Horse Services

Passports | Vaccinations | Worming | Microchips | Diagnostic Facilities | Surgical Facilities
Dentistry | Acupuncture | Vettings | Euthanasia

For tips and advice on current issues please see our newsletter archive.

We offer a wide range of services catering for all types of horses and their owners.

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Vaccinations

We recommend routine vaccination against:
Tetanus, Flu, Herpes and Strangles.

Tetanus: Every horse and pony should be vaccinated against Tetanus. Tetanus is a disease that can affect any horse or pony at any time. It is contracted from contamination of wounds (even minor ones) with bacteria (Clostridium tetani) that live in the soil. The toxin produced by the bacteria produces painful muscle spasms that can be severe enough to cause convulsions. Vaccination is a very simple and effective way to prevent this severe and often fatal disease. Depending on the brand of vaccine used, booster doses may only be needed as infrequently as every 3 years.

Flu (equine influenza): Whilst flu is not as serious to the individual horse as tetanus, it still has major implications for horse owners. Most horses infected with flu will get a mild fever and a persistent, long-term cough which prevents the horse from being exercised for at least 3 weeks. The flu virus is highly contagious, so the disease can spread rapidly between horses at shows, race meetings or where horses are kept together on a yard. Due to the disease's potential to severely disrupt all equine activities, most reasonably sized equine events will insist that all horses entered are vaccinated against flu. The benefit of this is that equine influenza has now become relatively uncommon. Booster vaccinations against flu are needed every year.

Herpes (equine herpesvirus 1 & 4): In horses, herpes infection can cause one of three types of disease. The commonest effect of herpes is an unwell horse or pony that has a moderate fever and a runny nose (and possibly a cough). Most horses and ponies will recover from this without complication but, like flu it can result in your horse being unable to be exercised for several weeks. Very rarely, horses that are recovering from a herpes infection can develop the neurological form of the disease. Some horses can recover from the neurological form of the disease, but unfortunately some do not and have to be put down. The third form of the disease is abortion - obviously this can only occur in pregnant mares. Herpes infection in horses is quite common, vaccination is most effective at preventing the disease when all of the horses on an establishment are protected. Booster vaccinations are required every 6 months.

Strangles (Streptococcus equi): This is a highly contagious respiratory tract infection that spreads by direct contact between horses and ponies. It can also be spread via grooming kits, clothing, buckets, vermin and tack. The disease is fairly common and appears to be increasing in prevalence in the UK. Infected horses normally have a high temperature, a purulent nasal discharge and swollen lymph nodes in their head and neck. Unlike flu and herpes, strangles is a bacterial infection and can be treated with antibiotics. In rare cases, lymph nodes throughout the body can become abscessed. This is called 'bastard strangles' and can be difficult to treat. For more information on Strangles, see our October 2004 newsletter.

Click here for frequently asked questions about Strangles and the new vaccine

More Information: www.equine-strangles.co.uk

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Worming

Implementing a strategic worming plan doesn't have to be confusing.

Routine worming and pasture management techniques to reduce the contamination of your grazing land form part of the basic care that your horse or pony needs. You should choose your worming products in order to kill the correct types of parasite at the time of the year when they are vulnerable. You should also use wormers in such a way as to prevent the development of resistance to the wormer.

We can provide:

• A comprehensive worming programme for your horse or pony
• The correct wormers to use in accordance with the worming programme
• Advice on the correct dosage of wormers for your horse or pony
• Faecal worm egg counts to check that your control measures are effective
• Advice on the worming of newly acquired horses

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Microchip Implants

Quick and permanent identification for your horse.

Microchips are now routinely implanted in registered Thoroughbred foals but horses and ponies of any type can benefit from being permanently identified. The microchips are implanted in to your horse's neck by means of a simple injection. This is usually just as quick and easy as giving your horse its routine vaccinations. The microchip carries a unique number which is read with an electronic scanner. This number is registered on a national database together with your details as the horse's owner. If your horse is found following loss or theft, you will have an indisputable way of proving that you are the rightful owner.

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Diagnostic Facilities

Almost 50 years of combined veterinary experience together with a range of modern techniques and equipment.

Our four full time veterinary surgeons between them have a combined total of almost 50 years experience of diagnosing and treating horses. This is supported by a range of diagnostic tools and laboratory facilities in Wetherby and Newmarket.

• Two portable ultrasound machines - suitable for fertility work and scanning soft tissues such as tendons
• Portable X-ray facilities - you don't need to transport your horse to get it X-rayed
• Automatic X-ray processor at the surgery
• Laboratory facilities - some samples are tested at the surgery, others are sent to Wetherby or Newmarket
• Ultrasound with colour Doppler - suitable for investigating heart problems
• Endoscope - to look in to those awkward places e.g. nose & throat
• Electrocardiography (ECG)

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Surgical Facilities

Many surgical procedures can be performed without transporting your horse.

Whilst major surgery in the horse still needs the full facilities of an equine operating theatre, many of the more minor procedures can be performed in your horse's stable or field. Some procedures such as castration or suturing wounds can usually be done with just a sedative and local anaesthetic. For more complicated procedures general anaesthesia may be required, but this is now possible without your horse leaving home. Recent advances in anaesthetic drugs have made this a realistic option for operations expected to take less than an hour, provided that you can supply a suitable space. For major surgical procedures we will refer your horse to one of the nearest equine hospitals or to Liverpool University.

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Dentistry

From routine dental checks to extractions.

Ideally, all horses should have their teeth checked at least once a year. Those known to have problems should have more frequent checks. Routine vaccinations provide a good opportunity to ask for your horse's teeth examined. Hopefully the teeth will be in perfect condition, but if not then dental work can easily be arranged. In some cases we will be able to do the work on the same visit as the examination. Depending on the temperament of your horse and the extent of the work we need to do to the teeth, sedation may also be required. All of our vets have suitable sedatives available when performing dental work. Simple extractions (e.g. wolf teeth or loose teeth in older horses) can also be performed under sedation. More difficult extractions may require a full general anaesthetic.

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Acupuncture

Acupuncture can be used very successfully in veterinary medicine, either on its own or alongside along side conventional Western medicine.

Acupuncture is the placing of needles into various areas of the body to evoke a healing effect. Veterinary acupuncture is over 2,000 years old. Veterinary surgeons in ancient China observed that, when pressed, certain pressure points on an animal’s body relieved pain in a given area or reduced signs of generalised ill-health. It was later discovered that a better effect was produced if these points were penetrated by a needle.

Click here for more information on veterinary acupuncture

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Vettings

The examination of horses prior to purchase.

The purchase of a horse involves the taking of a risk. No horse is risk free. As veterinary surgeons we aim to identify, assess and quantify the risk to give you, the purchaser, the information to decide whether or not to proceed with your chosen purchase.

Click here for more detailed information on Pre-Purchase Examinations

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Euthanasia

We ensure that the welfare of your horse or pony always comes first.

Regardless of the circumstances euthanasia is almost always a difficult subject to contemplate. However, if you are well aware in advance of the options available and the costs involved, you will be better able to make the correct decision for you and your horse when this choice has to be faced.

If you would like more information about how to prepare for the euthanasia of your horse or pony, the options available to you and what to do afterwards, please click here.

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