MIDSHIRE EQUINE
NEWSLETTER JULY 2014
Keeping Britain’s Horses Healthy
Campaign.
We are working in partnership with the Keeping
Britain’s Horses Health Campaign (KBHH). This
is a nationwide campaign to reduce the risk of
serious illness and infectious disease in the 1
million horses stabled in Britain. The aim is to
increase awareness of preventative healthcare and
to encourage its adoption amongst owners.
All horses are at risk and vaccination against
Equine Influenza (‘Flu) and Tetanus should be an
essential part of your normal routine, with
boosters continuing throughout your horse’s
lifetime.
Tetanus is a very serious disease, with a high
fatality rate, and is present in the soil all over the
UK. Equine Influenza is also potentially very
serious, it may take up to 6 months for full
recovery with some horses developing permanent
lung or heart damage. The virus can travel up to
5km in the air, so even if your horse does not
travel or compete, they could still be at risk.
What Should I Do?
You can speak to one of the Vets at anytime to
discuss vaccination protocol and how this will
work for you and your horse. Alternatively you
can
visit
the
KBHH
website
at
www.healthyhorses.co.uk
Beware of Laminitis!
It is that time of year again when more and more
horses and ponies fall victim to laminitis. This is a
serious disease that can cause excruciating pain
and irreversible damage. Make sure you know the
signs to watch out for:
 Heat and pulses in feet
 Reluctance to move or increased time
spent lying down
 Fast breathing and sweating
 The classical laminitic stance (see above)
Up to 90% of laminitic cases in the UK are related to
some form of metabolic imbalance. This may be due to
PPID, also known as “Cushings” or to a disease called
Equine Metabolic Syndrome (EMS). Both of these
diseases can be diagnosed with blood tests, and
effective treatment options are now available.
FREE “Cushings” tests.
Liphook Equine Hospital, a leading centre of research
into Cushings, EMS and laminitis, is now offering free
blood tests to detect Cushings in horses or ponies not
previously diagnosed with the disease. Visit
www.talkaboutlaminitis.co.uk to get your free
voucher, and find more information regarding
Cushings, EMS or laminitis in general.
Our Services
General Medicine
 Vaccinations
 Worming advice
 Faecal and blood worm checks
 Nutritional advice
 Examination and advice for long
term medications
 Passport applications/sketches
 Microchipping
 Lameness Examinations
Dentistry
 Dental examination and rasping
 Incisor, Molar and Wolf tooth
extractions
 Sedation for dental work
Ultrasound (Scanning)
 Tendon scans
 Reproductive procedures
Radiography (X-Rays)
 Lameness investigation
 Laminitis foot problems
 Other areas, eg head/sinus
radiographs
Endoscopy
 Upper airway tract assessment, eg
laryngeal paralysis (“roarers”)
 Sample collection
Pre/post purchase examinations
 2 and 5 stage “vetting”
 Insurance examinations
Surgical procedures
 “In-field” anaesthesia
 Castration (general anaesthesia and
standing)
 Lump removals (some sarcoids, etc)
 Other minor surgical procedures
Sample collection and analysis
 Haematology
 Biochemistry
 Urine analysis
 Swabs (eg respiratory, CEM)
 Skin scrapes
 Biopsy and histology samples
 Pregnancy testing
 Hormone assays (eg Cushings
Disease)
We also work closely with other equine
para-professionals – farriers, EDTs and
physiotherapists – to ensure the all round
and continued health of your horse.
Visit our new website at
www.midshirevets.co.uk
or keep up to date with latest news at
www.facebook.com/midshirefarmandequine