Kerri Mitton, DVM

04/18/2026

This isn't local to us, but very well written!!
No nose boops to horses you don't know!

‼️The dreaded EHM is back in the news with a positive case in New Jersey (Reported no horse movement) and recently at HITS Culpeper in Virginia. We have posted about EHV-1 and EHM in the past so here is a refresher on this highly contagious disease.

📖 What is EHV-1?

Equine Herpes Virus type-1 (EHV-1) is a virus that causes respiratory disease, abortion, neonatal death, and neurologic disease. EHV can cause Equine Herpesvirus Myeloencephalopathy (EHM), the neurologic form of herpes.

🤧How is it spread?

EHV-1 is primarily spread by direct horse-to-horse contact by respiratory secretions. However, indirect contact with contaminated equipment and personnel can spread the virus. Following infection, horses may become latent carriers and the virus may be reactivated after stress such as travel and exercise, or high doses of corticosteroids. The incubation period ranges from two to 10 days.

🩺What are the symptoms of EHV-1?

Common symptoms include fever, coughing, lethargy, nasal discharge, and inappetance. Symptoms of the neurologic form include ataxia (incoordination), weakness, difficulty standing, recumbency, loss of tail tone, and difficulty urinating.

💊 What is the treatment for EHV-1 and EHM?

Treatment is primarily supportive care. Patients with EHM may require a sling.

😷How can you protect your horse?

💉 While vaccination can decrease clinical signs and shedding, it does not protect against the neurologic strain.

👃 While at a show, avoid nose-to-nose contact with horses from other barns, and don’t share equipment such as buckets, wheelbarrows, and pitchforks. Wash your hands frequently, and take extra precautions if working with multiple groups of horses.

🌡️ Consider taking your horse's temperature twice a day when traveling. Temperatures greater than 101.5 or any signs of illness should be reported to your veterinarian immediately. And consider quarantining horses returning from horse shows or are new to the farm.

🧬How is EHV-1 diagnosed?

The virus is detected in nasal swabs and blood samples by PCR testing. At Rhinebeck Equine, we offer in-house rapid EHV-1 PCR testing on nasal swabs. Results are available in ~60 minutes.

🔗Please refer to the EDCC website for more information: https://equinediseasecc.org/

📸: If you are going to boop a nose, always wash your hands! We recommend horses avoiding nose to nose contact while at horse shows and events.

11/19/2025

As of this morning, 11/19/2025.... Kerri Mitton, DVM accepts Venmo.
I was dragged, kicking and screaming into it by a very good friend who patiently waited for me to admit that it probably wasn't a scam after all.

06/18/2025

Spring 2025 vaccine craziness is winding down.... If you've reached out to schedule something and I have not yet got back to you, odds are I missed your message 🫣
Please don't hesitate to shoot me a text message again!!

03/28/2025

2 days of learning from Sue Dyson... so many things seem obvious when someone points them out. Going home with new eyes!

“The question we asked was: can we determine, by looking at facial expressions and other behaviors, whether the horse has musculoskeletal pain?”– Dr. Sue Dyson What’s new? Horses and the Science of Harmony “We wanted everyone, from the pony clubber to the Olympic athlete to learnnew inform...

01/26/2025

Edit: I'm home!!
I would love to thank all my patients for avoiding sharp objects and not eating anything naughty... neither of the 2 veterinarians covering for me had to go see any emergency calls! That is truly remarkable for being away for a full week!!

I will be away *without* cell service from Jan 26th thru Feb 1st.
My away message will direct you to my pre-arranged emergency coverage during this time.

12/09/2024

2025 Policy change!
In attempt to slim down my overhead and inventory, I would appreciate if all routine and non-emergency medications could be filled through a pharmacy.
Valley Vet is my first choice as their customer service is the best.
Chewy is also easy to deal with and do have some compounding options.
Wedgewood is my compounding pharmacy of choice.
Please let me know if you have any questions, links to those pharmacies will be in the comments.

02/15/2024

PSA ... Incompletely soaked beet pulp takes a long time to flush from the esophagus of a choking horse!
For those of you who have not personally experienced a choke yet, while not usually life threatening, they can be scary. Dry beet pulp is notorious for getting stuck on the way down and can absorb a large volume of fluid (saliva and/or water). This handsome boy was pretty cooperative for the hour that it took to flush out the beet pulp that he had for dinner last night.
When soaking beet pulp, hay cubes or Sr feed, use hot water and make sure that everything is broken down fully before you feed it. I usually recommend running your hand through the whole bucket to make sure there aren't any pockets that are still dry or hard.

10/17/2023

10/04/2022

Mark your calendar’s…🐑🐐🗓

This is going to be a great evening with our Poulin Grain reps and Kerri Mitton, DVM

We will be having pizza, desserts and lots of giveaways and raffles🥳

08/07/2022

It's hoary alyssum season!!
If you see this growing around your property, hand pull it all!!
I know this link is from Minnesota but it grows here too, and I've seen it everywhere this past week!!

Know how to identify hoary alyssum in your pasture and hay to prevent related poisoning in your horse which can result in “stocking up” and founder.

07/27/2022

If you are dropping off cash in my locked box to make a payment, can you please include a slip with your name.
Also, who left me $340 this week?