Stafford Equine Veterinary Services

08/20/2025

08/19/2025

MARK YOUR CALENDARS!!
🐅 Tiger Prowl TOMORROW August 19th in Death Valley! 5-8pm! Come see what we are all about, and for more information!!
-Tiger Prowl is held for student organizations to meet possible new members and to give more info!!

🧡 We will also be at kickoff CAFLS in the Ag quad. Come see us at our table Wednesday, August 20th, from 3-5pm!!

🧡 Interest meeting THIS THURSDAY, August 21st, at 6pm in Poole auditorium.

🐴TRYOUTS first full week of school! Sunday August 24th to Thursday August 28th for Western and Hunt Seat!

Feel free to reach out to us for any questions you may have! 🐅

08/16/2025

Venture beyond boundaries and discover unlimited possibilities at the AAEP’s 71st Annual Convention in Denver, CO, where innovation and expertise converge to shape modern approaches to patient care.

No matter where you are in your horse doctor journey, this is your chance to acquire inventive solutions to common clinical issues, expand your professional network through daily connection with colleagues, and explore the newest practice offerings in the world’s largest equine veterinary marketplace.

We are also excited to announce that our 2025 Frank J. Milne State-of-the-Art Lecture presenter is renowned equine sports medicine and rehabilitation expert Dr. Hilary Clayton. During her presentation, Dr. Clayton will provide an evidence-based understanding of equine biomechanics that will enhance veterinarians’ diagnostic, treatment, and rehabilitation protocols as well as advise on preventative measures related to conformation, training, and equipment.

Learn more about the educational program, event schedule and more at convention.aaep.org. Mark your calendars for Dec. 6-10 and get ready for an unforgettable experience!

The Frank J. Milne State-of-the-Art Lecture is sponsored by Platinum Performance.

08/13/2025

As silly as it sounds, the "carrot test" can be used to help diagnose tooth aches in our equine companions.

Equine odontoclastic tooth resorption and hypercementosis (EORTH) is a dental condition that affects the incisors of middle-aged horses and older. As the name suggests, it acts by both resorbing the teeth and then producing large amounts of cementum (a hard substance that anchors the teeth into place).

Clinical signs such as difficulty chewing, teeth discoloration and painful gums are highly suspicious for this disease, but you can also offer your horse a carrot to assess how comfortable they are biting down. If it seems painful for them while biting the carrot, they could have EORTH!

Your veterinarian can do an oral examination and take dental radiographs to confirm the diagnosis. This is a progressive disease so there is no cure, but there are management strategies that can improve their comfort.

If you are concerned that your horse may have EORTH or is experiencing oral pain, contact your veterinarian so that they may further evaluate and suggest treatment options.

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

08/12/2025

08/09/2025

Be sure to monitor the movement of Fall Armyworms across the state and keep scouting your pastures and hayfields. To report any sightings or view the updated map, please us our new pest tracker at: https://www.clemson.edu/extension/pest-alerts/

Image: Current map as of 08/07/2025 (10:00 AM EST)I

08/09/2025

You’ve probably read or heard about the encroaching New World screwworm (NWS), but here’s your chance to obtain the latest information and insights into the parasitic pest, known for its larvae that eats the living tissue of warm-blooded animals.

NWS has been moving toward the U.S.-Mexico border, prompting the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture to suspend live cattle, horse and bison imports through U.S. ports of entry along the southern border. Veterinarians are also required to report any suspected NWS cases to their state animal health official and a USDA veterinary officer.

On August 13, join Drs. Sally DeNotta, Cody Egnor and Andrew Short—panelists comprising proficiency in regulatory veterinary medicine, infectious disease and entomology—for a discussion of the current risk of NWS, actions horse owners and veterinarians should take, and a question-and-answer segment.

PLEASE NOTE that this Virtual Wednesday Roundtable session is open to both AAEP members AND horse owners.

Registration is FREE but required, register here: https://aaep.org/event/virtual-wednesday-round-table-eye-on-the-fly-new-world-screwworm-update/

08/08/2025

The State Veterinarian’s office received notification from NVSL on 8/7/25 of the 6th case of EEE in horses in 2025. A 10 yr old Pony mare, unknown vaccination status, from Aiken County. Glad to report that this pony is recovering!





Current 2025 Totals

EEE: 6

Jasper County: 1

Aiken County: 2

Colleton County: 2

Sumter County: 1



WNV: 0



Please continue to educate horse owners and promote the preventive care for Arbovirus diseases. Although not communicable from horses to people, both EEE and West Nile Virus (WNV) have a human health significance, and cases can be prevented through effective vaccination and mosquito management strategies.

08/07/2025

As mentioned in our post earlier this week about EEE, summer and fall are the peak time for arbovirus infection as these diseases (which include Eastern Equine Encephalitis [EEE], West Nile Virus [WNV], Western Equine Encephalitis [WEE] and Venezuelan Equine Encephalitis [VEE]) are transmitted by several different species of mosquitoes and biting insects.

Let this graphic serve as a source of more information about West Nile Virus (WNV) as well as a reminder to keep your equines up to date on vaccinations with the guidance of your veterinarian to best protect your animals from infection.

Learn more about West Nile Virus and find downloadable resources on the Equine Disease Communication Center's website at: https://www.equinediseasecc.org/west-nile-virus

08/06/2025

As temperatures and bug populations remain high, it is critically important that horse owners take steps to protect their equine friends (and their families) from mosquito bites. If you live in a region where mosquito populations persist well into the fall months, your veterinarian may recommend additional fall booster vaccinations against EEE/WEE and WNV (West Nile Virus).

If you don't know your horse's vaccination history or you are unsure whether they have received a certain vaccine, it's not too late to start from scratch with an initial series of inoculations followed by the appropriate boosters, as recommended by your horse doctor.

So, what is Eastern Equine Encephalitis?

EEE is a severe, viral disease affecting the central nervous system, and is transmitted to equids (and humans) by infected mosquitoes. There is no cure for EEE, and the mortality rate is 75-95% (in horses). Prevention through vaccination is key.

Contact your veterinarian for more information and learn more about EEE with the following resources:

USDA Equine Arbovirus Dashboard: https://www.aphis.usda.gov/livestock-poultry-disease/equine/arbovirus-dashboard?fbclid=IwY2xjawL93phleHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETFoZWhDbm9DQXJkUDJ2UXQ4AR4LQFqAZgJ-l6okRNSB5gb3W22O2wch3hTNfUrdWkYu5vr4vsPs5dO8_fchtg_aem_AJ5BEuDhbfiGxQTJgInt4A

Equine Disease Communication Center (EDCC): https://www.equinediseasecc.org/eastern-equine-encephalitis

AAEP EEE Guidelines: https://aaep.org/resource/eastern-equine-encephalitis-eee/?fbclid=IwY2xjawL93rRleHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETFoZWhDbm9DQXJkUDJ2UXQ4AR53Fr5KFEMaKqGIwpZV4z428WzO0A1N4K8_PoKQ6D4QKlzJqNkHJ6YDd6qnqg_aem_fitQxeORLIU_v3AW-kzK1Q