Rigdon Veterinary Services

10/22/2026

🚨 Tonight’s 911! 🚨
Not exactly how we planned to spend our evening! This horse managed to sustain a pretty deep laceration that required some extensive repair. Three layers of sutures later, we were finally able to get everything closed back up!
Just another reminder that horses can find a way to hurt themselves on just about anything! 🐴🩺
Late nights are all part of the job, and we’re thankful we can be there when our patients need us most! ❤️

10/18/2026

Nothing beats a small-town rodeo, perfect weather, and a night spent cheering on some amazing cowboys and cowgirls! 🤠🐎❤️
We were so proud to sponsor the barrel racing this weekend and cheer on everyone who made a run, especially some of our favorite little cowgirls!
As much as we love taking care of your horses, it sure is fun to cheer y’all on from the stands instead of working on them! 😂❤️

10/15/2026

The hardest part of our job will always be saying goodbye. 💔
Not only because we are losing such a beautiful part of God’s creation, but because we have to stand beside people we genuinely care about and watch them grieve the loss of something they love so deeply.

Some horses come into our lives and leave hoofprints on our hearts, but Nemo left his on an entire generation of little horse lovers. What an incredible gift that is.
If you’ve ever had to make the heartbreaking decision to let a horse go, you know that pain is something words simply cannot describe. They are so much more than just horses. They are family, best friends, teachers, and a part of so many precious memories.

Nemo was one of those special souls. He touched so many young lives, especially the lesson kids who loved him. He taught lessons that went far beyond riding, and his impact will live on in the hearts of every person who had the privilege of knowing him. ❤️

One of the greatest blessings of our job is getting to know these animals and the people who love them. But that also makes the goodbyes so incredibly hard.
Our hearts are with Kaitlin and everyone who loved Nemo. Rest easy, sweet Nemo. You were loved and your life mattered to so many!!

10/14/2026

🐴🐎Horse owners: Be mindful of the weather change! It’s been a busy morning at Rigdon vet services, we’ve already received 3 emergency calls involving horses being down this morning. Sudden temperature changes can affect horses in several ways, especially when it comes to hydration and digestive health. During cooler weather, horses may drink less water, increasing their risk of dehydration and impaction colic.

A few reminders for horse owners:
💧 Monitor water intake and encourage hydration.
🌾 Keep feeding routines consistent.
🐴 Watch for changes in appetite, manure production, or behavior.
🚨 Be alert for signs of colic, including pawing, rolling, flank watching, or repeatedly lying down.

Not every down horse is experiencing colic, but a horse that cannot or will not stand is always a reason to call your veterinarian immediately.

Take a few extra minutes to check on your horses today! A little prevention and early recognition can go a long way.
And as we navigate these seasonal changes, say a little prayer for the horses who aren’t feeling their best and the veterinarians working hard to get them back on their feet. ❤️🐴

10/07/2026

This morning’s case: Equine Enucleation for Squamous Cell Carcinoma 👁️🐴

This morning, Doc performed an enucleation, which is the surgical removal of the globe (eyeball), after this horse developed ocular squamous cell carcinoma (SCC).

Squamous cell carcinoma is one of the most common tumors affecting the equine eye and surrounding tissues. Horses with white faces, lightly pigmented skin, or little pigment around the eyes can be at increased risk. SCC may involve the eyelids, conjunctiva, third eyelid, or the globe itself and can become painful and locally invasive as it progresses.

Doc began by placing the horse under standing sedation, followed by local anesthetic blocks using lidocaine to provide additional pain control during the procedure.

Enucleations can also be a fairly bloody procedure. The tissues surrounding the eye are highly vascular, meaning they contain a significant blood supply. Because of this, there can be quite a bit of bleeding during surgery, which can look dramatic, but hemorrhage is carefully controlled throughout the procedure.

Although removing an eye sounds like a major change, horses are incredibly adaptable. Once the painful or diseased eye is removed and the surgical site has healed, many horses adjust remarkably well to having monocular vision — vision from one eye.

When the tumor can be completely removed and there is no significant spread into the surrounding tissues, the prognosis for recovery can be very good. After an appropriate healing period, many horses are able to return to riding, showing, working, and doing the same jobs they did before surgery.

It really is amazing how quickly horses can compensate and adjust. What seems like such a major surgery can ultimately give them relief from a painful, cancerous eye and allow them to get right back to enjoying life and doing what they love. ❤️

10/06/2026

Today looked a little like this - working in the rain, making the rounds, and doing our best to take care of the animals and people who depend on us rain or shine. 🌧️🐴

One thing we want to continue being transparent about is the incredible demand for large animal veterinary care in our area.
We know it can be frustrating to hear that we aren’t accepting new clients, and we truly wish we could say yes to everyone who calls. The reality is, there are only so many hours in a day and only so much one veterinarian and a small team can physically do.

Our current clients are already waiting several weeks for routine appointments, and continuing to add more patients would mean longer waits, less availability for emergencies, and ultimately not being able to provide the level of care our established clients deserve.

Saying “we aren’t accepting new clients” is never because we don’t care. Quite the opposite. We care enough to recognize our limits.

We wish we could be everywhere, help every animal, and answer every call—but that simply isn’t physically possible. For now, our priority has to remain taking the very best care of the clients and patients who have entrusted us with their animals year after year.

Thank you to those who continue to show us patience, kindness, and understanding. We are incredibly grateful for this community and never take the demand for our services for granted. 🤍

10/05/2026

A little mud on our boots and a few curious faces at the chute. 🐮🤎 Fall is a great time to review herd health and make sure vaccines are up to date before winter. Grateful for the hardworking folks who trust us with their herds and let us be a small part of life on the farm.

10/04/2026

Kaitlin was one of our very first clients, and we couldn’t be prouder! Her hard work, dedication, and love for her horses make seeing moments like this even sweeter.

Congratulations to her and Buzz on winning the open jumper division this weekend! 🏆 We’re thankful for the trust she’s placed in us from the beginning and grateful to play a small part in their journey. Clients like these make what we do so rewarding! 🐴

I think this sums up how I feel this weekend with Buzz. I’m beyond thrilled with how well he did this weekend!

Can’t thank our vet Rigdon Veterinary Services and Alex Chambless, our farrier, for all their help getting him to feel his best!

More pictures to come but look at the Huntley Equestrian Coat again 😍

09/29/2026

Can’t wait to see these exhibitors’ hard work pay off!

Before the lights come on and the midway fills up, there’s the work.

The early mornings. The animals. The projects. The families and young people carrying agricultural traditions forward.

The Baker County Ag Fair is where that work gets its moment in the spotlight.

⭐Rooted in tradition. Rooted in Baker County.⭐