DeNaples Equine Services

09/05/2026

Since we seem to be getting quite a few panicked calls about this….clover slobbers or excessive salivation is thankfully not an emergency. Read below for the cause.

04/16/2026

04/10/2026

Spring has sprung, which means foaling season is in full swing! Here is some great information about mare wax and foaling from our friends at Idaho Equine Hospital:

"🐴 Mares Wax: A Key Sign Foaling is Near

If you’re monitoring a pregnant mare, one of the most talked-about signs of impending foaling is “waxing.” But what does it actually mean?

Mares wax when small, bead-like droplets of colostrum (first milk) appear on the ends of the teats. This happens as the udder fills and the body prepares for birth.

✨What to know:
- Waxing usually occurs 12–48 hours before foaling, though timing can vary.
- Not all mares will wax—so don’t rely on this sign alone.
- The presence of wax indicates that colostrum production is underway, which is essential for the foal’s immune protection.

⚠️ Important tips:
- Once waxing appears, increase monitoring—foaling could happen at any time.
- If the mare drips significant milk before foaling, consult your vet. This can mean loss of valuable colostrum.
- Combine waxing with other signs like relaxation of the tail head, softening of the muscles, and behavioral changes.

Being attentive during these final stages helps ensure a safe delivery and a healthy foal.

We would love to see pictures of your mares that are due or even foals that have already hit the ground! Happy Foaling Season!"

03/05/2026

03/04/2026

Spring only a few weeks away! 🙌 It’s not too early to start thinking about a deworming plan for your horses.

If deworming is something you’ve been doing the same way for as long as you can remember, this year we encourage you to break tradition and work with your veterinarian instead. Thanks to tools like the f***l egg count, your horse doctor can help you devise a treatment tailored to the needs of your equine friend plus monitor the efficacy of the dewormer used last.

Before you dismiss this notion because you’ve been “doing it for years,” you should know that the old-school approach to deworming is quickly becoming outdated. Not only is it a waste of money, but it also builds drug resistance in the parasitic fauna of equines, which means we are running out of drugs that can effectively help us control parasite infections.

For more information, the AAEP Parasite Control Guidelines can be found on our website: https://aaep.org/resource/internal-parasite-control-guidelines/

Key take-home messages from these Internal Parasite Disease Control Guidelines include:

• Perform f***l egg count reduction tests (FECRT) annually to ensure that you are using effective dewormers in every herd or barn.

• Recognize that no anthelmintic will eliminate all parasitic stages from a horse.

• Continue using f***l egg counts (FEC) once or twice a year to stratify horses into low, medium, and high shedders to reduce pasture contamination.

• Deworm all horses at a baseline rate (once or twice a year) and target selected horses more often based on FEC (strongyle high shedders).

• Do not use FEC to diagnose disease in horses; there is no correlation between FEC and disease-causing parasite life stages.

• Discontinue deworming all horses with fixed intervals year-round (e.g., every 2 months), and stop blindly rotating anthelmintic classes.

As always, consult your equine veterinarian to learn more and for questions specific to your horses!

02/14/2026

Many people think of donkeys as hardy, low-maintenance “small horses.” However, while they have similarities, donkeys are a completely different species and, as such, have a different physical, mental, and emotional makeup.

Here are a few things to keep in mind while caring for our long-eared friends during the colder months:

❄️ Donkeys are more sensitive to changes in temperature than their equine friends. You can help by making sure that they have shelter from wind and precipitation, ensuring they have a good body condition, offering adequate food and water, and checking their temperature during freezing weather.

❄️ Donkeys grow winter coats differently than horses do. Although they may grow thicker coats, they are generally not water resistant or as insulating as a horse's coat in the winter. This makes it even more crucial that donkeys have access to a dry shelter so they can stay warm.

❄️ Being stoic animals, donkeys often don't show signs of hypothermia until they are very sick.

Remember that every animal is different depending on age, breed, and other health conditions, so be sure to talk to your primary veterinarian to address any concerns or questions!

This information is brought to you by the AAEP Horse Owner Education Committee.

📸 Dr. Iris Foote

02/14/2026

Did you know that February is ? 🦷

Your equine's dental health is an essential part of their overall health and well-being. Therefore, it is imperative that your veterinarian perform AT LEAST one dental exam on your horse per year to ensure that their teeth, gums, and other oral structures are healthy. Poor dental health can also have adverse effects on other areas of the body if not addressed.

This graphic offers a quick overview of things you might not know about equine teeth and tooth wear.

If you're interested in learning more about equine dentistry, check out the recording of the webinar for horse owners that was presented last week on the topic of dentistry here: https://youtu.be/ABqWu9XMAi8?si=_O-L_OGFbyfaIh3p

Thank you to the Horse Owner Education Committee for providing this information.

If you have questions or concerns about your horse's dental health, contact your veterinarian.

02/03/2026