Black Creek Mobile Veterinary Service, PLLC

05/22/2026

Alfalfa: Is hay or a pellet product better before riding? Click the link in the comments to find out. 👇

05/22/2026

11/20/2025

We have gotten a lot of questions regarding Equine herpes virus the last few days and have heard a LOT of misinformation. There is a confirmed outbreak of EHV 1 in Texas linked to a rodeo event, horses at this event in Texas could have been exposed and spread the virus when returning home. Several horses associated with the outbreak have developed the neurological form and were euthanized. At this time there is no confirmed case in NC.

If you traveled with your horse out of state and especially to the Texas event then we recommend isolating and checking temperatures for 2 weeks after returning. If your horses do not leave the farm and no new horses are introduced then your horses are NOT at risk during this outbreak. You can disinfect clothing and boots if traveling between farms to reduce risk of accidental spread. Spread of EHV is primarily by DIRECT CONTACT with an infected horse or equipment that horse has come into contact with like water buckets.

There is a vaccine that will protect against respiratory disease and abortion associated with EHV. If your horse travels or horses on the property travel to even local shows it is recommended to vaccinate twice yearly. If your horse does not have the vaccine isolating at home will protect your horse.
For more information see the AAEP fact sheet
Source: AAEP https://share.google/9fKg1CEy2iZ3JDFrR

11/20/2025

We have gotten a lot of questions regarding Equine herpes virus the last few days and have heard a LOT of misinformation. There is a confirmed outbreak of EHV 1 in Texas linked to a rodeo event, horses at this event in Texas could have been exposed and spread the virus when returning home. Several horses associated with the outbreak have developed the neurological form and were euthanized. At this time there is no confirmed case in NC.

If you traveled with your horse out of state and especially to the Texas event then we recommend isolating and checking temperatures for 2 weeks after returning. If your horses do not leave the farm and no new horses are introduced then your horses are NOT at risk during this outbreak. You can disinfect clothing and boots if traveling between farms to reduce risk of accidental spread. Spread of EHV is primarily by DIRECT CONTACT with an infected horse or equipment that horse has come into contact with like water buckets.

There is a vaccine that will protect against respiratory disease and abortion associated with EHV. If your horse travels or horses on the property travel to even local shows it is recommended to vaccinate twice yearly. If your horse does not have the vaccine isolating at home will protect your horse.
For more information see the AAEP fact sheet

What is Equine Herpesvirus (EHV)?

You've probably heard it called Rhinopneumonitis, a respiratory tract disease that results in "snotty noses," but EHV is more than that. Depending on the strain, this virus can also cause abortion in broodmares, and equine herpesvirus myeloencephalopathy (EHM) — the often-deadly neurologic form of the disease.

Because EHV is endemic in many equine populations, most mature horses have developed some immunity through repeated natural infection. However, they remain a source of infection for other susceptible horses, like weaned foals and yearlings, who usually display symptoms of the respiratory form of the disease in autumn and winter. Performance and show horses are also more vulnerable to the disease, as they commingle with unfamiliar equines in close quarters while under stress from travel and competition.

Proper biosecurity protocols can help reduce EHV outbreaks and other disease transmission. A variety of vaccines are also available for protection against both the respiratory and abortive form of the disease, but there is no equine licensed vaccine at this time that has a label claim for protection against the neurologic form (EHM).

Consult your primary equine veterinarian to learn more about this disease and work with them to determine the optimal vaccine protocol for your horses.

You can learn more about all three forms on the Equine Disease Communication Center's website here: https://equinediseasecc.org/infectious-diseases

04/13/2025

Ok this guy is the last of our surrendered pets needing homes. He was on a weight loss plan and has finally met his goal. Charlie is an approximately 6 year old neutered male and he is NOT declawed. He has had all vaccines updated, bloodwork, FIV/Leukemia negative, and dental cleaning. He did have a fractured tooth and one more unhealthy tooth removed. We recommend he have his dental health checked yealy in future to monitor. Charlie can be a little nervous sometimes but he is very friendly once he gets to know you. Did great for vet care but does not like car travel. He was a fully indoor cat prior to surrender and currently has had some outdoor exposure. He has caught atleast one mouse while out in the horse barn but he isn't exactly your confident barn cat. He would love a home with the time to give him some individual attention. If you would like to inquire about adopting Charlie please send us an email at [email protected] and put Charlie in the subject line. Feel free to share!

12/23/2024

JJ is a 6 year old male neutered front declawed short hair cat looking for a new indoor home. He was surrendered to us after his owner went into assisted living. He is a very sweet boy and everyone who meets him falls in love. JJ is up to date on all health care and recently had bloodwork and a teeth cleaning. JJ is FIV positive which is transmitted through blood or bite wounds. Studies show FIV positive cats housed with FIV negative cats have very low to no transmission. FIV cats can live a normal life span but may have more difficulty recovering from infections. Currently JJ does not have any health issues related to FIV. JJ would prefer a quiet house either by himself or with another cat or two. He has gotten along with other cats but does get bullied by cats with strong personalities. His previous owner had large dogs so he may do ok with calmer dogs.
If you would be interested in giving JJ a furever home or fostering him, please reach out to us via email at [email protected] and put JJ in the subject line.

05/26/2023

It may be a holiday weekend but the weather didn't get the memo, cold rainy weather on the way! Be watchful of water intake and make sure those shiny new short summer coats have some shelter or a blanket to protect them from getting chilled. Salt or electolytes are a great thing to add to encourage drinking. If you are going out of town make sure those farm sitters are extra vigilant and know the signs of colic!

DO YOU KNOW HOW TO SPOT COLIC IN HORSES?

Colic is not a disease; it is merely a symptom of disease. Specifically, colic indicates a painful problem in the horse's abdomen (belly), which can be caused by a number of different conditions. Less than 10% of all colic cases are severe enough to require surgery or cause the death of the horse; nevertheless, every case of colic should be taken seriously because it can be difficult to tell the mild ones from the potentially serious ones in the early stages.

Horses show signs of abdominal pain in a wide variety of ways, and usually a horse shows only a few of the signs during an episode of colic. The rule of thumb is—the more obvious the signs of pain, the more serious the problem.

If you suspect the horse is suffering from colic, we suggest that you:
• Alert your veterinarian immediately.
• Remove all hay and grain from the horse's surroundings.
• Don't medicate without your veterinarian's approval, as pain medications can mask clinical signs;
• Walk the horse around if it's continually rolling or in danger of hurting itself—but do not tire the horse with relentless walking and don't approach the animal if it's not safe.
• Keep the horse under close observation until the signs of colic resolve or the veterinarian arrives.

The key to increasing the chances of a good outcome is to identify the problem early and get your veterinarian involved from the start. Consult your horse doctor for more information and be sure to ask them how they can be reached if your horse colics after hours!