Equine Medical Center

01/23/2026

❄️❄️Winter weather update!!❄️❄️

Our office will remain open normal business hours this Friday. We will be offering emergency calls this weekend to the best of our ability, pending road conditions. Safety of our vets and staff is a priority.

How can you prepare?
1. Have a simple EMERGENCY KIT for your horses including Banamine (flunixin), a digital thermometer, and bandage supplies (roll cotton, non-stick telfa pads, 4x4 gauze, vet wrap and elastikon, a wound cleansing solution).

2. ELECTROLYTES (any brand sold at your local feed store) or regular table salt (1 tbsp) to top dress feed DAILY to help with encouraging horses to continuing drinking water.

3. WATER. Please make sure horses have access to plenty of clean, non-frozen water.

4. Consider thoroughly soaking feed or hay pellets/cubes to promote extra hydration during cold temps.

5. Use caution when turning out horses in icy conditions. Check fencelines for damage from fallen trees or snow/ice.

**If your horse is on regular prescription medications and needs a refill, or you are a regular client and need emergency medications, please handle that before this weekend to avoid excessive travel in dangerous conditions.

We hope you and your equine friends stay safe and warm during this winter event! 🥶

12/24/2025

Wishing all of our clients & their horses a happy holiday season, from the Equine Medical Center crew! 🎄🎅🏼✨

Holiday Hours:
We are closed Christmas Eve & Christmas Day.
We are closed New Year’s Day.

As always, 24/7 emergency coverage is available! Dr. Vermillion is on call Christmas Eve & Day, and Dr. Branning is on call New Years Day.

11/19/2025

Due to a recent & spreading EHV-1 outbreak in Texas and Oklahoma, horse owners should be taking extra precautions to prevent the spread. Here’s what you need to know:

🦠Reduce Movement
Avoid shows, clinics, and co-mingling horses for the next few weeks. Movement is the #1 driver of spread.

🦠Check Temperatures
Fever is often the very first sign. If temp is 101.5°F or higher, call your vet immediately.

🦠Know Symptoms
• Fever
• Weakness or incoordination
• Wide-based stance
• Changes in tail tone
• Difficulty urinating
• Lethargy or decreased appetite

🦠Biosecurity
• Do not share water buckets, grooming tools, nebulizers, or tack
• Disinfect thermometers with Lysol & disinfect trailers and stalls with a 1:10 bleach to water ratio
• Isolate any horse with a fever 30+ yards away & handle them LAST
• Wash hands, use bleach foot baths, and change clothes between barns when possible. Gloves and other PPE, like boot covers, should be used when handling potentially infected horses.

🦠Vaccination
Vaccines do not prevent the neurologic form, but boosters can reduce viral shedding and shorten viremia—both of which help limit barn-wide spread. We recommend vaccinating horses at least bi-annually with a flu/rhino vaccine if they are traveling.
Do NOT vaccinate febrile or exposed horses until cleared by your vet.

🦠Our Stance at EMC
If your horses have travelled to Texas or Oklahoma, or been exposed to horses traveling from these areas, a 14 day quarantine is recommended, with twice daily temp checks. If fever is noted, contact us. Horses will be tested via nasal swab & started on prophylactic valacyclovir (an antiviral medication) and provided with supportive care.

Here are links for more information on EHV:

AAEP EHV Consensus Statement:https://aaep.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/EHV1ConsensusStatement2024.pdf

AAEP Fact Sheet:https://aaep.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/EHV1-4-guidelines-2021.pdf

Equine CDC Outbreak Alerts: https://www.equinediseasecc.org

EMC is committed to providing up to date information to help best protect your horses.

10/23/2025

Do you run on coffee and horses like we do? Tell us how we’re doing! ☕️🐴💜

DO YOU LOVE YOUR EQUINE VETERINARIAN?! Here's your chance to share your appreciation for them! 📢

The AAEP is launching a special video project inviting horse owners to celebrate the dedication and partnership of their equine veterinarians. The initiative seeks to shine a spotlight on the veterinary professionals who provide exceptional care to the horse and compassionate support for owners.

This special tribute project created from submitted videos will be shown at the upcoming AAEP Annual Convention in Denver, Colo., Dec. 6 – 10 and will also be shared across our digital platforms.

Every horse owner who submits a video will receive a digital $10 Starbucks gift card.

Submission Details:

The AAEP is asking horse owners to submit short videos, 30 seconds or less, detailing why their equine veterinarian is an invaluable partner in their horse’s care. Submissions should focus on the aspects of care that demonstrate partnership, dedication and service beyond the expected.

How to Submit (Please note videos must adhere to the following instructions to be considered):

- Create a video no more than 30 seconds long explaining why your equine vet is an invaluable partner.
- Record your video in landscape mode (horizontal orientation).
- Send the video file via Facebook or Instagram direct message (DM). Facebook: American Association of Equine Practitioners & Instagram:
- Include along with your video submission your full name as well as your veterinarian's.

The submission window is open starting today, Oct. 22, with submissions accepted through Friday, Nov. 14. If you need assistance with submitting your video, email Grace Barrier at [email protected].

We're excited to hear about all of your incredible horse doctors!

09/16/2025

From Dr. Amy Scott, DVM:

Scott was my mentor and friend. I’m certain that he either knew the answer to everything, or knew someone who did. I will forever be grateful for everything he taught me. Rest easy, Scott.

07/31/2025

Here’s an exciting opportunity for horse owners to learn!

06/18/2025

In honor of National here are some tips on how to make your vets feel appreciated- so they can continue to take care of your horses with compassion, expertise, and efficiency.

Today is ! Join us in celebrating all the veterinary professionals that help our animals (especially our horses) live long, happy and healthy lives.

If you are looking for ways to say “thank you” to your veterinary team, there are plenty of options. However, it’s very possible that the best way to thank your horse doctors and equine vet techs is to make their job easier.

Some small things can make the biggest difference; check out this graphic for a few simple ways you can ease the strain on your veterinarians and show them your appreciation. No matter how you choose to say thank you today, there is no doubt you will brighten your vet team’s day!

Lastly, show some love for your veterinarian in the comments below and tag them, some words of encouragement and appreciation are sure to bring a smile to their face! ⬇️

06/03/2025

We are incredibly excited to announce that we have grown!! Please welcome our newest veterinarian, Dr. Meg Branning!

Dr. Meg Branning was born and raised in the heart of New Jersey horse country but has spent the last 13 years in Georgia. She obtained a BS and MS in Animal Science both from the University of Georgia and eventually earned her “Triple Dawg” status with her DVM from the University of Georgia College of Veterinary Medicine. Following graduation, she completed an equine internship at Tryon Equine Hospital focusing on equine medicine and surgery and also became an FEI treating veterinarian. She has since returned to Georgia to continue her equine adventures with Equine Medical Center starting in June.

Dr. Branning’s primary interests are lameness/sports medicine, and emergency medicine. She also enjoys spending time with her husband and dogs and spoiling her retired blood donor horse, Liam.

01/09/2025

❄️❄️COLD WEATHER PSA ❄️ ❄️

We at Equine Medical Center will still be responding to emergency calls for our established clients as we are able to safely do so, but please use these tips to prevent and prepare for any equine emergencies!

❄️Make sure your water tanks are full & accessible at all times! This means checking automatic waters to ensure they’re not frozen, chipping ice, and/or using a bucket/tank heater.

❄️Top dress feed and/or hay with commercial equine electrolytes or a couple teaspoons of table salt. This will encourage more water consumption throughout the day.

❄️If you feed grain or cubes, SOAK them! This will ensure your horse gets some extra hydration when it’s not enticing to drink cold water. Also, do NOT introduce new hay or grains during cold periods, as this can contribute to colic.

❄️Keep emergency supplies on hand. This includes banamine, bute, bandage material, and neopolybac ophthalmic ointment, which should be used as directed by your veterinarian in the event that we are delayed responding to calls.

❄️Have a plan! Have an established veterinary relationship & know your options for emergency care- including having access to a trailer to haul if necessary.

12/14/2024

Happy ✨National Day of the Horse!✨

Today (and every day) we celebrate our equine athletes and companions. Drop a photo in the comments of a horse you celebrate! 👇🏼

12/04/2024

It’s beginning to look (and feel) a lot like Christmas! Here are some essential precautions to help keep your horse ✨merry & bright✨ during this seasonal transition:

🎄Make sure your water tanks are full & accessible at all times! This means checking automatic waters to ensure they’re not frozen, chipping ice, and/or using a bucket/tank heater.

🎄If you feed grain or cubes, SOAK them! This will ensure your horse gets some extra hydration when it’s not enticing to drink cold water.

🎄Top dress feed and/or hay with commercial equine electrolytes or a couple teaspoons of table salt. This will encourage more water consumption throughout the day.

🎄If you notice decreased f***l output, decreased water consumption, lethargy, and/or inappetence, consult with your vet sooner rather than later! Colic symptoms often begin subtle.

🎄If your horses are clipped, very young/very old, or grow a poor winter coat, consider blanketing them.

🎄Have a plan! Have an established veterinary relationship & know your options for emergency care!

03/31/2024

Happy Easter to all of our wonderful clients!

Spring is in the air, which means foaling and breeding season is in full swing! 🌸🐣🌱

Let’s see those cute foal pics!