Directions to Clinic

How do I get to the clinic?

Directions to Woodside Equine Clinic

From the North:
95 South, to Exit 92 (Ashland/54 west). Continue on 54 west crossing over Route 1. Go through the town of Ashland; proceed across the railroad tracks for about 2 miles to Route 666 (Blanton Road) make a left onto Blanton Rd and continue down for approx 2-3 miles to Woodside Equine Clinic on your right. There will be a white sign with the clinic name.
OR
From the South:
95 north, follow I-95 north to Exit 92 (Ashland/54 west). Continue on 54 west crossing over Route 1. Go through the town of Ashland; proceed across the railroad tracks for about 2 miles to Route 666 (Blanton Road) make a left onto Blanton Rd and continue down for approx 2-3 miles to Woodside Equine Clinic on your right. There will be a white sign with the clinic name.
OR
From the East:
64 west to 295 north to 95 north, follow I-95 north to Exit 92 (Ashland/54 west). Continue on 54 west crossing over Route 1. Go through the town of Ashland; proceed across the railroad tracks for about 2 miles to Route 666 (Blanton Road) make a left onto Blanton Rd and continue down for approx 2-3 miles to Woodside Equine Clinic on your right. There will be a white sign with the clinic name.
OR
From the West
64 East to the Rockville/Manakin Exit, at the end of the ramp cross north over bridge and follow 623 crossing 33 and continue about 1-2 miles and turn left onto Blanton Road (you will see a blue sign here for the state fire training center). The clinic will be on the left about 9/10 of a mile. There will be a white sign with the clinic name.

Vaccinations

What vaccines does my foal need to be given?

Foal (5 months of age)
• Encephalomyelitis (Eastern and Western)
• Tetanus
• West Nile Virus
• Rabies

Foal (6 months of age)
• Encephalomyelitis (Eastern and Western)
• Tetanus
• Rhinopneumonitis
• Influenza
• Potomac Horse Fever
• West Nile Virus
• Strangles (Intranasal)

Foal (7 months of age)
• Encephalomyelitis (Eastern and Western)
• Tetanus
• Rhinopneumonitis
• Influenza
• Potomac Horse Fever
• West Nile Virus
• Strangles (Intranasal vaccine)

What vaccines does my adult horse need to be given?

Adult (Spring):
• Encephalomyelitis (Eastern and Western)
• Tetanus
• Influenza
• Rhinopneumonitis
• West Nile Virus
• Potomac Horse Fever
• Rabies
• Strangles (Intranasal vaccine)

Adult (Fall):
• Encephalomyelitis (Eastern and Western)
• Tetanus
• Influenza
• Rhinopneumonitis
• West Nile Virus
• Potomac Horse Fever

Adult (Summer- if showing heavily)
• Influenza
• Rhinopneumonitis
• Potomac Horse Fever

What about my pregnant mare? Are there additional vaccines that she needs?

Pregnant Mare (5th, 7th, 9th month of pregnancy)
• Rhinopneumonitis (killed vaccine EHV-1)

Pregnant Mare (4-6 weeks prior to foaling)
• Encephalomyelitis (Eastern and Western)
• Tetanus
• Influenza
• Rhinopneumonitis
• West Nile Virus
• Potomac Horse Fever
• Rabies

Clinic Hours

What are your hours of operation?

Woodside Equine Clinic is open from 8:00am to 5:00pm Monday thru Friday. Unfortunately, at this time, our office is not open during the weekends or holidays. However, we do offer 24 hour emergency service for all of our clients with two on-call veterinarians. Just call our office number and have the on-call veterinarian paged.

First Aid Kit

What do I need in my horse's first aid kit?

For all horse owners, a properly stocked first aid kit is very important. By keeping a few critical items on hand, appropriate first aid can be given while waiting for your veterinarian in case of an emergency. The following is a recommended list of supplies to include in the first aid kit:

Monitoring: stethoscope and thermometer - You should be comfortable determining your horse’s heart rate, respiratory rate, and temperature. It is helpful to know your horse’s normal resting heart and respiratory rate and temperature for comparison, as individuals vary within the normal range. This information can be written down and kept on a stall card or fixed to the inside cover of the first aid kit. Your veterinarian can show you how to best perform this exam if you are not sure.

Wound Care: latex gloves, clippers or safety razor, scrub, saline or clean water, small cloths or gauze sponges, clean towels, antimicrobial wound ointment - Latex gloves should be worn when handling wounds to prevent further contamination with bacteria from the hands. Choose a gentle antiseptic scrub such as dilute betadine or chlorhexadine (Novalsan™). You will also need a bottle of saline or clean water and some clean wash cloths or gauze sponges. Small clippers or a safety razor are used to remove hair from the area of a wound and facilitate examination or treatment. Triple antibiotic or other wound ointment is used topically on superficial wounds. Please remember that if you have called your veterinarian to look at a wound, it is best to simply clean it and bandage if appropriate but not put any type of ointment on the wound. (Ointments are usually oil-based, and can be difficult to remove in order for your veterinarian to properly examine or suture a wound.)

Bandaging: non-stick pads, 4x4 gauze sponges, roll gauze or cling, cotton sheets, non-adhesive bandage (vetrap™) – You should be comfortable applying several standard bandages including a foot bandage, standing bandage, and stack bandage. Telfa™ or non-stick pads are applied directly to wounds beneath the bandage. As a low-cost alternative, or for wounds with more drainage, a clean sanitary napkin can be substituted for the non-stick wound dressing. Roll gauze or cling is used to hold the non-stick pad in place, then the rest of the bandage is applied.

Hoof Care: shoe pulling instruments (rasp or clinch cutters, nippers), Epsom salts, magnapaste or icthammol, duct tape – You may need to remove a loose or sprung shoe and rasp any broken edges of the hoof. Epsom salts are commonly used for soaking abscessed soles, and icthammol or magnapaste are used under a foot bandage as a poultice for treating hoof abscesses. A premie or infant diaper can be used as a quick and easily applied foot bandage. After soaking, dry the foot, apply icthammol or magnapaste to the sole, and cover with the diaper. A layer of duct tape or reusable plastic boot completes the bandage.

Medications: flunixin (Banamine™), phenylbutazone (bute) – Flunixin is a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory (NSAID) and analgesic drug. It is wise to keep a dose of flunixin on hand to treat colic. It is always best to call first and discuss the situation with the veterinarian on call before giving any medication, however you may be instructed to give Banamine™ if your veterinarian cannot get there right away. Banamine is available in both injectable and oral paste formulations. Bute is also a NSAID, and is commonly used for lameness. Bute is available in oral tablet or paste formulations.

Building your first aid kit: Most of the items listed can be found at a pharmacy, tack & feed store, horse supply catalog, or through your veterinarian. The supplies should be well labeled and stored in a waterproof container. The first aid kit should be kept in the barn or trailer so that it is easily accessible when needed. Remember that most medications should not be subjected to freezing temperatures, so it may be necessary to store part of the kit in the house during the winter if your facilities do not include a heated or well insulated area of the barn. The kit should be checked periodically to be sure that it is well stocked and that medications or supplies have not gone out of date.
As always, we are happy to answer any questions – please ask if you need help assembling your first aid kit or learning how to use it!

Toxic Plants and Trees

What plants and trees can be toxic to horses?

Black Walnut
Toxic principle unknown
Transmitted through bedding, when sawdust or shavings from the tree are used. Poisoning due in part to the ingestion or inhalation of a toxic substance present in black walnut.
Symptoms Include: Laminitis, leg edema (swelling), unwillingness to move, depression, colic, and, in some cases respiratory difficulties.
What to do? Call your veterinarian immediately *Remove immediately from walnut shavings. Wash horse's legs with mild detergent.

Black Locust
Toxic Principle: Glycoside, robitin, and the phytotoxins robin and phasing.
Transmitted through the ingestion of tree bark from trees or posts used for fencing. Symptoms include weakness, cold extremities, dilated pupils, weak irregular pulse, and posterior paralysis.
What to do? Call your veterinarian immediately

Red Maple
Toxic principle unknown
Transmitted through ingestion of wilted or dried red maple leaves and tree bark. Wilted and dried leaves can remain toxic for up to 30 days.
Symptoms include severe anemia, weakness, depression, pale mucous membranes, increased respiratory and heart rate, cyanosis, and dark brown urine.
What to do? Call your veterinarian immediately

Oak
Toxic Principle: Produce acorns containing tannin. Leaves and bark contain Gallatin. Thespian oak is the most toxic.
Transmitted through the ingestion of acorns, buds, leaves and blossoms.
Symptoms include anorexia, constipation, rough coat, dry muzzle, abdominal pain, thirst, and frequent urination. Bloody diarrhea occurs as a result of intestinal ulceration and necrosis. Kidney and liver damage apparent within one week of ingestion.
Wahst to do? Call your veterinarian immediately

Cherry
Toxic Principles: Cyanogenic glycosides young or wilted leaves are the most toxic.

Transmitted by water consumption shortly after ingestion promotes the quick release of cyanide into the bloodstream
Symptoms include increased respiration, weak pulse, convulsions, bright red mucous membranes slobbering and rapid death
What to do? Call your veterinarian immediately

Oleander
Toxic Principles: Cardiac glycosides similar to digitoxin
Transmitted via ingestion of plant.
Symptoms include Colic, vomiting, diarrhea, irregular heart beat, muscle tremors and paralysis.
What to do? Call your veterinarian immediately.

Water Hemlock
Toxic Principle: Alcohol like cicutoxin
Transmitted via ingestion of the root or base of the plant, which holds the yellow oily juice-like toxin. The plant is found in wet, rich soil often along ditches.
Symptoms include violent convulsions within 30 minutes of ingestion. Death if more than five pounds are eaten.
What to do? Call your veterinarian immediately. *Remove plant from area.

Poison Hemlock
Toxic Principles: Alkaloids and coniine, a nicotine like substance.
Transmitted via ingestion of the root or base of the plant, often found along roadsides or barren pastures.
Symptoms Include: Rapid excitement, ataxia, depression and an odor to breath and urine. Death if more than five pounds are ingested.
What to do? Call your veterinarian immediately. *Remove plant from area.

Sudan/Johnson Grass
Toxic Principles: Cyanogenic glycosides similar to dhurrin.
Transmitted via ingestion of new growth along roadsides.
Symptoms include: Urinary incontinence, cystitis and ataxia and paralysis from nerve damage.
What to do? Call your veterinarian immediately. *Remove grass from hay or purchase cyanide-free grass/hay mixes.

Milkweed
Transmitted via: Ingestion of plant found in dry, sandy pastures or fields.
Symptoms include: Depression, weakness, staggering and seizures that resemble tetanus, i.e. muscle rigidity.
What to do? Call your veterinarian immediately. *Check hay and pasture for dried milkweed. While some Eastern strains are not toxic, it is best to avoid all types.

Tall Fescue
Toxic Principle: Endophyte fungus.
Transmitted via: Ingestion of hearty rescue plant which grows throughout most of the year.
Symptoms include: Lack of normal signs of foaling, difficult birth because of delayed foaling date, decreased milk and colostrum production, retained placenta, abortion and laminitis.
What to do? Call your veterinarian immediately. *Remove endophyte infested fescue from pasture and replace with endophyte-free fescue or alternative grass. Remove pregnant mare from fescue pasture and hay three months prior to foaling date.