Roxbury Animal Hospital

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Roxbury Animal Hospital Mixed animal veterinary hospital caring for dogs, cats, horses, cattle, goats, sheep, camelids, poultry & waterfowl in Roxbury, CT and the surrounding area.
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Providing care in-hospital, on-farm or at-home. Independent & veterinarian-owned.

Our patient of the week is Willow who was here for her spay. She enjoyed meeting the doctors and staff who thought she ...
09/18/2026

Our patient of the week is Willow who was here for her spay. She enjoyed meeting the doctors and staff who thought she was just wonderful. This young, healthy girl recovered like a champ after her surgery.

How to treat colic and when to call a vet The first line of defense in treating a colic is to remove food, increase hydr...
09/16/2026

How to treat colic and when to call a vet

The first line of defense in treating a colic is to remove food, increase hydration, and give 1 dose of an NSAID medication (typically banamine, but bute is acceptable if that is all you have). About 85% of colics resolve on their own or with 1 dose of a pain medication. If you have given your horse a dose of a pain control medication you should see resolution of pain symptoms in 30-45 minutes. If the horse is still symptomatic, DO NOT try giving more medications and call your veterinarian to come out and evaluate your horse. Some people like to walk their horse to help with colic. This may help with some milder colics related to gas or dry manure, but if your horse is very painful, fighting you, or trying to lay down, that is not an appropriate time to try walking them. Similarly, a bumpy trailer ride is sometimes recommended. This will occasionally help fix a displacement, but neither of these strategies are a substitute for veterinary evaluation. DO NOT delay veterinary care to try these, but if you want to try, a good time to do so is while waiting for banamine to kick in or the vet to arrive. When your vet arrives, the first thing they will do is a physical exam to evaluate if it is a colic or something else, and probably give banamine if you have not already done so. The next most common thing may include taking a little blood, giving some sedation, passing a naso-gastric tube and if your horse is big enough, a re**al exam. All of these things help us figure out what is going on with your horse. We will then treat accordingly based on what we find.

Our patient of the week is Bonnie, who, as the newest staff pet, is being thoroughly spoiled by everyone, not just her m...
09/11/2026

Our patient of the week is Bonnie, who, as the newest staff pet, is being thoroughly spoiled by everyone, not just her mom. Yes, this is Bonnie swaddled in a soft blanket with her stuffed lamb between her paws. Dr. Wall (who is not her mom) has taken to holding her like a baby while she does her medical notes for the day.

What is colic? Colic in horses (and other equids) is not a specific disease but an umbrella term for signs of abdominal...
09/10/2026

What is colic?
Colic in horses (and other equids) is not a specific disease but an umbrella term for signs of abdominal pain. Many things can cause colic, and not even all of them are actual abdominal pain. Some common causes of colic are gas, impacted dry feed material, ulcers, displaced gastrointestinal segments, and tumors. Colic is always an emergency, though it does not always require veterinary help. Some common things that can be mistaken for colic include choke (esophageal obstruction) or tying-up (muscle pain and cramping).

What are signs of colic?
Since there is a spectrum of causes of colic with varying degrees of pain, as well as individual variability in how horses express or hide their pain, there is a wide range of possible signs. Some of the most common signs are usually a decrease in manure output and a decreased appetite. With abdominal pain, some horses may act lethargic, kick or bite at their belly, stare at their sides (flank watching), stand with their feet stretched out behind them (parked out), lay down more with or without rolling, or they may be thrashing with obvious distress. Some signs of colic that veterinarians typically look for include elevated heart rate (over 40 beats per minute) or increased respiratory rate (over 28 breaths per minute).

Our patient of the week is Rocky who just needed to snuggle with his dad after his joint abscess treatment. Don't worry!...
09/04/2026

Our patient of the week is Rocky who just needed to snuggle with his dad after his joint abscess treatment. Don't worry! Rocky has recovered and is doing much better!

We will be closed on Monday, Sept 7th for Labor Day, so don't forget to plan ahead! Take stock of the medications you ha...
09/03/2026

We will be closed on Monday, Sept 7th for Labor Day, so don't forget to plan ahead! Take stock of the medications you have on hand, and remember, we do request 24hrs advanced notice for prescription refills. As always, we will have staff on call for true emergencies.

Every horse owner we know dreads the day that they will have to deal with a colic, but the more we know, the better we c...
09/02/2026

Every horse owner we know dreads the day that they will have to deal with a colic, but the more we know, the better we can prepare. This is why for the month of September, our client education topic will be horse colic brought to you by Dr. Horton.

🐔 Chicken Health Spotlight: Marek's Disease & Avian Influenza Two of the most serious viral diseases affecting backyard ...
08/26/2026

🐔 Chicken Health Spotlight: Marek's Disease & Avian Influenza

Two of the most serious viral diseases affecting backyard chickens are Marek's disease and Avian Influenza. Although both are caused by viruses, they affect birds very differently.

🦠 Marek's Disease attacks the nerves and can cause paralysis of the legs or wings, making it difficult or impossible for affected chickens to stand or walk. Some birds carry the virus without becoming sick, while others develop tumors associated with the infection. There is no treatment, and severely affected birds often require humane euthanasia. Vaccination of day-old chicks is the best form of prevention, although it does not provide complete protection.

🦆 Avian Influenza (Bird Flu) is most commonly spread by infected wild birds. Signs may include coughing or sneezing, swelling of the face, comb, or wattles, decreased appetite, neurological signs, diarrhea, reduced egg production, or sudden death. There is no treatment, and because it is a highly contagious reportable disease, poultry officials must respond if a flock tests positive. Infected flocks are typically depopulated to help prevent the spread of the virus. Cats and cattle can also become infected with certain strains of avian influenza.

The best way to protect your flock is through good biosecurity—limit contact with wild birds, keep feeders and water sources clean, and isolate new or sick birds. If you notice sudden illness or unexplained deaths in your flock, contact your veterinarian promptly.

Please join us for our open house this weekend!
08/25/2026

Please join us for our open house this weekend!

08/21/2026

If you’re at the Bridgewater Fair this weekend, come visit our booth! We’re near the dock diving dogs and livestock ring! Lots of giveaways and free raffle baskets for dogs, cats, horses, chickens and small ruminants!

Address

160 Baker Road
Roxbury, CT
06783

Opening Hours

Monday 8am - 5pm
Tuesday 8am - 5pm
Wednesday 8am - 5pm
Thursday 8am - 5pm
Friday 8am - 5pm
Saturday 8am - 12pm

Telephone

+18603548612

Website

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