Greenville Mobile Equine Service, PA

Update: All good.
Power out at the clinic and phones are down. Dr. K on. Please text or call 252 531 7665 if you need something.

A little over 27 years ago, I got talked into starting a practice. I had no idea where this would lead me. I was a young vet with lots of ideas. The practice grew from just me to two vets. Then I built the clinic that opened in January 2005. Continued to grow and added a third vet. Through out it all, the goal has been to provide the best vet care for the horses of eastern NC. There have been many ups and downs as we bring new horses into the world and let others go. Sometimes things go the way we want, and other times it seems like no matter how many things you do right, they don’t always respond. As we’ve added to the team and as I’ve been saying was going to happen, actually happened today. My truck now belongs to Dr. K. I’m not leaving, but will be mostly managing the practice and filling in while the others are on vacation. I’m very excited about this team of vets that will be our future: Dr. Lauren, Dr. Megan, and Dr. K. I want to thank everyone for all the years you’ve allowed me to work on your horses. While not always perfect, I did try my best.
Linda Balot, DVM

Pic of my first truck right after I got it and the Bowie unit attached. And my twitch that was given to me by a colleague when she heard I was starting a practice. It’s now hanging out in the clinic.

Olaf would like to talk you to today about telemedicine. He's had lots of pictures taken of the eye he still has and the eye that was removed. His owners also had lots of communications with the vets. He's lucky, because as animal doctors, we seem to be way more available them human doctors. Try calling your human doctor with a quick question and see how quickly you actually get to talk to them. However, we just want to remind people that there will be a charge for talking with the doctors about your pictures and questions. Sometimes we will say we need to come see them. Other times we can just dispense advice and/or meds from the pictures, texts, or phone calls. Instead of a farm call and exam fee, you will just have to pay a telemedicine fee that ranges from $30 to $80 depending on how long the communications last. If you have any questions, please feel free to ask.

We lost our best teacher this week to cancer. Quinn came to GMES in 2014 to be Dr. Linda’s horse, but then transitioned into the clinic horse. He stood patiently as many students practiced bandaging, taking blood, giving shots, and doing physicals. He tolerated having radiographs taken, being ultrasounded, having stomach tubes or endoscopes passed, and having his sheath cleaned. All he asked for was some treats in exchange. We will all miss his handsome face. RIP Quinn. He was 23 yrs old.

We would like to introduce you to the new vet that is starting on Wednesday: Dr. Melissa Kelson BVetMed, MRCVS, or Dr. K for short.

A native of the UK, Dr. Melissa Kelson has an extensive background in the equine industry working with every type of horse from companion ponies to Olympic gold medal winners. Dr. Kelson obtained Equine Science degrees from DeMontfort University, Lincoln and the University of Wales, Aberystwyth before moving to the USA in 2003 to pursue her equine career. She returned to the UK in 2013 to undertake veterinary medicine the Royal Veterinary College in London. Dr. Kelson has developed many areas of interest over the years including geriatric care, metabolic disease and podiatry and is a Freeman of the Worshipful Company of Farriers. She spends her free time tending to her vegetable garden and rehabbing rescued Standardbreds.

Normally we don’t recommend laying around or sitting down on on the job, but some days that’s just what you have to do! Check on Dr. Megan doing a float on Dreamer at the clinic.

While my back is nowhere as flexible as Indy’s, it’s in much better shape. Thanks for all the well wishes. It had never happened before and my doctor friend said it could take 2 weeks to heal. Luckily, it improved greatly in about 36 hours and I’m working with a back brace this weekend. Still hoping you don’t need me! Dr. Linda

This was a much better day. Unfortunately, I pulled my lower back last night just tossing water out of bucket after treating a colic. Joys of getting older, apparently. Good news is that Dr. Lauren and Dr. Megan are working. Please show patience this next week or two as we may have to juggle some appointments. Thanks! Dr. Linda

Apparently with everything else going on, I forgot to remind everyone that for the month of July we have float specials for 15% off AT THE CLINIC. Not in the field.

Just wanted to update everyone that Dr. Lauren is back but restricted. She is not allowed to do osteopathy yet and some other more physically demanding procedures. On the other hand, Dr. Megan is now out and about in her truck and will be taking more of the lameness cases for now. Dr. Linda is still working but has a harder time with the heat at this point. Dr. Melissa will be starting July 31st. More about her later.

We would like to take a moment to thank all our relief vets for their help these past few years: Dr. Tom Dixon, Dr. Mary Rogers, Dr. Kallie Hobbs and Dr. Sarah Wingo. Thanks to their help, we could continue to provide care while Drs. Linda and Lauren had much needed time off. And we would like to thank our clients for understanding and allowing them to help with their horses.

We have one more week of just Dr. Linda working. On July 1, Dr. Lauren goes for her recheck and we’re expecting her to be able to come back to work, but probably restricted for a little while. Also on July 1, one of our new doctors start.

Meet Dr. Megan Medoff, who is originally from Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Her love for horses blossomed at Calder and Gulfstream racetracks, where she worked as a veterinary assistant. In 2017, she earned her Bachlor of Science in Biology from Florida Atlantic University. During this time, she spent free time at a local equine rescue helping to care for horses and went trail riding as much as possible. In 2022, she completed a doctorate in veterinary medicine at the University of Florida. Next, she completed a one-year equine internship at Blue Ridge Equine Clinic with her time split between hospital and ambulatory patients. She stayed on for an additional year as a hospital fellow/ ambulatory associate veterinarian. Her interests are in general practice, imaging and large animal rescues.

She has a dog, Kaya Bear and 2 cats, Killian Jones and Chubby Checkers (also known as Roush). In her free time, she likes anything involving nature, hiking with her dog and working out. She hopes to one day own a couple of retired horses that enjoy weekend camping trips.

Grass is in and that brings the problem of Founder or Laminitis for our easy keepers or those that have already had this issue. When we do your vaccine exams, we try to comment on your horses weight because we're trying to prevent this problem. If your horse has a cresty neck, extra fat behind its front leg, or extra fat around it's tailhead, you need to be careful. Now that the weather is warm, horses do not need extra calories to help them fight off the cold. All of our horses are pleasure horses and not working all day long. They should be on a maintenance diet. Unless they are growing, breeding or old, many will be fine on just grass if you have at least 1 acre per horse. If you have less than that, you may need to provide hay. Most horses need 1.5% of their bodyweight in feed a day. For 1000 lbs, that 15 lbs of food. That includes grass, hay and grain. If on lots of pasture and overweight, you may need to use a grazing muzzle to slow them down, or take them off the pasture for half the day by putting in a stall or dry lot. Please reach out to us for specific questions about your horse. If you notice your horse if off on both front feet, please contact us ASAP.

Lost and Found post! Found in our parking lot today.

Here’s hoping everyone has a wonderful Memorial Day Weekend and does not need us. By us, I mean me, Dr. Linda. 😸 Also wanted to update everyone that Dr. Lauren will now be out the entire months of May and June. She’s starting PT but Doc says she can’t be around horses until her recheck on July 1. Dr Tom will be helping some weekends and Dr. Sarah will be back for 10 days as well. New vets start in July. More info to come on them and exact start dates as we figure things out. I thank you for your continued understanding and patience. We’re all doing the best we can to keep up and not go crazy.

Good info!

It took me 28 years to diagnose this injury. The hock and stifle flex and extend together due to the peroneus tertius tendon. When it ruptures, this is what you get - the hock is extended while the stifle is flexed. This horse slipped on the grass and landed with this leg out behind him. It will heal in most horses, but will take time. 3-6 months of stall rest followed by a controlled exercise program that typically takes up to a year.

Once again, vaccine exams for the win. When taking a mare's temperature, it was 101.4, which is slightly elevated. When we went to check her teeth next, we noticed a bloody, yellow pus discharge out her right nostril. On further investigation, she appeared to have a briar stick with thorns up her nose. Lee, our second year vet student, had the pleasure of pulling it out of her nose and being sprayed with all the discharge in the process. She should be much more comfortable now. All the fun things you find while practicing veterinary medicine.

We have some bad news and some good news to share. First, we’re going to need everyone’s understanding the next 4 weeks at a minimum since Dr. Lauren got kicked in the leg and has to be on crutches. As we all know, crutches and horses don’t mix, so she will be unavailable. That leaves Dr. Linda and some relief vets that we are trying to organize for the next 4 weeks. As she gets updates from her doctor, we’ll let you know when she can come back. Meanwhile, we have hired two vets to start later this summer. Once we get exact start dates, we will share more information about them. Help is one the way, just not here yet.

When your mare foals and everything goes right, it’s a wonderful thing. Unfortunately, when it goes wrong, it goes very wrong. Foals have no reserves. They rely on colostrum from the mare to give immunoglobulins to fight infections. They should be up within an hour and nursing within 2 hours. Occasionally they can get a meconium impaction (first p**p) that is a simple fix with an e***a. However, if the foal isn’t nursing on its own properly, that’s a bad sign. They can be dummy foals (maybe too much time coming out and not enough oxygen) or they can get septic (bad infection), either way, they need to go to an equine hospital for intensive care. In the past, we have tried to manage down foals in the field and NONE OF THEM SURVIVED. They require multiple people to care for the baby and the mare around the clock. Fluids, plasma, bloodwork, oxygen, etc. All the things you have at a hospital plus proper staffing. So, if you call us and we refer you to the vet school (our closest referral hospital), it’s because we want the best outcome for you baby. There are times that just “doing the best you can” is not sufficient and this is one of them. We learned that the hard way, unfortunately.

Ok, it's time for me to sell all those ferns & plants you all so generously donated last fall. All $ from sales goes to Patricia Everette for Nay Nay's Peace of Heaven horse rescue. They are all first come first serve. I can't hold anything for anyone unless it's been paid for.
1. $65 for the pair - Boston Ferns with pink polka dot plants in plastic planters
2. $10 each - Hanging Boston ferns. I have 5.
3. $8 each - Hanging asparagus ferns. I have 5.
4. $15 each - Kimberly ferns (not hanging pots). I have 3.
5. $15 Boston fern in decorative tin. The tin does not have a drainage hole, but the plastic pot in it does. I only have 1.
6. $8 each or the pair for $15 - Plastic pots with a mix of plants. I only have the 2.
Message me if you want something. I'm on call this weekend, but hoping it will stay quiet... 🤞

We’re doing our best to uphold our end of the agreement.

Phil would like to remind everyone that we are now in the busy season. Please plan ahead for your coggins and vaccinations as we still just have 2 vets and are booking weeks out. If you need something last minute, you will be asked to bring to the clinic, since it's easier to squeeze you in here. Thanks for your understanding.

Opie really seemed to like the large pony we saw for castration today. New service provided: emotional support cat :-)

We just wanted to share this link for those that have bought Legend, Ulcergard or Gastrogard from us. BI has different offers at different times. Currently on the above products from Jan 1 - Feb 29, 2024 when bought from a veterinarian.

www.boehringeringelheimequinerebates.com

It's that time of year again. Float special in the clinic for the month of January. 15% off of the float and sedation. Please call to schedule.

Here's wishing everyone a Merry Christmas and hoping you don't need to see us the next few days. We are closed on Monday for Christmas but will be open on Tuesday. If you have an emergency, Dr. Linda will be on call.

Today, on this National Horse Day, we said goodbye to two patients. Sometimes this is the kindest thing we can do for them. While this pic below was not one of the horses today, it’s an example of an older horse with degenerative suspensory that the hock is basically straight. This is NOT how it’s supposed to look and can be a source of chronic pain every time this horse takes a step. It may get to be a problem getting up and down or getting their hind feet trimmed. We can put them on meds to help with the pain, but it’s not something we can fix. It may lead to the same decision we did today, that is was better for them to say goodbye than to make them live in pain. That is why we can do it.