UF Veterinary Hospital at WEC: Equine

06/09/2026

06/08/2026

New World screwworm update: confirmed U.S. livestock case 🔽

The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) confirmed the detection of a New World screwworm in a bovine in Zavala County, Texas. NWS is a serious pest that affects livestock, pets, wildlife, and less commonly, people and birds. NWS larvae burrow into the flesh of living animals, causing serious damage to livestock and economic losses: https://www.aphis.usda.gov/news/agency-announcements/usda-confirms-presence-new-world-screwworm-united-states

The affected animal is a 3-week-old calf and larvae were identified in its umbilical area. To date, there have been no further detections.

🦌🐄🐎
's livestock and wildlife NWS experts are here for you! Updates to come. In the mean time for the state of Florida:

Report suspected cases here: www.FDACS.gov/RAD

Florida Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services NWS resources: www.FDACS.gov/NWS

06/01/2026

With hurricane starting at the beginning of June, it is important to plan ahead in case a storm strikes your area to minimize panic and consequences.

Here are some things YOU can do to prepare your horse and yourself:

⚕ Ensure all core vaccines are up to date
🚘 Plan your evacuation route and leave early. Transporting in winds over 40mph is dangerous.
🪪 Use a tag or labeled halter that identifies your horse
💧 Store 12-20 gallons of clean water per horse per day

To learn about more what you can do to prepare the barn for hurricane season, view our checklist you can print to keep handy.
https://largeanimal.vethospitals.ufl.edu/2026/05/12/hurricane-checklist-for-florida-horse-owners/

05/29/2026

As some of our equine clients may have heard, our small animal services will soon be expanding to include 24/7 emergency care. This expansion will not affect the equine services offered at our hospital. Our equine team remains dedicated to providing the same exceptional care for our equine companions and athletes.

Find out more below👇

GAINESVILLE, Fla. — The UF Veterinary Hospital at World Equestrian Center, or WEC, will expand its small animal clinical services to include 24/7 emergency…

05/26/2026

They say the eyes tell a story, and for our equine athletes, that story begins with clear vision. 🐴👁

At the UF Veterinary Hospital at WEC, Dr. Caryn Plummer visits from our Gainesville location at least once a month to examine one of the most important parts of our equine and small animal patient's senses. During a patient's visit with our ophthalmology service, their appointment may include an ophthalmic pre‑purchase examination, cataract diagnosis, recurrent uveitis diagnosis followed by therapy, and more. No matter what the issue may be, Dr. Plummer will see any and all eye conditions!

Give us a call or find out more information on our website to learn more: https://hospitals.vetmed.ufl.edu/wec/ufvhwec-equine-hospital/ophthalmology-services-at-wec/

05/20/2026

We are halfway through the week already!

Take a moment to breathe, reset, and appreciate how far you’ve made it, even if it’s just getting through a busy Wednesday. Our sports medicine team is doing the same, helping each patient find balance, recovery, and strength one day at a time.😌

05/13/2026

As part of an academic hospital, we are always excited to be a part of others’ education and learning opportunities! Tuesday evening, we hosted a group of UF students involved in UF's Career Connections Center who were interested in what the veterinary track may look like as a career opportunity.

From learning about what the beginning of their education may entail to exploring different career opportunities in the veterinary field, they were able to learn and ask questions that will help shape their future. 👩‍⚕️👨‍⚕️🐴

05/06/2026

Still want to learn more about PET scans?

Since the radioisotopes used in PET scans have a much shorter half-life than those used in traditional bone scans, patients can be discharged from the hospital as early as the same day they arrive, eliminating the need for an overnight hospital stay after their appointment is completed.👏

05/01/2026

PET In Practice!

As a reminder from last week's video, a PET scan is a diagnostic imaging modality that detects areas of increased metabolic activity, allowing identification of inflammation in soft tissue and bone.

In this case, it enabled localization of a proximal suspensory lesion at its origin, helping differentiate it from concurrent or suspected hock arthritis.