Dunthorpe Farm Veterinary Services

08/15/2025

🐌 It is time to address the snail in the room! Recently, we posted about a number of positive Potomac Horse Fever (PHF) cases in our area. A few people commented that they had never heard of PHF in all of their years of horse ownership. We are here to squash the misinformation surrounding PHF. Let’s jump right in at a snail's pace.

🐌 When was PHF first identified?
Originally PHF was recognized in 1979 near the Potomac River in Maryland.

🐌 Where is PHF?
Originally it was thought that PHF was only found in the eastern United States; however, it has been identified throughout North America. And it has been described in South America and Europe too. Typically, PHF is seen in late spring through early fall.

🐌 How is it transmitted?
PHF has a complicated life cycle. It is transmitted by fresh water insects, not directly from horse to horse. Neorickettsia risticii is the bacterium causative agent. It has been identified in snails and various species of cadisflies. These aquatic insects, found near water, contain the rickettsia-infected trematodes which are ingested by the horse. The trematodes cause inflammation of the intestines often leading to an acute enterocolitis.

🐌 What are the symptoms?
Symptoms include fever, diarrhea, lethargy, colic, and laminitis. It can cause abortion in pregnant mares.

🐌 How do we test for PHF?
Submit EDTA whole blood and/or f***s to the lab for PCR testing. Per the Cornell Animal Health Diagnostic Center, they have seen a rise in positive PHF PCR tests over the years in NY state, with a higher number of cases diagnosed in Albany, Dutchess, Saratoga and Tompkins counties.

🐌 When did the PHF vaccine become commercially available? Is it effective?
In 1987, PHF vaccines were available. The monovalent PHF vaccine has been shown to provide better immunity than the PHF/rabies combination.

🐌 What can you do to protect your horse?
We recommend horses receive their first vaccination dose in late spring followed by boosters every three months through late fall. Following this schedule will give your horse continuous immunity until temperatures dip below freezing and the vector (disease-spreading) aquatic insects die for the year. While the vaccine is not 100% effective, it can decrease the severity of the illness and increase survival.

🐌 What can you do at the barn?
A simple tip is light at night attracts insects.
To help protect your horses, we advise to eliminate light sources near their drinking water. And provide clean drinking water.

🐌 While early treatment of PHF can be successful, the disease is frequently fatal.

📸: A previous patient diagnosed with PHF and survived.

06/28/2025

I just treated a new case of anhydrosis in a 10 year old Thoroughbred with acupuncture yesterday.

As a large portion of the country continues to experience extreme heat, it's imperative that horse owners do their due diligence to keep their horses safe and healthy during heat waves.

One of the side effects of the heat for some horses is the inability to sweat properly. This condition, called anhidrosis, is potentially dangerous for horses because it compromises their ability to thermoregulate even in weather that doesn’t seem that hot, and therefore puts them at higher risk of heat stress.

Anhidrosis is not fully understood yet; it is widespread in the hot and humid regions of the southeastern United States and the Gulf states, but it is also widely reported elsewhere during the summer and particularly during heat waves. If your horse has a high respiratory rate and does not seem to tolerate turnout on hot days, be sure to discuss it with your veterinarian.

Remember that administering unnecessary medications without consulting your horse doctor first could do more harm than good, as it puts your equine friend at risk of developing harmful side effects!

03/20/2025

This is so avoidable🥲

02/13/2025

While the number of confirmed equine rabies cases every year is low, talking about this disease remains important because of the potential for human exposure—which does NOT have to involve a bite from an infected horse, as contact of skin or mucosa with the horse’s saliva could be enough to transmit the disease.

Rabies has many faces, but they are all deadly—once a horse shows clinical signs, the animal invariably dies within a few days as there is no treatment.

The good news is that modern vaccines are highly effective and current AAEP recommendations list rabies as one of the “core vaccines” that should be given to all horses annually to maintain immunity (read the full AAEP vaccination guidelines here: https://aaep.org/guidelines/vaccination-guidelines).

Equine rabies is a real risk for all horses, and a public health concern as well. Be sure to set up a regular vaccination schedule with your veterinarian if you haven’t already done so. Remember that strange behavior on behalf of your equine friend is always a valid reason to check in with your horse doctor!

01/12/2025

11/06/2024

ZONING in Loudoun County - On Nov. 21 Loudoun County will consider amending zoning regulations for equestrian stables that were put in place in 2023. These amendements limit square feet, impose larger setbacks than for most other agricultural businesses, set vehicle restrictions and add other costly requirements. Please take this survey to help LCEA better understand if and how these regulations would negatively impact equine business owners as they continue established operations; and their potential to limit your ability to provide essential services, host events and foster growth within the horse industry. Please complete this survey by Nov. 10 so we may analyze the results and be fully informed when attending the Nov. 21 meeting as your representative.

Survey: https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/sv/hrQlS2H/LCEASurvey24?source_id=2e43a274-82fa-45d6-8933-4e6e454cf3a9&source_type=em&c=JSbEOVmfpvvS1PB1k_zHfeoYtFJ-6FC_GLez-lflTo8MfN5Ge8R9Ug==

09/11/2024

To all my wonderful clients, my surgeon has cleared me to begin seeing dogs /cats/small animals and some horse clients daily! I'm very excited to get back to work and look forward to hearing from you.

05/20/2024

What I've preached for years

If you believe that horses need grain in their diet to meet their nutritional needs, you are not alone. However, horses should get most of their nutrients from a good quality forage source such as grass, hay, hay pellets, or a complete feed.

Horses generally eat between 1.5-2% of their body weight each day, so an average size 1,000 lbs horse should eat 15- 20 lbs of hay daily. To help fill any nutrient gaps such as essential vitamins or minerals, a ration balancer may be beneficial. Depending on breed, body condition, and exercise level, concentrates may be added in to provide additional energy but are often not needed.

When deciding on what to feed your horse, it is best to invest in high quality forages as the foundation of your feeding plan. You can even have your hay tested to see exactly what nutrients it is providing. Please consult with your veterinarian or an equine nutritionist about your horse's diet before making any major changes, and remember that any changes should be made gradually over time to avoid GI upset.
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Brought to you by the AAEP Horse Owner Education Committee

03/14/2024

Veterinary Medicine is at an inflection point..it is losing quality practitioners especially in large animal services.

For me, it has been and continues to be such an amazing career choice. I do admit though that having changed from solo equine practice to speciality practice was a game changer as far as improving personal health and satisfaction including a more balanced "quality of life".

With a more easily structured work schedule, I've also had the ability to give back by volunteering on several boards, including Loudoun County REDC and PROS and the state VHIB... yes, acronyms are a big thing here. These experiences have introduced me to many amazing people. I continue to be grateful for these opportunities.

"Be your own best advocate because work life is a long journey. Whether you stay as an employee or branch out as an entrepreneur, seek out advanced training or new skills to keep you fresh and motivated and then not only put those skills to work, make your business circle aware! If your work isn't fulfilling, ask yourself if it's you, the job or the organization and be willing to make course corrections."

- Dr. Kelly Foltman, Dunthorpe Farm Veterinary Services |

02/04/2024

Please consider aiding LCEA all area equestrians in this effort to open trails!

The Loudoun County Parks, Recreation and Open Space Board is having a meeting this coming Thursday, February 8th at 5:30PM regarding adding equestrian trails to Banshee Reeks, a Loudoun County Park with over 20 miles of trails. The meeting will take place in the Program Room of the Parks, Recreation & Community Services Administrative Building located at 742 Miller Drive SE in Leesburg, VA.

THEY NEED EQUESTRIANS TO PARTICIPATE IN THIS MEETING IN LARGE NUMBERS! CAN YOU HELP?

Background: Loudoun County Equine Alliance (LCEA) with the support of USTR has working to open Banshee Reeks Nature Preserve, a Loudoun County Public Park in Leesburg, for equestrian use. Banshee Reeks has almost 20 miles of trails, much are which are old, compacted farm roads. The original master plan for Banshee Reeks, originally an old cattle farm, was approved by the BOS in April 1999 after public input. The approval included equestrian trails and parking for 10 trailers and 10 cars. This did not occur due much in part to the efforts of Friends of Banshee Reeks (FOBR). Recently discussions have been taking place with the Loudoun County Board of Supervisors about opening access to Banshee Reeks for equestrians and using the newly re-opened Evergreen Mills trailhead for trailer parking.

This past September Friends of Banshee Reeks began a social media and emailing campaign against equestrian access to this Loudoun County Public Park, asking opponents to reach out to the Board of Supervisors. They're at it again, having placed another ad (pictured below) a few weeks ago.

There is such a need for longer distance equestrian trails in Loudoun County Parks -- currently the available trail systems in Temple Hall, Franklin Park, and Lovettsville Park as well as the newly re-opened Evergreen Mills Trails are only 2-4 miles. Banshee Reeks almost 20 miles of trails have the potential to provide Loudoun County equestrians with trail system of significant distance close to home. We are asking for access to at least 8 miles of the trail system, keeping away from sensitive areas and on the mostly compacted old farm roads that really lend themselves well to equestrian trails, without amendment.

THEY NEED YOUR HELP! They need a good turnout at this February 8th meeting. Please consider attending.

If you aren't able to attend and agree that horses should be permitted at Banshee Reeks, please share your point of view with the Loudoun County Board of Supervisors. You can reach the entire Board by sending an email to bos@loudoun.gov.

Thank you in advance for your help! You can also help by sharing this message with other equestrians and equestrian groups that may not be a part of our mailing list!

02/02/2024

Did you know?

Although protein is normally listed as a nutrient, horses actually have a requirement for amino acids, the building blocks of protein, rather than for protein itself. Protein is the least efficient energy source for your horse, so high protein does not automatically equal high energy. Carbohydrates, fats, and fiber are more readily digestible energy sources, so chances are a horse with too much energy is being fed more calories than the animal truly needs.

As always, remember that all horses have different nutritional needs based age, stage of development, metabolism and workload. Be sure to work with your veterinarian to determine the correct protein and energy requirements for your equine friend based on your horse’s individual situation!
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Courtesy of the AAEP Horse Owner Education Committee

12/09/2023

Baby it’s cold outside! ❄️⛄️

Many people think of donkeys as hardy, low-maintenance “small horses.” However, while they have similarities, donkeys are a completely different species and as such have a different physical, mental, and emotional make-up.

As the weather gets colder, it’s important to remember that donkeys are more sensitive to changes in temperature than their equine friends. They don’t grow a winter coat like horses and their hair is less waterproof, so they require shelter from the elements (like a run-in shed or a waterproof blanket). Being stoic animals, they also won’t show signs of discomfort and hypothermia until they are very sick.

Remember that every animal is different depending on age, breed, and other health conditions, so be sure with your primary veterinarian to address any concerns or questions!
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Brough to you by the AAEP Horse Owner Education Committee.