Annabessacook Veterinary Clinic

04/11/2026

Antibiotics aren’t one-size-fits-all.

Culture and sensitivity testing lets us identify the exact bacteria causing an infection—and which antibiotics will actually work. Without it, we’re often guessing.

Antibiotic resistance is real and growing. Using the wrong drug (or using antibiotics when they aren’t needed) gives bacteria the chance to adapt and become harder to treat.

Running cultures and sensitivities :✔️ Targets the right treatment✔️ Avoids ineffective antibiotics✔️ Helps preserve these drugs for the future

Better Diagnostics = Better Medicine

04/09/2026

Foaling season is here—and while it’s an exciting time, it can also turn stressful fast if things don’t go according to plan. Knowing what’s normal (and what’s not) can make all the difference for both mare and foal.

🐴 The 1-2-3 Rule:

1️⃣ 1 hour: The foal should be standing within 1 hour of birth.
2️⃣ 2 hours: The foal should be nursing within 2 hours.
3️⃣ 3 hours: The placenta should pass within 3 hours.

👉 If the foal is not delivered within 20 minutes once active labor begins, or anything looks abnormal during delivery, call your vet immediately—this is an emergency.
👉 If the placenta has not passed within 3 hours, call your vet to prevent serious complications.

✨ Don’t forget: Every foal should have a 24-hour check with their veterinarian to ensure adequate passive transfer and a healthy start to life.

When in doubt—call. Foaling can change quickly, and early intervention saves lives. Here’s to a safe and successful foaling season!

04/08/2026

We are excited to announce we have partnered with Cherry to offer financing for your pet's vet care! With plans ranging from 6 weeks to 60 months, affording vet care has never been easier. Call or text the office for more information.

04/08/2026

04/06/2026

Dr. Helmer comes at it from the western side of the arena as an avid team roper and western rider 🤠🐎, with extensive experience in barrel racing horses and western pleasure disciples, bringing a deep, practical understanding of how these athletes are meant to move and perform 🏆

Kayla brings elite-level expertise to every lameness exam as an FEI dressage rider and trainer 🐎✨—she handles the horses and offers valuable insight into the sport, helping assess discipline-specific movements and performance demands. As an “r” judge candidate, she’s continually refining her knowledge of correct movement and standards 📋

Different disciplines, same goal: keeping your horse feeling and performing their best 💪🐴

04/05/2026

The repro farm is starting off strong!!!

03/26/2026

Not only do we care for the best patients 🐴, we are lucky to work with the best clients 💛! We see it every day—you trust us with your horses, and we take that responsibility seriously. We are here to be your teammates 🤝, working alongside you and your entire equine team to keep your horse healthy, happy, and thriving 🌿✨.

Through the highs 🌞 and the lows 🌧️, the victories and the challenges, we’ll always have your back 🐎💪. Because at the end of the day, it’s not just about medicine—it’s about partnership, trust, and a shared love for these amazing animals ❤️.

03/25/2026

Horse vets are horse vets because we are just crazy horse girls that were good at science!🔬🧪

It’s no secret in the veterinary world—small animal vets often make more than large animal vets, usually with more predictable hours and no on-call 🍀

Equine practice isn’t the “easy” path. It’s long days, late nights, emergencies in all weather, and a lot of behind-the-scenes effort that most people never see.

So when your equine vet is making recommendations, suggesting diagnostics, or explaining why certain treatments matter (or why some things should be avoided 🤦‍♀️) it’s not coming from a place of profit—it’s coming from a place of passion.💕

We chose this field because we love horses. Truly. It’s a career built on dedication, not convenience.

All we want is to help your horse live a healthier, more comfortable life.

A little kindness, patience, and trust go a long way 🤍👏

03/20/2026

Our Small Animal Clinic will be closing at 5:00PM tonight, Friday March 20th.

For any urgent care needs please contact Atlas Veterinary Urgent Care in Augusta, PetMedic Urgent Care in Freeport
Maine Veterinary Medical Center in Scarborough
Portland Emergency and Specialty Care
or the Lewiston Emergency Clinic.
If you have a large animal emergency please contact our staff at 207-933-6424.

03/18/2026

Extracorporeal Shockwave Therapy (ESWT) in Horses

Shockwave therapy is a non-invasive modality that delivers focused acoustic energy to stimulate healing and modulate pain.

Mechanism of action:
• Increases regional blood flow and neovascularization
• Stimulates tissue repair
• Modulates inflammation
• Provides short-term analgesia

Indications:
• Tendon and ligament injuries (including suspensory desmitis)
• Back pain and muscle soreness
• Periosteal reactions (splints, stress remodeling)
• Meniscal injuries and periarticular stifle pain
• Chronic soft tissue injuries with delayed healing

Clinical considerations:
• Best used as part of a structured rehab program
• Typically performed as a series
• Often requires sedation
• Analgesic effects can temporarily mask lameness

03/05/2026

🐎 Kissing Spines in Horses: Why a Full Work-Up Matters

Kissing spines (overriding dorsal spinous processes) are a common cause of back pain in horses, but diagnosing and treating them isn’t as simple as taking a radiograph.

The first step is always a thorough veterinary exam. This often includes a full lameness evaluation and sometimes watching the horse move under saddle, since back pain may only become apparent when the horse is being ridden.

Radiographs can show narrowing or contact between the dorsal spinous processes, but X-rays alone don’t tell the whole story.
Some horses have dramatic-looking lesions that cause very little pain, while others have only mild narrowing but are quite uncomfortable.

Because of this, diagnostic blocking of the back is often performed. Numbing the suspected area helps determine how much of the horse’s discomfort is actually coming from those lesions and helps guide how aggressive treatment should be.

Treatment options may include:
• Subcutaneous mesotherapy
• Deep spinal injections around the affected processes
• Shockwave therapy
• And most importantly, targeted rehabilitation and strengthening

Rehabilitation and core strengthening are critical for long-term success and helping horses return to comfortable work.

Surgery can also be a very viable option in some cases—especially when a thorough diagnostic work-up confirms the pain source and the horse does not respond to medical management.

Back pain is a common issue in performance horses, and early evaluation by your veterinarian is important for both horse health and performance. If you notice changes in behavior, reluctance to work, or sensitivity through the back, it’s worth having your horse evaluated.

A proper diagnosis allows for the right treatment plan—and the best chance of getting horses comfortable and back to doing their job. 🐎