Lexington Large Animal Medicine and Surgery

05/20/2026

05/19/2026

We're excited and grateful to receive a North Carolina Large Animal Healthcare Enhancement Grant! The grant was funded by the NC General Assembly to assist rural large animal veterinarians in state. Several of our clients had encouraged us to apply. We are going to use the funds to help purchase a mobile cattle chute.
The presentation was made at the Got To Be NC Festival at the State Fairgrounds this past Saturday. Our whole team and family members made the trip down to accept the grant.

05/02/2026

Friday night thoughts...
I'm probably the opposite of whatever the definition of a "keyboard warrior" is.
I figured out pretty early on when social media began to be popular that I couldn't be on all the interest group pages and species message groups. I tried it early on and quickly realized that I'd be up all night, every night, trying to correct all the improper veterinary advice given and other rumors and misinformation put out there.😅
If you're one of our regular clients, we're happy to discuss whatever hot veterinary topic that's being discussed in Facebook groups. We'll also answer questions about discussions and rumors about the practice and our veterinarians. We'll only discuss what's out there publicly; if the person posting has revealed details, we can discuss those.
Way back when I started the practice, my intent was to build a sustainable large animal veterinary practice to serve livestock and equine owners in the region. I'd planned on being in it for the long haul; that's matured into a mission to make sure the practice can continue to serve the region well into the future, hopefully long after I'm gone.

We've been blessed beyond measure to have wonderful clients, families, farms and stables that have enthusiastically supported us for over 33 years.(some since literally the first day)

An even greater blessing has been the incredible team of similarly minded professionals that I work with every day. We all share the same mission. Everyone of them bring talents that make us stronger and more effective. I've been very deliberate about the talented folks I've invited to work with us. Deby has managed the office(and done about every other job at one time) for 32 years. Dr. Cole began shadowing in the practice when she was in high school. I've known Dr. Fulton pretty much her whole life. Our CVT Becca was a horse crazy 15 year old client when I met her. Our 2 newer CVT's, Gracie and Sydney started with us while they were in tech school; we realized pretty quickly they were a perfect fit. I can't adequately express how proud I am of all of them.🥹 I also can't properly explain how much they love what they do; its truly what drives them to do such incredible things everyday! We're not a big corporate owned veterinary practice turning over employees every week. We're each individually invested in our community and its critters.

Over the years I've had long time clients ask why I don't work for this or that particular person. I usually answer, "not specific to any person but you know there are only a few reasons:
1. They don't pay(seems obvious😅)
2. They flagrantly don't listen or follow medical advice resulting in suffering of their animals
3. They lie about or misrepresent what we've done.
4. They repeatedly ask us to break or bend laws or rules regarding medications or regulatory work
5. They mistreat the veterinarians or staff"

Number 5 has moved more to the forefront in recent years.

We work 24 hours a day, 7 days a week for our clients. I witness the hours, blood, sweat and tears they shed. I know they work evenings when they're not even on call, shorten days off by working a couple hours and miss time with family and friends. I put up with a lot of sketchy behavior from clients when I was on my own, but there's no way I'll allow my team(family) to be treated badly.
We're a fairly small circle: veterinarians, farriers, farmers and trainers. We share a lot of the same struggles. We hear who never has their horses caught, who didn't pay for their last load of hay, the horse that stomped them while its handler played on her phone, who made inappropriate comments. None of us like people that crap on our friends.
That's about the end of my epistle🙂. Just know we love and appreciate you and all your critters. I'll be happy to discuss next time i see you.

🐄🐎🐑🐐
Dr. Mark

As always, our mission: We at Lexington Large Animal Medicine and Surgery are dedicated to promoting the health and well-being of a diverse population of farm animals. We value our place in the community, serving to nurture a local food supply, building lasting relationships with our clients and mentoring the next generation of animal care professionals

04/04/2026

Re-upping this from 10 years ago. Seems like a simpler time.

Nevertheless, if you're seeking Hope, I can point you in the right direction! Happy Easter!✝️🌅

Easter= redemption, rebirth, hope, faith, wonderment, renewal. I see "Easter" everyday. Yesterday was especially powerful. I spent a few minutes with friends around a cow chute, discussing a loved one that we were missing. Later I cried with a brave young man as we watched his lifelong furry friend ease into the beyond. Certainly our eyes were misty and our hearts pained for a moment, but we smiled also. Hope. New life is bursting forth everywhere. Verdant pastures and grainfields. Emerging from the desolation of winter this amazing world around us is renewed. Don't get caught up in the arrogance of the "smartphone, Google world". We know a lot; but we don't know everything! (I know, as a scientist, I'm not supposed to admit that) Look around! Be amazed! The intricacies and interactions of the living creatures around us are incredible. Believe in something bigger. My wonderful extern and I finished our day with a caesarean section on a nanny goat, introducing two new lives into the world. Once again, a powerful testament to the complexities of the living creatures around us. I know where my faith abides. I know where my hope comes from. I see " Easter" everyday!
Hebrews 11.1 Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see. Luke 24:6 He is not here; he has risen!
Happy Easter All!

02/26/2026

02/21/2026

02/18/2026

02/02/2026

Here we go again! The office will be CLOSED Monday, February 2nd. Clients can contact us for emergencies at 336-787-4934. You can leave a message on the main line and we will return your call when we are able. We anticipate being open Tuesday morning, so it would be better to hold your scheduling and medication calls til then. Thanks

01/31/2026

Many of you that have foaled a mare remember me going over the 1-2-3 guidelines with you!

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.

01/29/2026

Many ot you have had one of your horses experience an esophageal choke, and you'd attest that its a stressful experience!!😬

Don't panic! Just call and we'll talk you through it☺️