Palmetto Equine Veterinary Services

07/13/2026

A great opportunity to learn about topical wound treatments for your horses! 🐎 🐴

Not all wound care ointments and sprays are created equal. Register for our free webinar with Dr. Carrie Hammer and Dr. Nikki Scherrer to learn strategies for basic wound healing and the effectiveness of common disinfectants, sprays and creams used to treat equine problems. We'd love to see you there! https://tinyurl.com/3n66xtw6

07/03/2026

It’s hot out there! Please be careful and keep your horses cool 😎 🐴
If your horse does not sweat well or stops sweating, this can be an emergency in this heat. Heat stroke can look like lethargy, increased respiratory rate, inability to recover after getting hot, an elevated body temperature (over 101 despite cooling)… call your veterinarian if your horse is showing signs of heat stroke! 🥵

06/29/2026

🐴🐎🏇

05/28/2026

Summer is here and so is the sun! 🌞 Please be careful with your horses and the sun, especially those with blazes and snips… and those beautiful paints with extra snazzy white hair (pink skin).

05/24/2026

Toxic Plant Recap and Quiz! 🌼🐎
Let's see if you've been paying close attention!

Which Plants are the most toxic to horses? Pick an answer and post it in the comments.
A. Daisy, sweet pea, dandelions.
B. Red maple leaves, cherry tree leaves, Johnson grass.
C. Cucumbers, green beans, sunflowers.

We are always happy to answer your questions about toxic plants and trees 😎🐎🤓

05/23/2026

TOXIC PLANT WEEK ☠
Buttercup Toxicity
Most horses avoid eating buttercups due to the bitter taste but when the pasture is overgrazed they may be the only fresh forage available.
Signs of toxicity include colic, diarrhea, decreased appetite, and blisters in the mouth.
Mowing your pasture and providing alternative forage sources should decrease the chance of toxicity.

05/22/2026

TOXIC PLANT WEEK ☠
Pokew**d (Phytolacca americana)
A common w**d along fence lines, most horses will avoid eating this poisonous w**d. All parts of the plant are poisonous and some horses seek out the berries and leaves. Symptoms include colic and diarrhea, lack of appetite, incoordination and weakness.
There is no specific treatment but your veterinarian can help with supportive care.
Prevention is best, so remove the w**ds from any area your horse can reach!

05/21/2026

TOXIC PLANT WEEK☠
Cherry Trees (Prunus spp.)
The leaves, twigs, bark, and pits of the fruit contain cyanide. Wilted leaves are the most dangerous (such as downed branches from a storm). Cyanide acts very quickly so horses may be found dead. Symptoms include labored breathing, trembling, anxiety, dilated pupils, and bright red mucous membranes.
No direct treatment but supportive care with IV fluids is warranted if the horse survives the initial ingestion.
Please make sure there are no cherry trees planted in or near your horse pastures.

05/20/2026

TOXIC PLANT WEEK ☠️
Johnson Grass (Sorghum sp.)
Grazing on Johnson Grass causes a cystitis-ataxia syndrome in horses with often permanent nerve damage. Signs include incoordination (ataxia), difficulty backing, tail paralysis, and dribbling urine (cystitis).
This grass is invasive and spreads by rhizomes. This means mowing is not adequate to eradicate it. Small patches can be dug out and disposed of but large infestations may require aggressive spraying and re-establishing good grass.

05/19/2026

TOXIC PLANT WEEK ☠️
False Dandelion plant
This is a toxic w**d that causes pasture associated stringhalt (a neurologic syndrome seen as exaggerated and jerky upward flexion of the hind legs as the horse walks).
During dry summers this w**d often takes over pastures, especially if over grazed. Not all horses will eat them so not all horses in the pasture will be effected.
Treatment starts with removal of the horse from the field. Recovery can take 6-12 months and sometimes is incomplete.
Pasture management to prevent infestation of false dandelions is important (herbicides, prevent over grazing, provide high quality hay as an alternative).