Green Glen Equine Hospital

03/01/2026

🐴 Senior Horse Sunday: Cushing’s Disease (PPID) 🐴

Cushing’s disease—also known as Pituitary Pars Intermedia Dysfunction (PPID)—is a common condition in older horses. It’s caused by a benign tumor of the pituitary gland, leading to overproduction of hormones (especially ACTH) that can affect multiple body systems.

🔍 Common Signs Owners May Notice:
• Long, curly hair coat or failure to shed
• Loss of topline or muscle
• Weight loss
• Laminitis/founder
• Increased drinking and urination
• Changes in sweating (patchy or none at all)
• Chronic or slow-healing infections (eye ulcers, hoof abscesses, rain rot)

🧪 How Is PPID Diagnosed?
• Baseline ACTH test: Most common screening tool (levels may naturally rise in fall)
• TRH Stimulation Test: More sensitive, especially for early disease
• Annual re-testing is recommended once treatment begins to ensure proper dosing

💊 Treatment Options:
• Prascend® (pergolide) is the FDA-approved treatment
• Typically given as 1 tablet daily (dose may vary by horse)
• Temporary decreased appetite may occur when starting—often resolved by gradually increasing the dose
• Less common side effects include lethargy or behavior changes
• Other medications exist but generally have lower to no effectiveness

🩺 Early diagnosis and proper management can greatly improve your senior horse’s comfort, health, and quality of life. If you notice any of these signs, please call us to discuss!

💙 Because our senior horses deserve extra care.

02/27/2026

Is your mare due to foal soon? Watch the below video for some tips on what to keep in your foaling kit!

02/25/2026

🐴 Foaling Time: What to Do When Your Mare Foals 🍼

Most mares do great on their own—but knowing what’s normal (and what’s not) is key.

The 1-2-3 Rule to remember:
⏱️ 1 hour – Foal should stand
🥛 2 hours – Foal should nurse
🧬 3 hours – Mare should pass the placenta (SAVE IT!)

Right after foaling:
✔️ Make sure the foal is breathing well
✔️ Dip the umbilical stump (using dilute iodine or dilute chlorhexidine solution)
✔️ Confirm nursing and good colostrum intake
✔️ Check the mare for excessive bleeding or discomfort

🚨 Call your vet immediately if:
• Labor lasts >20–30 minutes with no progress
• Red bag delivery (you should see a white amnion, nothing red!)
• Foal is weak, not standing, or not nursing
• Placenta isn’t passed by 3 hours
• Mare seems painful or unwell

A quick post-foaling exam and IgG test (~12-24 hours of age) can catch problems early and set both mare and foal up for success.

When in doubt—call your equine vet. We’d much rather say “everything looks great” than miss something important. 💙🐎

02/24/2026

Teaching the next generation of future equine veterinarians about mare anatomy on the ultrasound. Look for our upcoming series on breeding!

02/18/2026

🪱 Parasite Control in Horses: A Smarter, Targeted Approach 🪱

Parasite control has evolved! We’ve moved away from rotational deworming (grabbing a different tube every couple of months) and toward a strategic, evidence-based plan that’s better for your horse and helps prevent parasite resistance.

✨ Why the change?

Most horses have strong natural immunity that keeps parasite levels low. We assess this immunity using a F***l Egg Count (FEC), which categorizes horses as low, moderate, or high shedders. From there, we tailor a deworming plan specific to your horse.

🔬 What is a F***l Egg Count (FEC)?

An FEC measures parasite eggs per gram (EPG) of manure and helps guide appropriate deworming—no unnecessary treatments.

📅 When should FECs be done?

• Annually to monitor immunity and check for resistance
• Timing matters! Some dewormers remain effective for up to 16 weeks, so please check with Green Glen if your horse was recently dewormed before submitting a sample.

💩 Sample requirements:

• ONE fresh manure nugget (no need for the whole pile!)
• Can be refrigerated for 1–2 days if needed, but fresh is best

🐎 How often should my horse be dewormed—and with what?

🔹 Low Shedders (500 EPG)
✔️ Four times yearly
• Early Spring: Ivermectin or Moxidectin
• Early Summer: Ivermectin
• Late Summer/Early Fall: Ivermectin
• Early/Late Winter: Ivermectin + Praziquantel
(or Moxidectin + Praziquantel)

⚠️ Important note on Moxidectin:

Moxidectin is a very strong dewormer and one of the few effective against encysted larvae. It should be used with caution in:
• Older horses
• Miniatures
• Donkeys
If encysted larvae are a concern and moxidectin is not ideal, an alternative is a double dose of fenbendazole for 5 consecutive days.

🧪 Concerned about dewormer resistance?

We can perform a F***l Egg Count Reduction Test (FECRT):
1️⃣ Submit a f***l sample
2️⃣ Deworm your horse
3️⃣ Submit a second sample 2 weeks later
A healthy response should show ≥80% reduction in egg count.

👶 Foals & Young Horses

YES—deworming is different
• Deworm at 3, 6, 9, and 12 months
o 3 and 6 months: Double-dose fenbendazole
o 9 months: Ivermectin
o 12 months: Ivermectin + Praziquantel
• After age 1, treat as a high shedder until ~3 years old
• FECs can be done earlier if concerns arise, though young horses often haven’t fully developed immunity yet

💚 Bottom line:
Targeted deworming = healthier horses, fewer drugs, and reduced parasite resistance.

📞 Questions or ready to submit a f***l sample? Contact Green Glen—we’re happy to help!

02/16/2026

🐴🩹 Bandage Basics: Distal Limb Edition! 🩹🐴

Ever wish you felt more confident wrapping a horse’s leg? We’ve got you covered—literally! 😉

In this video, we walk through a distal limb bandage, including:
✨ Combine or cotton roll
✨ Brown gauze
✨ Vetwrap
✨ Elastikon tape
➕ For wounds: non-stick pad & white gauze

This is a great skill to have in your toolbox 🧰 for managing wounds, cellulitis, limb swelling, or extra support when your horse needs it most.

🎥 Press play, wrap with care, and when in doubt—give us a call!

02/14/2026

Happy Valentine’s Day from Rockin’ Wade and his fan-tabulous crew! 💘

The spotlight? Please. That just makes him shine brighter. Nothing slows this legend down—he’s galloping full speed ahead into Woodbine, Maryland on March 4th, ready to rock your barn like it’s a sold-out stadium tour.

If your horses are ready for a little star treatment (and let’s be honest, they deserve it), call 717-235-4312 to schedule Rockin’ Wade to swing by your farm and handle all your equine needs.

Because love is in the air… and so is greatness.

02/11/2026

🐴 When Should My Horse Be Vaccinated? 💉

Vaccines are a key part of keeping your horse healthy and protected year-round. Here’s a helpful guide to common equine vaccines and when they should be given:

🦟 Mosquito-Borne Viruses (EEE/WEE/WNV)
• Vaccinate annually in the spring, before mosquito season
• Horses vaccinated in the fall should consider adjusting their schedule
• Horses traveling south for winter may need twice-yearly vaccination
• Unvaccinated horses need a 2-dose series (3–4 weeks apart), then annual boosters

🦠 Rabies
• Annual vaccine, any time of year
• Unvaccinated horses over 12 months: no booster required
• Unvaccinated horses under 12 months: booster needed 3–4 weeks after first dose

🔩 Tetanus
• Annual vaccine, any time of year
• Unvaccinated horses need a booster 4–6 weeks after the first dose
• Horses with wounds or surgery should receive a booster if it’s been 6+ months since the last one

🌊 Potomac Horse Fever (Regional Disease)
• Spread by mayflies (not mosquito-borne)
• Highest risk in late summer/early fall
• Best given May/June to cover the season
• May require boosters every 3–4 months if full season isn’t covered
• No vaccination needed late Nov–early March
• Unvaccinated horses need a booster 3–4 weeks after the first dose

🧫 Botulism (Regional Disease)
• Annual vaccine, any time of year
• Unvaccinated horses require a 3-dose series, spaced 3–4 weeks apart

🤧 Influenza / Rhinopneumonitis (Flu/Rhino)
• Highly contagious respiratory viruses spread through nasal secretions
• Twice-yearly vaccination recommended for horses that board, travel, or have fence-line contact with other horses
• Horses in a closed herd with no travel or minimal exposure may consider annual vaccination (low risk from farrier, vet, body work, etc visits)
• Unvaccinated horses require a 2-dose series (3–4 weeks apart)

😷 Strangles
• Very contagious respiratory bacteria spread through nasal secretions
• Annual vaccination, any time of year
• Unvaccinated horses require a 2-dose series (3–4 weeks apart)

📅 Every horse is unique. Age, location, travel, and exposure risk all matter. Work with Green Glen to create a vaccine schedule that fits your horse’s lifestyle.

💙 Preventive care today means a healthier horse tomorrow.

02/11/2026

Good morning! We will be closed until 2pm today for an all staff training event. We will return all calls and email inquiries at the conclusion of the event.

If you have an emergency, please call 717-235-4312 ext 1 to be connected to our emergency on call service.

02/08/2026

🐴 Today’s Senior Horse Sunday Post Features: 🐴

💩 F***l Water Syndrome in Horses 💩

Have you noticed normal manure followed by excess watery f***l fluid at the time of defecation? This condition is known as F***l Water Syndrome (FWS).

👉 There is no single known cause—many factors can contribute. Here are some important questions to consider if your horse is affected:

🦷 Dental Health
When was your horse’s last dental exam? Poor dentition can reduce proper chewing of long, fibrous hay, causing the hindgut to release extra water to aid digestion.

🌾 Fiber Content of the Diet
Is your horse eating a high-concentrate grain (like sweet feed) without enough fiber? This is common in older horses that struggle to eat hay. Switching to a higher-fiber feed may better support digestive health.

🌱 Type of Fiber Fed
Senior horses may have difficulty chewing and digesting long-stem hay. Consider soaked alfalfa cubes or pellets instead of hay flakes for easier digestion.

🌰 Additional Digestible Fiber
Have you considered adding psyllium or beet pulp? These can provide easily digestible fiber to support hindgut function.

🦠 Gut Microbe Balance
Have you tried a probiotic? Some horses benefit from adding one—or even switching to a different product if you’re already using one.

📌 If your horse is experiencing f***l water, a full diet and health review can help identify contributing factors.

Reach out to us if you have any questions and/or concerns! We’re here to help

02/07/2026