiratory and abortive form of the disease, but there is no equine licensed vaccine at this time that has a label claim for protection against the neurologic form (EHM).

Consult your primary equine veterinarian to learn more about this disease and work with them to determine the optimal vaccine protocol for your horses.

You can learn more about all three forms on the Equine Disease Communication Center's website here: https://equinediseasecc.org/infectious-diseases

11/20/2025

Two positive cases of Equine Herpesvirus Myeloencephalopathy have caused the cancellation of the remainder of the Barrel Futurities of America (BFA) World Championship. The event was scheduled to run Nov. 17-22 at Lazy E Arena in Guthrie, OK.

Read the Equine Disease Communication Center (EDCC)'s latest update here: https://equinediseasecc.org/news/article/Barrel-Futurities-of-America-Suspends-Oklahoma-Event-Due-to-EHM-Positives

11/20/2025

Helpful info about EHV1