Equine Emergency & Critical Care

At Piedmont Equine Associates, we offer 24/7 ambulatory care and emergency services with a team of veterinarians and fully stocked vet trucks. Our specialty hospital provides intensive care, surgery, and round-the-clock monitoring for exemplary equine care.

Gastrointestinal Emergencies

Colic Overview

Colic is one of the most common emergency calls we receive. The on-call veterinarian is equipped to assess and treat colics in the field via physical exam, rectal exam, passage of a nasogastric tube, and preliminary bloodwork with our mobile unit. Should your horse require more intensive care than can be rendered at your farm, after hours management at the clinic is recommended where your horse can be intensively monitored, receive IV fluids and other medications, and more.

Colic Surgery

Certain types of colic may require surgical intervention to resolve the issue. Our team conducts thorough diagnostic tests to assess the severity of the condition and determine the need for surgery. If surgical intervention is deemed necessary, our surgeons and facilities are ready at a moment’s notice to provide the required treatment.

Esophageal Obstruction

In humans, “choke” is used to describe an airway obstruction; we can’t breathe, it’s a life-threatening emergency. In horses, fortunately, “choke” describes an esophageal obstruction. While they are not at risk of passing out or dying due to inability to breathe, it is an emergency because an esophageal obstruction puts them at great risk of a host of other problems: aspiration pneumonia, esophageal perforation, and more. Most chokes can be resolved on the farm with passage of a nasogastric tube and flushing the obstruction with fluids.

Laceration Repair & Wounds

Lacerations and wounds often require immediate attention and are a common reason for emergency calls. If owners are unsure whether an injury requires suturing, they can consult with the on-call veterinarian and provide photos or videos of the injury for evaluation. This allows for quick assessment and determination of the best course of action for proper wound management.

Neonatal Emergencies & Peripartum Emergencies

Once the water breaks, the fetus rapidly loses oxygen supply and the difference between a living neonatal foal and a severely compromised or deceased foal is a mere 20-30 minutes.

Mares also have a short window (~3hrs) to pass their placenta before they become susceptible to severe uterine infection and potentially fatal consequences.

Whether you are an experienced breeder/foal raiser or a first-time mare/foal owner, we recommend calling us when you think your mare is going into labor. If labor and delivery proceed normally and the foal is normal in the first few hours of life, we recommend doing a neonatal exam with an IgG test and a mare exam between 18-24 hours post foaling.

Other Common Emergencies

Musculoskeletal

Severe, acute lameness can arise from various causes, ranging from minor issues like a hoof bruise or subsolar abscess to more serious conditions such as cellulitis or fractures. Our team is equipped to identify the underlying cause of lameness and provide necessary care, including on-farm radiographs for thorough evaluation. Additionally, should the situation require more intensive treatment, our surgeon-on-call can be consulted.

Tying-up and episodes related to HYPP/PSSM often occur following exercise or stress, and their symptoms may resemble those of colic at first glance. Through meticulous evaluation and in-house bloodwork, we can determine whether your horse is experiencing musculoskeletal issues and treat them appropriately.

Ophthalmic

Corneal ulcers/scratches, uveitis, conjunctivitis, and this list goes on and on. Horses have the largest eyes of any land-dwelling mammal, and they are very susceptible to injury or disease. An ophthalmic issue is always considered a medical emergency. Refer to the Ophthalmology Section on our “Internal Medicine” page for more information.

Respiratory

Respiratory emergencies in equines can show as coughing, fevers, and other related symptoms. For further details on respiratory issues, please refer to the Respiratory Section on our “Internal Medicine” page.

Down horse

For a variety of problems, horses will often present as “down” without many other obvious signs or symptoms. Potential problems can include severe lameness/pain such as that with laminitis, cellulitis, or a fractured limb. Horses may also present as down for neurologic problems, colic, tying-up, weakness, etc.