Foothills Animal Hospital

08/30/2026

This is a discussion we try to have with everyone who allows their animals to interact with the public. The liability to you and your farm is enormous. If your animals are involved in farm tours, petting zoos, community events (seasonal nativities, birthday parties, goat yoga, exhibits), animal assisted therapy programs, and other similar activities, rabies vaccination is so important. In this case, the goat kids were too young to vaccinate, but it’s still important to see how serious this can be.

Possible exposure dates/locations include:
-Statesville
-Lexington
-Mecklenburg
-Watauga
-Burke
-Davie
-Durham
-Iredell counties.

If you touched or handled the goats at any of these events, contact your local health department before visiting urgent care/ER to see if preventive treatment is needed.
Rabies is deadly but preventable.

More info here epi.dph.ncdhhs.gov/cd/diseases/rabies.html

08/12/2026

Do you know what animal cruelty looks like? Researchers at NC State University are conducting a survey to understand how North Carolinians from all backgrounds recognize and respond to possible animal cruelty situations.

You do not need any animal-related experience to participate. We want to hear from:

• Law enforcement personnel
• Veterinary professionals
• Shelter and rescue staff
• General public/community members

You must be 18+ and live in North Carolina. The survey takes about 15 minutes, responses are confidential and you may enter to win a $50 Amazon gift card after completing it.

Take the survey here: http://ncst.at/Q9Cb50ZwfXY

07/30/2026

More fun comparative illustrations for you lifelong learners! Check out these examples of 4 ways that mammal fetal placenta can attach to the dam’s uterus. Isn’t nature incredible?

(A) Diffuse (horses, pigs, camels)
(B)Cotylendary (ruminants:goats, sheep, cows, deer, etc)
(C) Zonary (dogs, cats, carnivores, seals, elephants)
(D) Discoid (humans, non-human primates, rodents, rabbits)

07/29/2026

Some anatomy fun for horse and science lovers. Horses stand on their digits, like 1200 lb ballerinas. This image shows the homologous bones of the “manus” - the lower arm and hand - in horses and humans. Horses walk on the 3rd digit, the equivalent of our middle finger. The irony is not lost on any of us who work around some of those big, horsey personalities.

07/03/2026

Stay safe this weekend. 🎇🎆🇺🇸

💦 Keep cool fresh water and shade accessible to your pets and livestock in this heat. 🐴🐄🐐🐏😸🐈🐕

🦮Avoid dog walking except in the early morning.

☀️Limit outside time for all short-nosed dogs to reduce the very real risk of overheating (pugs, frenchies, boston terriers, etc). 🥵🌡️

🔖Make sure your dogs are wearing a collar with their rabies tag and your contact information all weekend. Dogs often run off when scared by unexpected fireworks.

06/10/2026

Our front lobby is getting a facelift over the next couple of weeks in our final phase of this renovation. A sign at the front of the building will guide you around to a side entrance!

06/08/2026

05/25/2026

Remember and Honor.

05/21/2026

This little man got a lot of love from staff this week.

05/21/2026

Blast from the past! We recently got to see this McDowell News clipping from the early 1990s highlighting the origin of our practice. Dr. Jeff Schutz is such a gem of a human and veterinarian and a life-shaping mentor and friend to Dr. Jornigan. We'll find a place to frame this one in the lobby over the next few weeks as the renovation comes to an end.