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 * Purpose-built Operating Facilities & Stabling
* Ultrasound Scanning
* New Digital Xray system
* Endoscopy
* Shockwave therapy
* Electrocardiograms
* Colic Surgery
* Lameness Investigations
* Acupuncture
* In-house Laboratory
* Vettings for Purchase
* Health Checks for Export
* Annual Worming Packs
* Emergency First Aid Kits
* Weighbridge
Our equine veterinary team provides a wide range of cover for specialist racing and performance horse stables, thoroughbred and non-thoroughbred studs, as well as general leisure riding horses.
Stabling and Operating Facilities at the Hook Norton site allow an extensive range of diagnostic and therapeutic treatments and surgery under General Anaesthesia. We also have a separate Isolation Unit for any equine inpatients with infectious diseases. Adjacent to the equine building are two fenced paddocks providing grazing and a separate small paddock and trotting circle.
Dentistry
This can be carried out at the surgery and on yard visits; routine and specialist dental procedures, including standing tooth extractions.
Acupuncture
These treatments are available both at the surgery and at home by Fiona Nobbs who is fully trained and a member of the ABVA. She has had a string of measurable successes in racehorses, eventers, hacks, dressage and retired horses. Acupuncture alleviates soft tissue pain (either primary damage to muscles or secondary strain due to pain in the skeleton). It can be used alongside or instead of physiotherapy. Conditions that can be treated include sore backs (either direct muscle damage or and secondary pain due to kissing spines or hind limb arthritis), muscle tears or strains, even generalised conditions that lead to stiff muscles such as laminitis. If you would like to find out more please phone Fiona at the practice on 01608 730085.
Vetting for purchase examinations
These are regularly carried out for our own as well as referred clients and we routinely prepare horses for export.
Remedial Farriery and Weight Clinics
Available on request. Contact the surgery on 01608 730085 for more information.
Horse Weighing Service
Last year we were delighted to hear that our Equine department had won a brand new Equimax Horseweigh weighbridge. Our large animal receptionists correctly estimated a series of 18 horses’ weights from photographs in a national competition. The weighbridge is used each day to weigh our inpatients in the Equine Hospital. The weighbridge makes an accurate calculation of the horse’s weight - particularly useful for monitoring overweight or underweight horses. As clients of the practice you are welcome to use the weighbridge (by appointment). This is a free service, although we ask clients to make a donation to our nominated charity (currently Dogs for the Disabled). If you would like more information or to make an appointment, please contact the large animal reception on 01608 730085.
Health plans
These include a once yearly examination timed at your annual vaccination. The examination can establish the horse’s fitness to be ridden and help to minimise risks of preventable diseases. At this time, we can identify treatable conditions and offer advice on horse management. Micro-chipping, dental examination/rasping can be carried out at the same time at a discounted price. We would also suggest a blood health screen for animals over 15 years old, to check for abnormalities in the blood cells and liver/kidneys.
The Standard Examination includes a worm egg count, vaccination, written report and visit charge.
For the Older horse the Examination includes a worm egg count, vaccination, written report, full blood health screen and visit charge.
Please contact the surgery on 01608 730085 for more information or to make an appointment.
Official Measurement
We have a JMB approved measuring block for official measurements.
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 Worming
To provide a complete and effective worming programme for horses and ponies it is recommended that you use one proprietary wormer throughout the year and alternate this on a yearly basis according to its active ingredient. We also recommend you do a worm egg count once or twice a year to monitor the efficiency of your worming programme. Any new horse in the yard should have a 5 day course of a Fenbendazole wormer before it is turned out with other horses.
The practice currently offers the service of an Annual Worming Pack which includes two free worm egg counts and all the wormers needed for the year.
For more information about this service please contact Sarah at the surgery on 01608 730085. Alternatively, you can download our worming questionnaire on the Pet Health page and forward to Sarah at the surgery who will contact you to organise a suitable worming programme.
Basic First Aid
Whether stabled, at grass or being ridden, the horse seems prone to inadvertent injury! Despite the safest environment, even the most careful owner could face an equine emergency or have to administer first aid.
Of many possible injuries, cuts and grazes commonly require attention to stop bleeding and minimise infection. The type and location of the wound and the manner in which it occurred can affect its severity and necessary treatment. It is important to assess the wound quickly and if concerned that it is anything more than a minor cut or graze contact the Vet Surgery for advice.
Veterinary attention is advisable in the following circumstances:-
• The horse owner lacks experience or has doubts over assessment or treatment of the wound
• The wound is more than skin deep or bigger than a few centimetres
• There is a lot of bleeding or the wound is over an eye or a joint
• The wound is very dirty and hard to assess
• The horse is lame and/or internal damage is feared
• The horse is not vaccinated against tetanus infection
The aim of treatment of wounds is to stop bleeding, reduce inflammation, and cleanse to prevent infection:-
(1) Stop bleeding by applying pressure with a clean dressing/padding to the wound
(2) Reduce inflammation & prevent infection by cold hosing and flush from above the wound for 15 minutes
(3) Clean by gently bathing the wound with clean swabs and dilute Hibiscrub
(4) Once clean cover the wound with a clean dressing
(5) Support by placing layers of soft bandage or gamgee underneath a stable bandage/vetrap
EQUINE EMERGENCY FIRST AID KIT
The kit has been designed by our Equine Vets and contains adequate materials to deal with many equine first aid emergencies. These first aid kits are ideal for taking to shows or for keeping in the yard. The kit contains the basic essentials; a set of dressings, support layers, bandages, Hibiscrub, foot poultice materials, scissors, a thermometer and a factsheet of equine first aid instructions. There is also a check list to help you re-stock once items are used, along with a quick guide to normal temperature, pulse and respiration rates. There is plenty of space in the box to add additional items of your choice. Replacement items can be purchased from the surgery. Both Livery yard owners and individual clients find these convenient kits invaluable for urgent equine injuries. The cost of the kit is £44.87 including VAT. Please contact the Farm Shop on 01608 730085 for more information or to order a first aid kit.
Summer Flies
We see an increasing number of skin complaints due to various types of fly bite during the warmer months. There are several forms of skin reaction which have differing consequences, such as Urticaria, general Fly Bites, Sweet Itch.
These bites can cause pain, inflammation and distress to the horse. The best way to prevent these problems is to minimise the opportunity for flies to bite your horse. Optimum control relies on strong, long-lasting fly repellent, use of a fly rug and avoiding turnout when most flies are present (dawn /dusk). We stock a number of long-lasting fly repellents (Switch, Barricade, Coopers) some of which only require once weekly application. Please contact the surgery on 01608 730085 for more information.
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01608 730085 (Option 1)
