Country Care Equine Veterinary Services, P.A.

06/03/2026

05/25/2026

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.

05/07/2026

It's MYTHBUSTER time! 🔎

The core vaccinations for every horse, regardless of their travel status, include Rabies, Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE), Western Equine Encephalitis (WEE), West Nile Virus (WNV), and Tetanus.

Unfortunately, mosquitoes, bacteria, and rabid animals do not discriminate when it comes to infecting horses. Whether a horse is in a freshly bedded stall, wide open pasture, or on show grounds, mosquitoes can potentially infect your horse with life threatening diseases such as EEE, WEE, and/or WNV.

Tetanus is a common clostridial bacteria present in the dirt and can infect a horse who has never left its home just the same as a horse who shows every weekend if it doesn't have proper vaccine status.

Rabies is a 100% fatal disease once clinical signs are present and is easily transmissible to humans and other animals both at home and on the trails.

It's also important to note that different regions in the U.S. may have additional "core" recommendations so be sure to ask your veterinarian what is best for your horse!

Want to learn more about vaccinations? Visit our vaccination chart on our website here: https://aaep.org/resource/adult-horse-vaccination-chart/

Thank you to the Horse Owner Education Committee for providing this information!

05/06/2026

Cold/compression systems can be beneficial for controlling swelling and inflammation but may not be readily available to most horse owners, and the cost of these units is often substantial.

For cooling, simple cold hosing using cold tap water from a garden hose for 10-15 minutes once to twice daily can be beneficial in some cases, is cost-effective, and is readily available. This may be most helpful in cases of acute swelling. Ice therapy can be effective as well. Some individuals fashion large ice buckets out of items such as fluid drums, fill them with ice water, and have the horse stand with the legs submerged for a period of 10-15 minutes. This provides rapid cooling, but care should be taken to avoid prolonged exposure. Patient tolerance is also variable using this method.

For compression, a standard bandage may be useful, especially in the acute phase. There is debatable efficacy of topical application of “sweat” wraps. Historically, DMSO and nitrofurazone were commonly used. While these products are still used, there are also other topical products such as magnesium sulfate paste that can be applied. Veterinary insight is important because there are numerous over-the-counter topicals available, but very few have any established efficacy and some can be quite irritating to the skin, especially if there is any topical wound involved.

Movement is often beneficial for decreasing swelling as well. This may take the form of light hand walking for 10-15 minutes a few times per day or the use of a walker. Veterinary insight is important to ensure that there are no underlying issues that may be perpetuated by light exercise. It is also important to bear in mind that in some cases with chronic limb edema and cellulitis, some degree of enlargement/swelling of the leg may persist despite treatment. Sometimes this is not necessarily performance-limiting but may be more of a cosmetic concern. Working with your veterinarian will help to ensure the best possible outcome.

04/30/2026

Happy Thursday!! The BEST part of the job!!! Helping to create a life!! ♥️🥰

04/29/2026

Have you heard of the Madigan Squeeze?

The Madigan foal squeeze is a veterinarian-performed technique that uses a soft rope arranged in a specific way to apply steady, snug pressure around a newborn foal’s chest/ribcage. Many foals respond to this firm pressure by lying down (“flopping”) and entering a quiet, sleep-like state (slow-wave sleep).

It’s used as an aid for foals with neonatal maladjustment syndrome (“dummy foal”), and it’s also used in healthy foals (typically < 3 days old) to make procedures like plasma administration, ultrasound exams, or other minor procedures easier and less stressful. The squeeze is usually maintained for about 20 minutes (generally limited to 20–30 minutes) while the foal’s breathing, heart rate, and mucous membrane color are monitored.

After the squeeze, the rope is released, and the foal is allowed to stay down or get up on its own. For maladjusted foals, the team then observes alertness and nursing behavior; in some cases, the squeeze may be repeated every 2–4 hours if needed.

Important safety note: this is not anesthesia, and a foal can arouse and kick, so it should only be done by skilled clinicians. It’s not recommended with suspected rib fractures, respiratory distress, septic shock, severe prematurity with floppy chests, severe neuromuscular disease affecting breathing, or congenital anomalies.

If you have questions or concerns about your own foal, contact your veterinarian.

📸 Photo courtesy of Pine Ridge Equine Hospital

04/05/2026

Trying to get any work done can be a challenge. I appreciate the moral support, but seriously… 😂🐈‍⬛

03/20/2026

Gotta love a Friday funday! Blaze was such a character. He sure is personality plus. Totally made my day!! 😁💖

03/20/2026

🌼🌼🌼SPRING has SPRUNG🌸🌸🌸 ..which means it's time for your horse's annual health care. These vaccines listed below are just the “core” vaccines which every horse should receive. Other vaccinations to consider depending on what you use your horse for, would be the EHV, Influenza, Strangles, and Potomac Horse Fever vaccinations. If you have any questions on which vaccines are best for your horse just let us know and we are more that happy to set up a personalized vaccine program for your horse. Leave a FB message, give us a call (320)679-8245, or drop us an email [email protected]