Call for an appointment 352.331.8434
Springhill Equine is the area's leading all-inclusive Equine Hospital, coupling
unparalleled convenience with the latest technology. The Wellness and Education
Programs provide unbeatable service at our unique Alachua County haul-in facility.
Springhill Equine provides the professional care your horse deserves with the
convenience you need!
Serving Gainesville and surrounding areas
Serving Gainesville and surrounding areas
Whether you're looking to condition your
horse, or find out when to castrate your colt,
get the answers you need here! Have a
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Ask your Equine Veterinarian
Is it an emergency or can it wait until morning?
If you are ever unsure about the answer to this question, then you should be dialing our number. We are here to answer any and all questions you have. If you are uncomfortable with something your horse is doing, please feel free to call us any time of the day or night. It's best to deal with what may be a small problem for your horse immediately upon its discovery - be it in the wee hours or Thanksgiving day, than a much bigger and potentially fatal problem the next morning. That said, we would like to offer some guidelines. Cuts and lacerations near joints can be look very small yet be very serious. We recommend contacting us immediately for even the smallest of wounds if they are near joints. Colic can manifest itself in many different ways. Most horses will start by refusing feed and/or hay. This may progress to curling of the upper lip, pawing and rolling. Other reasons to call include high fevers (over 102.5F) and heart rates (over 40 beats per minute), sudden behavior changes, and any discomfort, swelling or discharge involving the eye.
I think my horse is colicking. What should I do?
Your first step is to call us - the sooner, the better. Your horse should never be uncomfortable for longer than 15-20 minutes. However tempting, do not frantically work to get a colicky horse up and walking as quickly as possible. Instead, allow your horse to do whatever makes them comfortable. We were all taught to walk a horse non-stop if they were colicking and never let them roll. This is a bit of an old wives' tale. Most horses prefer to lie quietly on their chest or flat out on their side, or they will lie down for a short period, stand up, walk a short way and lie back down. We recommend walking only if your horse is extremely uncomfortable. If your horse is becoming violent, it is best to leave them alone in a well-bedded stall or small paddock without any food until help arrives. Many colicking horses with cast themselves repeatedly, even if corrected, so never attempt to move a cast horse by yourself! We ALWAYS recommend calling before giving banamine (flunixin meglumine) to your colicky horse.
What vaccinations should my horse receive?
The answer to this question is very dependent on what your horse does (and where) on a regular basis. Horses that see other horses on a regular basis, such as at horse shows or organized trail rides, require different vaccines than those who stay at home most of the time. There are vaccines that we consider "core vaccines" - those that should be administered to every horse regardless of situation. Core vaccines for horses in Florida are Rabies once yearly, EWT (Eastern and Western Equine Encephalitis, and Tetanus) twice yearly, and West Nile Virus (WNV) once yearly. Other "non-core" vaccines are only necessary in specific circumstances. Some examples of these are Rhino (Rhinopneumonitis or Equine Herpes), Influenza, and Potomac Horse Fever. The chart below offers some basic guidelines:
What is the best deworming program?
The answer again depends on your horse's situation and exposure level. Horses ingest parasites through infected manure, pasture and forage. The best way to assess your horse's parasite exposure level and the effectiveness of your current deworming program is through serial fecal exams. This can be done by dropping a fresh sample of two to three "apples" off at the office - before AND after deworming.
The table below offers some general guidelines to help you formulate a deworming program for your situation. And we are more than happy to help develop a plan for your individual situation.
How do I fill my Prescription?
1. Go to the pharmacy of your choice (We recommend SmartPak- especially for pergolide)
2. Set up an account with the pharmacy
3. Pick the product which you intend to purchase
4. Ask the pharmacy to fax a request form to Springhill Equine at 352-332-6552
When should I geld my colt?
The short answer is December - we're having a special (see our Events listings)! In truth, the answer is the sooner, the better. Most youngsters will begin showing stallion type behaviors by 3-4 months of age. If you do not desire a stallion it is recommended to geld before these behaviors begin. If you would like to have all of the stallion-type physical appearances, you will need to wait until your colt is three to four years old, though most people are satisfied with appearances by one year of age. No research has shown an effect on final height or weight based on age of castration. Even foals castrated as early as 10 days showed no long term benefit or harm. Make sure you check to see how many testicles you can feel on your colt before calling to make an appointment. Cryptorchidism (retention of a testicle outside the scrotum) is not uncommon in horses. A cryptorchid castration must be performed in the clinic, as it is a more intensive procedure than a routine castration.
What dental care does my horse require and how often is it necessary?
Horses' teeth should be floated every 6-18 months, depending on the age and pattern of your horses' teeth. Horses are a bit like beavers - their teeth erupt during their entire lifetime. This eruption does not always occur in an organized pattern, particularly as most horses have a bit of an overbite. This results in the formation of sharp points, areas where grinding action does not evenly reduce the chewing, or table surface of the tooth as it erupts. In particular, points develop on the cheek (buccal) side of the upper molars and the tongue (lingual) side of the lower molars. The table surface of the molars also develops ridges much like those on a washboard dirt road, and hooks at the front and back of the row the of teeth (called an "arcade"). These irregularities prevent our horses from doing all that we ask of them. In particular they make flexion and side-to-side motion of the head difficult which can lead to resistance in the bridle and tension in the back. Therefore, performance horses should have these irregularities corrected at least once a year. Many horses under 5 years will require dental attention more often, twice or more yearly, because they develop problems much more quickly. Young horses will develop bumps under their jaw related to tooth eruption, and often become painful when a "cap," or baby tooth, needs to come off. At Springhill Equine we use high-speed Dremel dental equipment, effective sedation, and a thorough look and feel inside your horse's mouth to allow us to rapidly and precisely perform dental procedures. We even have digital radiographic equipment specialized for intraoral radiographs - just like when you go to the dentist!
What is a Coggins Test?
The Coggins Test was invented in 1970 by Dr. Leroy Coggins of Cornell University, to identify antibodies to Equine Infectious Anemia (EIA) in horse serum. EIA, closely related to Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV), causes fever, depression, loss of appetite and anemia in horses, mules, and donkeys (but not people). The virus is carried by biting insects, such as stable and horse flies, and rarely mosquitos. There is no known cure or vaccine, which means testing, identification of carriers, and isolation is our only means of control. The test is required at least yearly for horses, and is necessary for events such as shows or trail rides. It is also required for sale, racing, and travel outside the state. If you are traveling out of state, a Health Certificate will also be required. You may call the Office at (352) 331-8434 for assistance.
How do I and should I get my horse's fecals evaluated?
It is important to wait an appropriate amount of time following deworming before collecting a fecal. Wait times are: Ivermectin - 3 months, Moxidectin (Quest) - 4 months, Pyrantel (Strongid) and Fenbendazole (Panacur) - 9 weeks. Please call if you are unsure which product you last gave and we will help determine the best time to collect a fecal. To submit a fecal sample to the clinic, first find a fresh "apple," it should be fresh in appearance. Place it in a Ziplock bag, and drop it by the clinic. If it will be more than 6-12 hours between when your horse passes the feces and when you are bringing it to us, place the sample in your fridge or in a cooler with an ice pack until you can get it to us.
My horse is itchy and seems excessively bothered by the flies. What can I do?
Many horses in Florida suffer from Culicoides sensitivity, or allergies to gnats (also called "no see ums"). Making your horse comfortable can be a challenging process. We will usually try giving your horse steroids, depending on chronicity and severity. Sometimes it is necessary to titrate your horse's required dose to make them comfortable; this make take several visits. While this step is important to controlling your horse's response to the bites, it is also crucial to control the number of gnats in the environment. These insects are extremely weak fliers, so the addition of a fan in your horse's stall or run-in can give them a gnat-free zone of comfort. For the severely affected horse, we recommend going to the next level, and investing in a specialized fly sheet. We recommend the FlyShield Mosquito Mesh Outfit, which you can find for less than $100 at Schneider's Saddlery online.
If you are ever unsure about the answer to this question, then you should be dialing our number. We are here to answer any and all questions you have. If you are uncomfortable with something your horse is doing, please feel free to call us any time of the day or night. It's best to deal with what may be a small problem for your horse immediately upon its discovery - be it in the wee hours or Thanksgiving day, than a much bigger and potentially fatal problem the next morning. That said, we would like to offer some guidelines. Cuts and lacerations near joints can be look very small yet be very serious. We recommend contacting us immediately for even the smallest of wounds if they are near joints. Colic can manifest itself in many different ways. Most horses will start by refusing feed and/or hay. This may progress to curling of the upper lip, pawing and rolling. Other reasons to call include high fevers (over 102.5F) and heart rates (over 40 beats per minute), sudden behavior changes, and any discomfort, swelling or discharge involving the eye.
I think my horse is colicking. What should I do?
Your first step is to call us - the sooner, the better. Your horse should never be uncomfortable for longer than 15-20 minutes. However tempting, do not frantically work to get a colicky horse up and walking as quickly as possible. Instead, allow your horse to do whatever makes them comfortable. We were all taught to walk a horse non-stop if they were colicking and never let them roll. This is a bit of an old wives' tale. Most horses prefer to lie quietly on their chest or flat out on their side, or they will lie down for a short period, stand up, walk a short way and lie back down. We recommend walking only if your horse is extremely uncomfortable. If your horse is becoming violent, it is best to leave them alone in a well-bedded stall or small paddock without any food until help arrives. Many colicking horses with cast themselves repeatedly, even if corrected, so never attempt to move a cast horse by yourself! We ALWAYS recommend calling before giving banamine (flunixin meglumine) to your colicky horse.
What vaccinations should my horse receive?
The answer to this question is very dependent on what your horse does (and where) on a regular basis. Horses that see other horses on a regular basis, such as at horse shows or organized trail rides, require different vaccines than those who stay at home most of the time. There are vaccines that we consider "core vaccines" - those that should be administered to every horse regardless of situation. Core vaccines for horses in Florida are Rabies once yearly, EWT (Eastern and Western Equine Encephalitis, and Tetanus) twice yearly, and West Nile Virus (WNV) once yearly. Other "non-core" vaccines are only necessary in specific circumstances. Some examples of these are Rhino (Rhinopneumonitis or Equine Herpes), Influenza, and Potomac Horse Fever. The chart below offers some basic guidelines:
What is the best deworming program?
The answer again depends on your horse's situation and exposure level. Horses ingest parasites through infected manure, pasture and forage. The best way to assess your horse's parasite exposure level and the effectiveness of your current deworming program is through serial fecal exams. This can be done by dropping a fresh sample of two to three "apples" off at the office - before AND after deworming.
The table below offers some general guidelines to help you formulate a deworming program for your situation. And we are more than happy to help develop a plan for your individual situation.
How do I fill my Prescription?
1. Go to the pharmacy of your choice (We recommend SmartPak- especially for pergolide)
2. Set up an account with the pharmacy
3. Pick the product which you intend to purchase
4. Ask the pharmacy to fax a request form to Springhill Equine at 352-332-6552
When should I geld my colt?
The short answer is December - we're having a special (see our Events listings)! In truth, the answer is the sooner, the better. Most youngsters will begin showing stallion type behaviors by 3-4 months of age. If you do not desire a stallion it is recommended to geld before these behaviors begin. If you would like to have all of the stallion-type physical appearances, you will need to wait until your colt is three to four years old, though most people are satisfied with appearances by one year of age. No research has shown an effect on final height or weight based on age of castration. Even foals castrated as early as 10 days showed no long term benefit or harm. Make sure you check to see how many testicles you can feel on your colt before calling to make an appointment. Cryptorchidism (retention of a testicle outside the scrotum) is not uncommon in horses. A cryptorchid castration must be performed in the clinic, as it is a more intensive procedure than a routine castration.
What dental care does my horse require and how often is it necessary?
Horses' teeth should be floated every 6-18 months, depending on the age and pattern of your horses' teeth. Horses are a bit like beavers - their teeth erupt during their entire lifetime. This eruption does not always occur in an organized pattern, particularly as most horses have a bit of an overbite. This results in the formation of sharp points, areas where grinding action does not evenly reduce the chewing, or table surface of the tooth as it erupts. In particular, points develop on the cheek (buccal) side of the upper molars and the tongue (lingual) side of the lower molars. The table surface of the molars also develops ridges much like those on a washboard dirt road, and hooks at the front and back of the row the of teeth (called an "arcade"). These irregularities prevent our horses from doing all that we ask of them. In particular they make flexion and side-to-side motion of the head difficult which can lead to resistance in the bridle and tension in the back. Therefore, performance horses should have these irregularities corrected at least once a year. Many horses under 5 years will require dental attention more often, twice or more yearly, because they develop problems much more quickly. Young horses will develop bumps under their jaw related to tooth eruption, and often become painful when a "cap," or baby tooth, needs to come off. At Springhill Equine we use high-speed Dremel dental equipment, effective sedation, and a thorough look and feel inside your horse's mouth to allow us to rapidly and precisely perform dental procedures. We even have digital radiographic equipment specialized for intraoral radiographs - just like when you go to the dentist!
What is a Coggins Test?
The Coggins Test was invented in 1970 by Dr. Leroy Coggins of Cornell University, to identify antibodies to Equine Infectious Anemia (EIA) in horse serum. EIA, closely related to Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV), causes fever, depression, loss of appetite and anemia in horses, mules, and donkeys (but not people). The virus is carried by biting insects, such as stable and horse flies, and rarely mosquitos. There is no known cure or vaccine, which means testing, identification of carriers, and isolation is our only means of control. The test is required at least yearly for horses, and is necessary for events such as shows or trail rides. It is also required for sale, racing, and travel outside the state. If you are traveling out of state, a Health Certificate will also be required. You may call the Office at (352) 331-8434 for assistance.
How do I and should I get my horse's fecals evaluated?
It is important to wait an appropriate amount of time following deworming before collecting a fecal. Wait times are: Ivermectin - 3 months, Moxidectin (Quest) - 4 months, Pyrantel (Strongid) and Fenbendazole (Panacur) - 9 weeks. Please call if you are unsure which product you last gave and we will help determine the best time to collect a fecal. To submit a fecal sample to the clinic, first find a fresh "apple," it should be fresh in appearance. Place it in a Ziplock bag, and drop it by the clinic. If it will be more than 6-12 hours between when your horse passes the feces and when you are bringing it to us, place the sample in your fridge or in a cooler with an ice pack until you can get it to us.
My horse is itchy and seems excessively bothered by the flies. What can I do?
Many horses in Florida suffer from Culicoides sensitivity, or allergies to gnats (also called "no see ums"). Making your horse comfortable can be a challenging process. We will usually try giving your horse steroids, depending on chronicity and severity. Sometimes it is necessary to titrate your horse's required dose to make them comfortable; this make take several visits. While this step is important to controlling your horse's response to the bites, it is also crucial to control the number of gnats in the environment. These insects are extremely weak fliers, so the addition of a fan in your horse's stall or run-in can give them a gnat-free zone of comfort. For the severely affected horse, we recommend going to the next level, and investing in a specialized fly sheet. We recommend the FlyShield Mosquito Mesh Outfit, which you can find for less than $100 at Schneider's Saddlery online.