Piedmont Equine Associates

04/24/2025

WHY IS TICK CONTROL IN HORSES IMPORTANT?

Ticks are becoming an increasingly significant parasite of horses across the United States. Ticks cause localized tissue irritation, which can result in the horse constantly rubbing on trees or fences; hair coat damage; and anemia due to blood loss. Ticks also transmit a number of serious diseases including piroplasmosis, lyme disease, equine granulocytic anaplasmosis (ehrlichiosis) and equine infectious anemia. Ticks are not species-specific, so the same ticks that feed on your horse can also feed on your dog or you.

Tick prevention requires diligence to locate them on your horse and remove them; application of tick-specific repellents; and environmental controls such as reducing unmanaged ares where weeds can flourish.
Whichever repellent you choose to use, the labels should be checked to make sure they are effective against ticks, as many insect repellents are not. Products containing permethrin seem to be the most effective at tick repellency. Apply the repellent to the horse's mane, tail head, chest and underbelly before riding or turning your horses out on pasture. Don’t mix and match products without checking with your veterinarian first to make sure that they can be used together!

Mark your calendar on the day you find any ticks, as knowing the approximate time of exposure may be important in the case that your horse shows signs of illness. As always, if you have questions on tick control or the diseases they can transmit to your horses, talk to your local horse doctor!
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Source: https://aaep.org/horsehealth/tick-control-horses

04/24/2025

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.

04/23/2025

Last week Dr. Hancock had her annual visit with the advanced reproduction class with the UGA undergraduate animal sciences program. The class, along with professor Dr. Jillian Bohlen, enjoyed a tour of the hospital facilities and a demonstration of mare reproductive ultrasound and uterine lavage for a case of endometritis (intrauterine infection). They participated in discussion of the equine reproduction industry as well as a career in equine veterinary medicine.
Dr. Hancock always enjoys working with the young professionals in this class and we look forward to next year!

04/17/2025

The next star of "The Ponies of Piedmont" is... Pixie!

Pixie is owned and loved by Taylor, one of our veterinary assistants.
Name: Pixie
Breed: American Paint Horse
S*x: Mare
Height: 14.3hh
Discipline: Pixie is too talented for just one discipline; she and Taylor enjoy doing a little bit of everything together!

Pixie's special talent - having a pretty intimidating "mare stare" as pictured below.

04/16/2025

In the southeastern US with our hot and humid environment and frequent afternoon rainstorms, horse owners are no strangers to "rain rot" but there are a lot of misconceptions out there. So, we thought we'd have a Rain Rot Review!

True or False:
Rain Rot is a skin infection caused by fungus.... FALSE.
-Rain Rot is a bacterial infection caused by the bacterium Dermatophilus congolensis and thus has the medical definition of Dermatophilosis.

D. congolensis is often a dormant, commensal bacteria normally found on horse skin but under wet or humid conditions, the bacteria can take hold causing an inflammatory reaction of the skin resulting in raised scabs that may include the superficial or extend to deeper layers of the skin.

True of False:
It is important to not remove the scabs/crusts on the skin when treating Rain Rot... FALSE
-Good hygiene with regular grooming is the most important aspect of prevention. Treatment of minor cases of Rain Rot can be as easy as a few baths with an anti-bacterial shampoo to help remove the scabs. Scab removal is crucial for treatment because the scabs are facilitating a micro-environment to hold the bacteria on the skin. While the skin under the scabs/crusts may become sensitive and tender or painful to the touch, it is important to remove them. Using baths to soften the scabs can make removal easier. Severe cases may require prescription antibiotic treatment with additional topical therapies.

While all horses may develop Rain Rot, horses with lighter coat colors and those with depressed immune systems are more susceptible (e.g., horses with Cushing's Disease). If your horse is not responding to treatment as expected, skin biopsies are sometimes recommended to ensure it is not another type of skin disease with similar presenting signs (such as Pemphigus foliaceus, an auto-immune disease).

If you are battling Rain Rot with your horse and are not making progress with over-the-counter treatments, please call and schedule an appointment with one of our clinicians today!

04/15/2025

Pop Quiz! Rain Rot Review...

TRUE or FALSE:
1. Rain Rot is a skin infection cause by fungus.

2. When treating Rain Rot, it is important not to remove the scabs/crusts on the skin.

Check back for the answers and explanations tomorrow!

04/11/2025

RAISE YOUR HAND IF YOUR HORSE IS ACCIDENT-PRONE...🙋‍♀️🙋‍♂️🙈

If you own horses long enough, sooner or later you are likely to confront a medical emergency. There are several behavioral traits that make horses especially accident-prone: one is their instinctive flight-or-fight response; another is their need to establish the pecking order within a herd; and a third is their natural curiosity. Such behaviors account for many of the cuts, bruises, and abrasions that horses suffer. In fact, lacerations are probably the most common emergency that horse owners must contend with.

Do you know what to do if your horse is cut or bleeding? The initial steps you take to treat a wound can prevent further damage and speed healing, and maintaining your presence of mind could save your horse's life. Here are some general guidelines to keep in mind in case of emergency; how you will ultimately proceed will depend on your horse's individual circumstances, and on the advise you will receive from your veterinarian.

Learn more on our website at https://aaep.org/horsehealth/guidelines-follow-during-equine-emergencies
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04/10/2025

This week on "The Ponies of Piedmont" focuses on...

Bess owned by Kyla Jeffries, one of our veterinary assistants.

Name: Bess

Breed: Quarter Horse
S*x: Mare
Height: 15.2hh
Discipline: Western All Around

Bessie Boo absolutely loves Twizzlers and sour worms. She will do anything for a sweet treat!

04/08/2025

Is your horse up to date on their Spring vaccines?

Eastern Equine Encephalitis, also known as "sleeping sickness" or "Triple E", is a mosquito-borne viral disease that causes severe neurologic disease in the horse with a 90% mortality (death) rate.

Birds are the natural reservoir (source) of this disease and mosquitos transmit it to horses and humans. Horses, once infected, are considered "dead end" hosts as they are not contagious to humans or other horses and thus do not need to be quarantined.
Once infected, horses demonstrate clinical signs abruptly meaning they may appear normal one day and abnormal the next. Clinical signs include depression, loss of appetite, fever, and lethargy. They will also develop neurologic signs including weakness, muscle tremors, ataxia/incoordination, seizures, or paralysis.
This disease is diagnosed with tests of the cerebrospinal fluid as well as bloodwork.
There is no cure for this disease. Treatment is largely supportive care while the horse's immune system fights the virus. The prognosis for survival is grave, and those that survive often have lingering neurological effects of the disease.
Vector control is also an important aspect of disease prevention. Use insect repellents on your horses and eliminate mosquito breeding grounds: standing water, brush piles, etc. Empty and clean your water troughs frequently to prevent mosquito larvae from hatching into adults. Mosquito control also helps decrease the risk of other common mosquito-borne viruses such as Western Equine Encephalitis (WEE) and West Nile Virus (WNV).

Because this disease has such a high mortality rate, the AAEP recommends the EEE vaccines as a core vaccine. In the southeastern US, this means boostering the vaccine once every 6 months.
Contact us to schedule an appointment with one of our clinicians to vaccinate your horse!

04/07/2025

Meet Me Monday:

Everyone meet... Mustard! Mustard, Dr. Gabriel's newest buddy, is also moonlighting as Piedmont's newest receptionist.
He enjoys napping on the job and eating pinecones during his lunch break.

If anyone finds teeth marks or muddy pawprints on their Coggins... he wants everyone to know it definitely wasn't him.

04/03/2025

04/03/2025

This week on "The Ponies of Piedmont" focuses on...

Titan owned by Adrianna Clark, one of our veterinary assistants.

Name: Titan
Breed: Paint Sport Horse
S*x: Gelding
Height: 16.3hh
Discipline: Hunter/Jumpers/ Trail Riding/ Lawn Ornament

Adrianna and Titan (formerly Tiny) have been together for 18 years. He is now 24 years old and enjoying retirement.

03/27/2025

And on the next episode of The Ponies of Piedmont, we meet Wednesday!

Wednesday is owned and loved by Paige Gearhart, another of our incredible veterinary assistants!

Registered name: MS Bluebell Scorpio
Height: 15.3hh
Color: Grey
Breed: Quarter Horse
Discipline: Barrel Racing

Wednesday's best friend is a miniature mule named Snag also owned by Paige.

03/26/2025

Foaling season is in full swing and here are some useful tips to keep in mind as you work to raise your four-legged youngsters.

A healthy foal will grow rapidly, gaining in height, weight and strength almost before your very eyes. From birth to age 2, a young horse can achieve 90% or more of its full adult size, sometimes putting on as many as 3 pounds per day. The nutritional start a foal gets can have a profound effect on its health and soundness for the rest of its life. Research suggests that a balanced dietary approach, which supports no more than a moderate growth rate, is less likely to cause developmental problems like contracted tendons, epiphysitis, angular limb deformities and osteochondrosis.

Work with your equine practitioner to develop a total health care plan based on your foal's, weanling's and yearling's specific needs. The reward for providing excellent nutrition, conscientious care and a safe environment will be a healthy foal that grows into a sound and useful horse!

To read more about foal care and nutrition, visit our website at: https://aaep.org/resource/client-education-presentation-foal-growth/

03/25/2025

Equine Gastric Ulcer Syndrome (EGUS) has an estimated prevalence of 50-90%. Ulcers are sores or erosive lesions that form in the stomach lining. The equine stomach, while one organ, has two distinct types of mucosa: squamous and glandular, and ulcers may develop in either or both, simultaneously.

Currently, the only way of achieving a definitive diagnosis of EGUS is by gastroscopy. This is a procedure done under short-term, standing sedation and is very similar to passing a nasogastric tube as is done when a horse is being treated for colic or esophageal obstruction (choke). The horse must be appropriately fasted prior to gastroscopy to allow the stomach to fully empty and allow the entirety of the stomach lining to be visible.
If you are concerned your horse may have gastric ulcers, call us today for more information or to schedule a gastroscopy appointment with one of our clinicians!