CVM News

Feb 10, 2026

A pocket-sized tool with life-saving potential for horses

When a horse becomes suddenly and severely ill, time seems to tighten around each potential decision. A fever. Rapid breathing. An elevated heart rate. Gums taking on a dark red coloration from increased blood flow. For veterinarians and horse owners, these early warning signs point to sepsis, a potentially life-threatening condition that can result from pneumonia, post-partum complications, abscesses, gastrointestinal issues and other health problems.

Nov 20, 2025

Horse owners urged to take precautions against EHV-1

Auburn University’s College of Veterinary Medicine is closely monitoring the recent and ongoing outbreak of Equine Herpesvirus (EHV-1) in Texas, Oklahoma and Louisiana. While no cases of EHV-1 have been reported in Alabama at this time, EHV-1 is highly contagious and is primarily spread though horse-to-horse contact via respiratory secretions, aerosolized droplets or indirect contact with contaminated equipment, feed, tack, water buckets and human hands or clothing.

Oct 16, 2025

Horse Course offers ideal learning opportunity for equine owners, enthusiasts

Horse owners and enthusiasts will have an opportunity to learn from Auburn University College of Veterinary Medicine experts during the 2025 Horse Course on Saturday, Nov. 15, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., at the Veterinary Education Center.

Aug 28, 2025

Emergency Hope Veterinary medicine professor launches animal rescue team

Dr. Chance Armstrong’s life was forever changed in the aftermath of a fluke storm in Louisiana. Today, he is an associate clinical professor in Auburn’s College of Veterinary Medicine, but in 2016, he was a resident and faculty member with Louisiana State University’s School of Veterinary Medicine in Baton Rouge. During that time, an unnamed storm system caused 13 deaths and $10 billion in losses, dumping three times as much rain on Louisiana as the historic 2005 Hurricane Katrina.

Aug 26, 2025

Vaughan Large Animal Hospital: The region’s best care for horses, farm animals

The hospital offers 24-hour emergency and critical care for both horses and farm animals, including cattle, goats, sheep, alpacas, llamas and pigs. As soon as an animal arrives, it is examined by board-certified specialist veterinarians, residents, technicians and senior veterinary students who assess, diagnose and treat the patient. And when animals need specialized care during an emergency, the hospital has access to veterinarians who specialize in internal medicine, surgery, reproduction and ophthalmology.

Nov 29, 2023

J.T. Vaughan Large Animal Teaching Hospital is now offering Animal Chiropractic services

Any animal may benefit from having a chiropractic adjustment, as it aids in supporting musculoskeletal and neurologic function. Gentle range of motion, traction and joint mobilization techniques and specific adjustments of areas of restriction or hypomobility may aid patients in restoring some joint motion, subsequent musculoskeletal movement and neurologic stimulation.

Nov 28, 2022

Unique Surgery’s Success Leaves Snip the Horse Smiling

He’d been given up on before. In fact, that’s how the Nichols got him.

Oct 27, 2022

Choke! A Medical Emergency!

Esophageal obstruction, also known as ‘choke,’ is a frequent chief complaint for veterinary evaluation in horses. Though some horses may resolve on their own, or quickly resolve with basic intervention by a veterinarian, the condition should be considered a medical emergency and the horse should be evaluated promptly, as some horses require more aggressive therapy and are more likely to develop complications such as pneumonia.

Mar 11, 2021

Saving Rooster: A Foaling Season Success Story

Last spring, Katie Robinson and her Oldenburg colt, Rooster, learned just how complex the birth of a foal can be. Rooster was born prematurely and experienced significant complications shortly after birth. Thanks to the quick actions of his owner and his primary care veterinarian, Dr. Barbara Benhart, Rooster was referred to the Large Animal Teaching Hospital for intensive care treatment.

Jan 15, 2021

Diagnosing Equine Gastric Ulcers

Equine gastric ulcer syndrome, also known as EGUS, is a fairly common disease that can affect up to 90 percent of racehorses in active training and 60 percent of show horses. Gastric ulcers are a result of damage to the lining of the stomach due to prolonged exposure to the normal acid present there. Unlike humans, horses secrete acid continually, which can result in an excessive amount of acid if the horse is not eating regularly and there is no feed to neutralize it.

Jul 25, 2019

High Schooler Completes CVM Equine Internship

When 17-year-old Caroline Lucarelli arrived in Auburn June 9, she had never been to Alabama or the deep South. But thanks to a Colorado-based, Smithsonian-affiliated organization, high school seniors such as Lucarelli have earned coveted research-intense internships that offer deep immersion in various fields of science being studied nationwide. In Lucarelli’s case, the six-week internship, […]

Dec 5, 2018

Eastern equine encephalitis patient makes ‘miraculous’ recovery at Auburn

Her name is Faith, and call it name-sake irony, or divine providence, the 10-year-old Friesian mare has made a recovery nothing short of miraculous after being treated at the College of Veterinary Medicine for a disease that is usually fatal. Faith was brought to the college’s J.T. Vaughan Large Animal Teaching Hospital this summer and […]