Stuart Altoft MRCVS - Vet

09/05/2024

In September a group of us are going to attempt the 3 peaks challenge. I'm raising money for 2 projects - 1) Edukid a fantastic charity aiming to raise children out of poverty by education and this will fund my daughter Genevieve going to Uganda as part of one of their trips in February 2025. 2) Munchkins Miniature Shetland Rescue who are a local charity we work with at Summerleaze Equine Vets who rescue and care for minature shetlands - often from severe neglect. This is by far and away going to be the toughest challenge I've ever done, I'm self funding it so all the money donated goes to these projects. please support me! If we raise our £1500 target, Summerleaze equine vets will donate an addition £500. Please sponsor me!
https://www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/stuart-3peakchallenge?utm_term=BzGpZBW3J
Help raise £1500 to Support Genevieves EduKid project and Munchkins Miniature Pony Rescue by completing the 3 peaks Challenge!

Weʼre raising money to Support Genevieves EduKid project and Munchkins Miniature Pony Rescue by completing the 3 peaks Challenge!. Support this JustGiving Crowdfunding Page.

18/03/2024

Don't forget the practice is giving a talk on Wednesday the 20th of March in Kilmington.
Coughing horses and Sarcoids! For more info or to book a free place contact us on 01297 304007

26/01/2024

Next Wednesday!

There's a week to go until our next Welfare Wednesday Webinar! 🐴 Join us for an evening with Vet Stuart Altoft as we discuss the ins and outs of equine dental care.

Stuart, who treats the horses at World Horse Welfare Glenda Spooner Farm in Somerset, will be discussing everything from routine care and common equine dental problems, to lesser-known dental issues and managing dental care in the veteran horse population. Stuart will be joined by the British Association of Equine Dental Technicians (BAEDT) chairman, James Arkley to answer your tooth related questions in a live Q&A.

📅 Wednesday 31st January
⏰ 7pm - 8:30pm
📌 Online

Register to watch here 👉 https://bit.ly/4b5xFB6

21/01/2024

Tetanus Vaccination! I cannot stress how important this is!

One of the diseases we commonly vaccinate for is Tetanus. Tetanus is fatal in 50-75% of cases.

It isn’t passed from horse to horse hence it isn’t required by different competition bodies to compete but is caused by a bacteria Clostridium Tetani that is found in the soil. Horses often contract tetanus from contaminated wounds but this can include very small wounds that wouldn’t otherwise be spotted hence it is so important for your horse to already be vaccinated for tetanus. If your horse does develop a wound and is unvaccinated or their vaccines have lapsed, we can give tetanus antitoxin but we need to do so before your horse shows any signs of tetanus. However due to the very limited self-life of tetanus anti toxin, the cost of this one-off treatment is more than the cost of 14 tetanus vaccinations, which could have covered your horse for more than 25 years! The tetanus anti toxin only provides cover for 3 weeks.

Signs of tetanus can include:

🐴Muscle stiffness resulting in a ‘rocking horse’ stance and ‘lock-jaw’
🐴Difficulty moving and eating
🐴Protrusion of the third eyelid
🐴Seizures
🐴Recumbent and unable to stand
🐴Tail held straight out
🐴The horse has an anxious expression due to muscle spasm
🐴Sweating
🐴Respiratory failure

Most of the time we use a combination vaccination for tetanus and influenza. But we can vaccinate for just tetanus in which case the primary cause only requires two vaccines 4-6 weeks apart another vaccine approximately a year later and then a vaccination once every two years. It is also recommended to vaccinate pregnant mares a month prior to foaling to improve the level of antibodies to tetanus passed to the foal in their colostrum.

For more information on tetanus please see our February newsletter:

https://www.summerleaze-vets.co.uk/documents/feb23.pdf

If you would like any more information on vaccinations please feel free to contact the practice on 01297304007

12/11/2023

It's the BHA Equine Dental Awareness week - so keep an eye on the Summerleaze Equine Vets page for lots of dentistry content throughout the week.

Would you use an unregistered dentist? Neither should your horse…

Did you know❓ There are only 2 professionals qualified to check your horses' teeth!

An Equine Vet or Equine Dental Technician registered to either the British Association of Equine Dental Technicians (BAEDT) or category 2 members of the Worldwide Association of Equine Dentists (WWAED).

To learn more and download your free digital Dental Awareness Week pack visit👉 https://bit.ly/46QSFJ4

19/09/2023

Can you help Munchkins Miniature Shetland Rescue ? Donate, sponsor and please vote for them!

🎉 The Petplan UK Animal Charity Awards 2024 are officially open!

💙 Head to the link below to submit your nomination and say a big 'thank you' to the person or team who has delivered a high standard of welfare, shown huge compassion and caring to animals or gone the extra mile to help rescue and rehome equines in need️!

👉 bit.ly/Petplan_AnimalCharityAwards2024

Nominations close at midnight on 15th January 2024

08/06/2023

Please feel free to join us at our upcoming laminitis talk

29/05/2023

https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=745615114018008&id=100057085796427&sfnsn=scwspmo

Unfortunately as owners of horses, ponies or donkeys you are likely at some point to come across colic. Colic can be mild or it can be life threatening. The important thing as an owner is to be able to recognise it and to call a vet as quickly as possible.
We hope you find this video we have produced discussing how to recognise colic useful:

https://youtu.be/GWgqomNY8ds

26/05/2023

https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=743829440863242&id=100057085796427&sfnsn=scwspmo

Warning Lyme disease

At the moment we are seeing more than our usual number of Lyme disease cases.
Lynne disease can cause all, some or just one of the following:
🐴 pyrexia (high temperature)
🐴lethargy
🐴 weight loss
🐴 anorexia
🐴 muscle soreness
🐴 stiffness
🐴 lameness
🐴laminitis
🐴 uveitis (inflammation inside the eye)
🐴 ataxia (wobbly/uncoordinated)
🐴 altered mentation (not themselves)
🐴 poor performance
🐴 weakness
🐴 irritability
🐴 paralysis

Lyme disease is caused by Borrelia burgdorferi. Borrelia burgdorferi infects leucocytes and synovial lining cells and triggers an inflammatory (and potentially autoimmune) response. The persistence of the bacteria within both synovial structures and tendons in humans leads to the prolonged treatment required.

Lyme disease is spread by ticks so good tick control can help prevent it. It is strongly recommended you regularly check your horse for ticks and remove them as quickly as possible as this reduces the chance of transmission. We also recommend using tick repellents.

To test for Lyme disease we can take bloods and usually get a result within days.

To treat Lyme disease we use a long term course of antibiotics, usually this is doxycycline for a month.

Once a horse has had Lyme disease they tend to develop an immunity to it for two years.

If you think your horse has potentially got Lyme disease it is important to contact us so treatment can begin as soon as possible to prevent any chronic health issues or permanent damage.

08/05/2023

Here at Summerleaze we have a wonderful team we wish to keep safe, this includes having a clean air work environment so we kindly request that you do not smoke in close proximity to our staff on yards. Many thanks for your consideration.

17/03/2023

Looking at the recent research into horse behaviour and our interactions with them.

Interested in equine behaviour?
Join us at our client evening on equine behaviour on the 27th April to hear us not only talking about equine behaviour but also get a chance to try out clicker training in the practical session.

13/03/2023

13/03/2023

28/01/2023

Is your horse vaccinated for tetanus?

Unfortunately, horses can catch tetanus from the environment so even if they never leave your property they are at risk of getting it. Tetanus is very likely to be fatal.
Those cases that are saved, usually, have had to undergo intense hospitalisation.
The only way to effectively prevent your horse from getting tetanus is by vaccinating them. If your horse hasn’t been vaccinated for tetanus, we can give tetanus antitoxin during a surgical procedure, or, in the event of a wound, to try to prevent tetanus.
However due to the very limited self-life of tetanus anti toxin, the cost of this one-off treatment is more than the cost of 14 tetanus vaccinations, which could have covered your horse for more than 25 years! The tetanus anti toxin only provides cover for 3 weeks.

For more information on tetanus please see our February newsletter:

https://www.summerleaze-vets.co.uk/documents/feb23.pdf