Woodside Equine Clinic

09/01/2026

Forty years ago(‼️), Dr. Anderson began his journey at Woodside Equine Clinic as an associate, eventually taking over the practice from Dr. Milton Kingsbury in 1989.
With a focus on Sports Medicine and Lameness, he became one of the first veterinarians in the United States to earn certification in equine acupuncture from the International Veterinary Acupuncture Society (IVAS). Additionally, he holds certification in veterinary chiropractic medicine from the American Veterinary Chiropractic Association (AVCA). Dr. Anderson continues to excel in assessing horses for discomfort, diagnosing and addressing underlying issues, and developing strategies to achieve peak performance.

08/31/2026

It's the final Myth Monday of August! We hope this month's series has helped clear up some common misconceptions about equine emergencies and given you more confidence in recognizing when your horse needs veterinary care. Remember, knowledge is one of the best tools you can have when every minute counts.

MYTH

"If my horse is choking, it can't breathe."

FACT

Unlike people, horses with choke usually have an obstruction in the esophagus (the tube leading to the stomach), not the airway. Most horses with choke can still breathe, but they cannot swallow normally.

Common signs include:
· Feed or saliva coming from the nostrils
· Excessive drooling
· Repeated attempts to swallow
· Coughing
· Stretching the neck

Although horses can usually breathe, choke is still an emergency because it can lead to dehydration, aspiration pneumonia, and damage to the esophagus if not treated appropriately.

Takeaway: If you suspect choke, remove all feed and water and call your veterinarian right away.

When in doubt, call. Early intervention often leads to better outcomes, and we'd always rather help you determine whether something is an emergency than have you wait too long.

Video: Many cases of choke can be successfully resolved on the farm using a nasogastric tube and repeated flushing with water. In more severe or persistent cases, horses are referred to the hospital, where we can use an endoscope to visualize the obstruction and carefully work to break it down and remove it, as shown in this video.

08/31/2026

08/29/2026

💧🐴 Learning together means better care for our patients!

At this month’s technician team meeting, LVT Jaime led a review of IV fluid therapy, a treatment we use frequently for our hospitalized patients.

But fluid therapy involves much more than just the fluids themselves! Depending on an individual patient’s needs, there are several things that can be supplemented through IV fluids to help support hydration, electrolyte balance, energy needs, and more.

Our technician team is our nursing team, providing hands-on care and closely monitoring our hospitalized patients throughout their stay. Regular team education like this helps keep everyone’s knowledge and skills sharp so we can provide consistent, high-quality care 24/7. 💙

A big thank you to Jaime for sharing her knowledge with the team!

08/28/2026

🩺 Know What's Normal Before It's an Emergency

One of the most valuable things you can do for your horse is learn their normal vital signs before they're sick or injured. During an emergency, these measurements provide your veterinarian with important information and can help guide the next steps in your horse's care.

While you're waiting for your veterinarian to arrive, you may be asked to check your horse's:

🌡️ Temperature: 99.0–101.5°F
❤️ Heart Rate (Pulse): 28–44 beats per minute
🌬️ Respiratory Rate: 8–24 breaths per minute

The best time to practice taking these vital signs is when your horse is healthy and relaxed. Not only will you become more comfortable with the process, but you'll also learn what is normal for your individual horse. Just like people, normal values can vary slightly between horses, and between horses and donkeys.

📒 Consider keeping a record of your horse's normal vital signs in your tack room, trailer, or phone so they're easy to reference during an emergency.

08/27/2026

On Saturday, August 29, 2026, the Ashland Half-Marathon and 5k will take place from 7:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. in and around the Town of Ashland. During the run there will be one lane closed on each of these roads, and there will be delays at cross streets. Use extra caution when traveling through areas along the race route (in red on the 2nd photo) and be on the lookout for runners, volunteers, and race activity.

08/26/2026

🐴🩺 Sometimes our patients give us just as thorough of an exam as we give them!

A sniff here, a pocket check there… maybe a little quality-control inspection of the equipment. 😂

We love when our patients are just as curious about our veterinarians and assistants as we are about them! What do you think the exam findings were for Dr. Snell, Dr. Paramore, and Assistant Carissa?💙

08/24/2026

When it comes to equine emergencies, misinformation can lead to delayed treatment and poorer outcomes. Throughout August, we'll be debunking common myths and sharing evidence-based information to help you recognize emergencies sooner and make informed decisions for your horse. Knowledge is one of the best tools you can have when every minute counts.

MYTH

"If my horse is eating and pooping, it can't be colic."

FACT

Many horses with mild or early colic will continue to nibble hay or even finish their grain. Eating does not rule out abdominal pain. Likewise, while passing manure is always encouraging, it doesn't necessarily mean your horse isn't experiencing a colic episode. In some cases, a horse can continue to pass manure even when there is a problem higher up in the gastrointestinal tract.

Instead, pay attention to the whole horse. Signs of colic can include pawing, looking at the flank, repeatedly lying down and getting up, rolling, stretching out, decreased manure production, or simply acting quieter than normal.
Colic can progress quickly, so don't assume your horse is okay simply because they're interested in food.

Takeaway: Pay attention to the whole horse, not just whether they're eating. If you're concerned, call your veterinarian.

When in doubt, call. Early intervention often leads to better outcomes, and we'd always rather help you determine whether something is an emergency than have you wait too long.

08/22/2026

🐴 Do you know a senior horse? You can help support equine research!

A veterinary student at Long Island University is conducting a master’s research project focused on cognitive aging in horses, and they are looking for horse owners, veterinarians, trainers, barn managers, and caregivers to participate.

The research team is developing the Equine Cognitive Aging Questionnaire (ECAq) to better understand how aging may affect behavior, memory, attention, learning, social interaction, and daily function in horses. The study will also explore possible associations with conditions such as PPID.

They especially need information about horses 15 years of age and older, whether they are showing noticeable age-related changes or seem to be aging normally.

🐴 Who can participate?
Anyone familiar with the day-to-day behavior of a horse, particularly a horse age 15+.

⏱️ What’s involved?
A 15–25 minute anonymous online survey about your horse’s behavior over the past three months, general health, and management.

Every response helps researchers learn more about brain health and aging in horses and could contribute to better care for our senior equine companions in the future.

👉 Participate here:
https://baseline.campuslabs.com/liu/dqacdgheappid2026

08/21/2026

🚑 Have a Plan Before an Emergency Happens

When your horse is experiencing an emergency, the last thing you want to be doing is figuring out who to call or how you'll get your horse to the hospital.

Every horse owner should establish a relationship with a veterinarian who provides emergency care before an emergency arises. It's also important to understand how emergency care is provided by your veterinary practice.

Ask questions like:
🐴 Will the veterinarian come to my farm for emergencies?
🚛 Are some emergencies expected to be hauled directly to the hospital?
📞 Who do I call after hours?
📍 Where is the nearest equine hospital if my horse needs advanced care?

With veterinary shortages affecting many communities across the country, emergency coverage is becoming increasingly limited. Not every practice is able to provide after-hours emergency services, and some hospitals only see established clients. Knowing what services your veterinarian offers, and establishing that relationship before an emergency occurs, is more important than ever.

Even when a veterinarian is able to come to your farm, some emergencies require specialized diagnostics, surgery, intensive care, or around-the-clock monitoring that can only be provided in a hospital setting. Having a trailer that's ready to go, or knowing who you can call to transport your horse, can save valuable time when every minute counts.

For current Woodside Equine Clinic clients: Our veterinarians are available to respond to emergency calls both on the farm and at our hospital. Our main number 804-798-3281 can be used 24/7 to reach us. After hours, an answering service will help connect you to our veterinarians on call. Our on call veterinarian will call you and help determine whether your horse is best treated where they are or if immediate transport to the hospital will provide the fastest access to diagnostics, surgery, or intensive care. If you are already a regular client of ours, we are likely the closest referral hospital to you.

Preparing for an emergency isn't just about having a first aid kit. It's also about having a plan.

✅ Know who you'll call.
✅ Know where you'll go.
✅ Know how you'll get there.

A little preparation today can make a big difference when your horse needs you most. 💙