Stafford Equine Veterinary Services

06/17/2026

Many horse owners have at one point or another gone to pick out their horse's feet only to be met with a foul odor to the nose and the sight of black discharge. 🤢

This is an infection of the frog called thrush, most often associated with a compromised, recessed frog and conditions that let dirt, manure, urine, and moisture accumulate in the sulci.

It's commonly recognized by:
• Black discharge in the frog grooves
• Strong, foul odor
• A narrow, eroded, unhealthy-looking frog
• Sometimes a deep crack in the central sulcus
• Pain or lameness in more severe cases

Key Points:
• Wet, dirty footing and poor daily hoof care can contribute.
• Lack of exercise may also play a role.
• Cases often improve best when you address both the infection and the hoof mechanics/farriery behind the unhealthy frog.
• Simply applying products without improving the frog's health and hoof shape may have limited value.

Basic care include:
• Daily hoof cleaning
• Keeping the horse in a clean, dry environment
• Ongoing hoof care/farriery attention
• Veterinary/farrier involvement if the frog is painful, deeply fissured, bleeding, or the horse is lame

If you suspect your equine companion has thrush, reach out to your veterinarian and farrier.

06/12/2026

It's MYTHBUSTERS time! 📢

❌ MYTH: Sweet itch is just normal summer itching.

✅ FACT: Sweet itch is usually insect bite hypersensitivity - an allergic reaction to bites from Culicoides midges. The hallmark sign is intense itching.

Sweet itch is the common name for an allergic skin reaction to bites from tiny midges, most often Culicoides. The biggest red flag is intense itching. Horses may rub the mane, tail, and other areas enough to damage the skin.

In many horses, the problem is seasonal, so prevention focuses on limiting insect exposure: stable during peak feeding times at sunrise and sunset, use fans and fine screens, reduce exposure to standing water, and work with your veterinarian on repellants and treatment options.

If you suspect that your horse is suffering from sweet itch, contact your veterinarian.

📸 Dr. Melinda Freckleton

06/12/2026

🚨 WEBINAR ALERT!
📅 June 18 @ 4 PM ET

On June 3, 2026, the U.S. Department of Agriculture confirmed New World Screwworm in the umbilical area of a calf in Zavala County, Texas. This expansion into the United States is alarming.

US Equestrian is partnering with the AAEP to bring you the information you need about the risk to horses and how you can keep your equine partners safe.

Dr. Katie Flynn, Senior Staff Veterinarian for Equine Health and Biosecurity at USEF, will be joined by Dr. Neil Gray, sport horse practitioner in California.

Webinar registration link: https://usef.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_uwgRdUs4Rx-gEHPiBfqvSQ #/registration

06/09/2026

Several pesticides are currently registered by the Environmental Protection Agency for use against screwworm. Examples of approved equine-labeled products and their active ingredient include the following listed on the graphic. For a full list of approved products and their associated species, visit:https://www.aphis.usda.gov/sites/default/files/pesticides-for-nws.pdf

An example of an approved product for the outside surfaces of buildings and perimeter treatment is EP152 EW Insecticide (Environmental Science US LLC) with active ingredient Zeta-Cypermethrin. Additionally, DeltaGard Fly Insecticide products (Environmental Science US LLC) with active ingredient Deltamethrin is approved for this use.

The AAEP has also published New World Screwworm Infestation (Disease) Guidelines. View this resource here: https://aaep.org/resource/aaep-infectious-disease-guidelines-new-world-screwworm/

06/09/2026

In response to the recent confirmation from the USDA of the presence of New World Screwworm in the United States, the AAEP has published New World Screwworm Infestation (Disease) Guidelines.

View the guidelines here: https://ow.ly/SNsM50Z92rh

06/05/2026

Please reference the following resources for additional information regarding New World Screwworm (NWS):

1. Equine Disease Communication Center Factsheet: https://equinediseasecc.org/handler/managedfilehandler.ashx?id=103&ext=pdf

2. USDA Map of Current Outbreak: https://www.aphis.usda.gov/animals/animal-health/livestock-and-poultry-disease/current-status?page=1

3. USDA Myth Buster Sheet:https://www.aphis.usda.gov/sites/default/files/nws-myth-busters.pdf

4. USDA New World Screwworm Webinar for Animal Industry: https://youtu.be/0ZdBU0mBXKE?si=Vi7_Aqe8V-3Jy72X

5. AAEP Alert to Equine Practitioners: New World Screwworm Enters the United States:https://aaep.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Alert-to-Equine-Practitioners-FINAL.pdf

06/04/2026

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) has provided an important update on New World Screwworm which has been detected in a bovine in Zavala County, Texas. Read the full press release here: https://www.aphis.usda.gov/news/agency-announcements/usda-confirms-presence-new-world-screwworm-united-states

General information about New World Screwworm (NWS) can be found in the text below and in the attached infographic.

The adult screwworm fly is about the size of a common housefly (or slightly larger), with orange eyes, a metallic blue or green body, and three dark stripes along its back. It gets its name from the behavior of its larvae (maggots) as they burrow (screw) into the wound, feeding as they go. The maggots (larvae) cause extensive damage by tearing at the hosts’ tissue with sharp mouth hooks. The wound can quickly become enlarged and deeper as more maggots hatch and feed on living tissue.

Because they feed on live flesh, NWS maggots may burrow deep into wounds or openings, while other species of maggots may appear around the outer surface of the wound. In addition, even the smallest wounds have the potential to attract flies, so it is imperative that you keep a close eye on your animals for any signs of wounds.

Lastly, NWS infestations are a reportable disease! Immediately report any suspicious wounds, maggots, or infestations to a local accredited veterinarian, your State Animal Health Official, or a USDA veterinarian.

For more information, reference this resource from the U.S. Department of Agriculture: https://www.aphis.usda.gov/animals/animal-health/livestock-and-poultry-disease/stop-screwworm

06/02/2026