What to Expect When Your Horse is Hospitalized at Woodside

Having your horse hospitalized can feel overwhelming—but at Woodside Equine Clinic, we’re here to walk alongside you every step of the way. Our team is committed to providing expert medical care and compassionate support to both horses and their people.

Why Horses Are Hospitalized

Horses may require inpatient care for a variety of medical needs, including:

• Digestive issues: choke, medical or surgical colic

• Orthopedic injuries: fractures, laminitis, septic joints

• Foaling complications: dystocia, retained placenta, postpartum colic

• Infectious disease: colitis, pneumonia, fevers of unknown origin

• Respiratory concerns: pleural pneumonia, emergency tracheotomy

• Wounds: lacerations, punctures, or non-healing infections

• Ophthalmic conditions: corneal ulcers, eye trauma, or severe infections requiring frequent treatments and monitoring

• Elective procedures:

  • Fasting and preparation for gastroscopy

  • Pre- and post-operative care for elective surgeries (e.g., arthroscopy, castration, mass removals)

• Cases requiring intensive or around-the-clock treatments that may not be feasible to manage at home

What You Can Expect

From the moment your horse arrives, our goal is to ensure you feel informed, supported, and confident in their care.

• Thorough Initial Work-Up: You are welcome to be present during your horse’s work-up so you can ask questions and hear our findings firsthand. Our team will explain what we see, what we suspect, and what we recommend.

• Daily Communication: We’ll keep you updated regularly on your horse’s progress and will help ensure all of your questions are answered

• Detailed Care Plans: You’ll receive a clear treatment plan, including a cost estimate, expected length of stay, and what to expect day to day.

Around-the-Clock Care

Your horse will be closely monitored 24/7 by trained veterinary staff who are dedicated to ensuring their comfort and safety:

• On-site veterinarians completing an internship with us are readily available at all hours for immediate intervention when needed

• Experienced nursing staff to provide consistent, compassionate care

• Two board-certified surgeons overseeing each case to ensure the highest standard of treatment

Whether your horse is receiving IV fluids, pain management, wound care, or specialized feeding support, our entire team is focused on making sure they are comfortable, calm, and healing.

Hospital Facilities Designed for Comfort & Safety

• Spacious, well-bedded stalls; some with cameras for added monitoring

• Surgical suite with advanced equipment and recovery stalls

• Isolation stalls for contagious diseases, with strict biosecurity protocols

• Turnout paddocks for supervised time outside when appropriate

Supporting You and Your Horse

We know how hard it is to be away from your horse. That’s why we offer:

• Daily visiting hours from 10 AM–7 PM

• Flexible visit times for critical patients or special circumstances (based on staff availability)

We want you to feel welcome, informed, and reassured throughout your horse’s stay. Your trust means everything to us—and we treat every patient like they’re our own.

If you have any questions about hospitalization or would like to tour the facility, don’t hesitate to reach out. We’re here to help.