Bristol Veterinary Service

10/21/2026

We would like to say THANK YOU to our whole team. We couldn’t provide such great care and service without you❣️

This week we’re cheering for the vet techs, assistants and support staff who show up for horses every single day! Their skill, patience and heart shape every visit, recovery and positive outcome. 🌟

Happy National Veterinary Technician and Assistant Appreciation Week! Tag a teammate who makes your barn calls better, and send some love to our friends at AAEVT-American Association of Equine Veterinary Technicians and Assistants 🙌🩺

10/16/2026

Great webinar from AAEP to help you learn more about your horse’s comfort level.

Is your horse in pain? 🐴 It’s not always obvious!

Join us for our Horse Owner Education Webinar with Drs. Kim Allshouse and Michael St. Blanc to learn how to spot the subtle signs of pain, tell the difference between pain and behavior problems, and catch issues early before they become bigger concerns. 🩺

The webinar will be recorded and registrants will receive a link to the recording, so be sure to sign up even if you can’t attend the live event. ✅

Drop the word LISTEN in the comments and we’ll send the registration link straight to your DMs. 📩

📅 Wednesday, Oct. 21, 2026
⏰ 8:00 to 9:30 PM EDT

10/14/2026

🍂 Crisp mornings are a sure sign that fall is here, and it's time to start checking items off your horse care to-do list! 🍂

Our Fall Care Checklist covers some of the essentials, and here's a little more on why each one matters:

💉 Fall vaccinations: Vaccine recommendations vary by location and individual horse, so talk with your veterinarian about what your horse needs this season.

🪱 Parasite control: Parasite risks and the best deworming approach differ depending on where you live. Your veterinarian can help you design a program that fits your horse and your region.

⚖️ Evaluate body condition: Thick winter coats can hide weight changes, so use your hands as well as your eyes. Assess condition now so you can plan any changes to your winter feeding program ahead of time.

🦷 Dental care: Good teeth help your horse chew and make the most of forage, which becomes even more important when pasture quality drops. Regular exams with your veterinarian are key.

🩹 Check your first aid kit: Replace anything expired, restock supplies you've used, and make sure your veterinarian's number is easy to find. A routine check now means you're ready when you need it.

❄️ Colic prevention: Cold weather can change how much your horse drinks and eats. Watch closely for changes in appetite and water intake, and call your veterinarian if something seems off.

And the to-do list doesn't end there! Don't forget to:

🧥 Repair and waterproof your horse's rugs: Fix tears, replace worn straps, and re-waterproof now so they're ready before the first cold, wet day.

🌾 Secure and store your hay properly: Keep it dry, covered, and off the ground with good airflow to help prevent mold and spoilage.

🏠 Assess your shelters for safety and soundness: Look for loose boards, protruding nails, roof leaks, and drainage trouble spots so your horses stay protected all winter long.

Not sure where to start? Your veterinarian can help you build a fall care plan tailored to your horse. 🩺

Save this post for later and share it with a fellow horse owner! 💙🧡

10/08/2026

Spring is not the only risky season for laminitic flares. Here is some helpful information on fall laminitis risks from the AAEP.

10/05/2026

🍂 When Should You Pull Horses Off Pasture for the Season? 🐴

Timing depends on weather and pasture condition, but here are a few key things to watch:

🌱 Forage Availability: Stop grazing when grasses average 3 to 4 inches tall. Overgrazing will weaken plants, reduce spring growth, and leave horses more likely to nibble on potentially toxic weeds or wilted leaves (e.g., maple).

🌡️ Air Temperature: Cool-season grasses thrive in the fall but stop growing after a killing frost (temps below 28°F for several hours).

💧 Footing: Wet, muddy pastures can’t handle hoof traffic. This can damage plants, compact soil, and reduce spring growth.

⏰ Transition to Hay Gradually 🐴

Microbes in the horse's gut need time to adapt to a new forage type. Aside from moisture content, hay and pasture may also differ in species and maturity, which affects nutrient content and digestibility. When possible, slowly add hay to your horse's diet across a two-week transition period to help lower the risk of colic or digestive upset.

For example, a healthy 1000-pound horse will consume about 20 pounds of forage daily. On pasture, they will graze about 1.5 pounds of forage per hour. Thus, during a transition period, 1.5 pounds of hay can be added and 1 hour of grazing time removed each day until 20 pounds of hay is reached on day 14.

Monitoring forage availability and weather will be key to timing out your transition. If pastures become too sparse, you will need to provide additional hay.

✅ Keep monitoring pasture conditions and weather.
✅ Provide clean water and free-choice salt.
✅ Protect your pasture for a strong spring rebound!

09/25/2026

It’s fall y’all 🍁🍂🍁 here are some helpful reminders from the AAEP to help prepare your horse for winter.

"F" IS FOR FALL-CHECKLIST! 🍂🍁

As the cooler weather moves in, now is the time to crack down on housing, nutrition, and preventative health strategies suitable for the arrival of winter.

Check out this list of essential items on the horse owner's fall to-do list, but there is much more that needs to be done—like having your horse's blankets repaired and waterproofed, securing and storing hay properly, assessing your shelters for safety and soundness, etc.

Note that your equine veterinarian is one of your greatest allies this season, so be sure to consult them and discuss vaccination and deworming protocols appropriate for your horse’s situation. This is also a great opportunity to chat about recommended changes in nutrition and exercise programs as well!

09/10/2026

With the diagnosis of Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE) in Portage, WI we wanted to share this information from the American Association of Equine Practitioners.

As cases of Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE) are on the rise, it remains critically important that horse owners take steps to protect their equine friends (and their families) from mosquito bites. If you live in a region where mosquito populations persist well into the fall months, your veterinarian may recommend additional fall booster vaccinations against EEE/WEE and WNV (West Nile Virus).

If you don't know your horse's vaccination history or you are unsure whether they have received a certain vaccine, it's not too late to start from scratch with an initial series of inoculations followed by the appropriate boosters, as recommended by your horse doctor.

So, what is Eastern Equine Encephalitis?

EEE is a severe, viral disease affecting the central nervous system, and is transmitted to equids (and humans) by infected mosquitoes. There is no cure for EEE, and the mortality rate is 75-95% (in horses). Prevention through vaccination is key.

Contact your veterinarian for more information, or learn more about EEE with the following resources:

USDA Equine Arbovirus Dashboard: https://www.aphis.usda.gov/livestock-poultry-disease/equine/arbovirus-dashboard

Equine Disease Communication Center (EDCC): https://www.equinediseasecc.org/eastern-equine-encephalitis

AAEP EEE Guidelines: https://aaep.org/resource/eastern-equine-encephalitis-eee/

09/08/2026

We have been seeing a lot of drooling horses recently as we travel around. Here is some helpful information about Slobbers.

🍀 Lucky clover… but is it safe for horses? 🐴

Clover is often found in mixed grass pastures and can contribute protein and energy to a horse’s diet. It is generally considered safe and a valuable forage for horses.

However, mold growing on clover can sometimes cause “slobbers,” or excessive salivation. Mold growth tends to occur during hot and humid conditions.

Regular pasture checks and monitoring clover in hay, especially during times when it is more susceptible to mold, can help keep your horse healthy.

Read more:
https://extension.umn.edu/horse-nutrition/feeding-clover-your-horse

08/25/2026

Not sure if you are up to date on your horse's vaccines? Below are the recommendations of the AAEP.