Gloucestershire Equine Vets

07/11/2024

🦠🧬 Did you know that at Gloucestershire Equine Vets we can provide rapid in-house testing on samples for infectious diseases such as Strangles, Influenza and EHV 1 and 4? 🧬🦠

Our in-house PCR machine allows us to test for the presence of these pathogens from samples such as nasopharyngeal swabs, guttural pouch washes and tracheal washes, without the need to send samples off to an external laboratory. Results are available within 30-40 minutes, which allows for quick decision making with regards to both patient treatment and for advising on yard biosecurity and disease outbreak management.

As always, prevention is better than cure when it comes to infectious disease. We recommend vaccination for Influenza in all horses and for EHV 1 and 4 in competition horses and broodmares, as discussed in previous posts. Basic yard biosecurity should never be overlooked, with recommendations including isolation of new or sick horses in the yard, limiting contact with other horses at competition venues and general good hygiene with regards to equipment and stables.

05/11/2024

Just finished 2 days attending a Casualty Management Seminar at Aintree Racecourse. As a requirement to officiate at racecourses band point to points we have to attend one of these seminars every 5 years to keep up to date with regulations and requirements. It also ensures the best outcomes for the horses under our care and their owners/trainers. To officiate as senior veterinary surgeon I have also attended a senior racecourse veterinary surgeon seminar and completed online training modules as well.

03/11/2024

Very busy weekend with emergencies including peritonitis, lamenesses, abscess on a knee and cellulitis. With all this still managed to squeeze in fireworks, dinner out in Bourton on the Water, a quick outing British Showjumping and the usual routine chores. Just received the Equireel video of the practice team at the Cotswold Team Chase - hope you enjoy nearly as much as us

30/10/2024

An outbreak of the neurological form of Equine Herpes Virus has been reported in Gloucestershire. This form of the disease is often fatal and hopefully this outbreak will be confined to one premises. Equine Herpes Virus (EHV) can also cause abortion in pregnant mares, respiratory disease and immunosuppression (I.e. more prone to picking up other infections and performance limiting). Vaccination against EHV can reduce the severity of symptoms and limit the spread of this virus. In pregnant mares vaccines should be given in the 5th,7th and 9th months of pregnancy and in other horses and ponies an initial 2 doses are given between 4 and 6 weeks apart with then 6 monthly booster. For more information about this disease or to book vaccinations please contact the office (01452877595)

27/10/2024

What a fabulous way to finish our autumn team chase season at our local Cotswold Team Chase. Our horses were amazing and we finished 4th in the Intermediate Speed Class. We have had the most amazing season from 5 runs we have won 2 Novice speed events and finished 4th in two Intermediate Speeds. Especially proud of my own Lucky (For Luck) who has done his very first team chase season and in the middle of this he also managed a 6th place at the Horse Events ODE championships. Thank you so much to Victoria Gregg, Caroline Taylor and Yvonne Goss for being fabulous team mates. Can’t wait until the spring season. Sarah Norris you can now relax 😂😂

25/10/2024

Friday afternoon fun in the office. Have a great weekend all 🤩

24/10/2024

It doesn’t seem like just over three years ago that we started Gloucestershire Equine Vets. We have grown rapidly thanks to our fantastic clients. As our growth has continued we are very pleased to have been joined by another veterinary surgeon Mary Battersby. We provide a full range of services from routine care, dentistry, stud work, lameness, poor performance, pre-purchase examinations and out of hours cover for Gloucestershire and surrounding counties.

Our commitment to you is to provide a fantastic service and experience from the minute you pick up the phone to us.

⭐️ An INDEPENDENT equine practice based in the heart of the Cotswolds
with a small close knit team ⭐️

⭐️ Continuity of care for your horse ⭐️

⭐️ Experience (Mark has over 30 years as an equine veterinary surgeon) ⭐️

⭐️ Practical and realistic diagnostics and treatments from vets who ride and
compete as well ⭐️

With our increased capacity we are now able to take on more clients, studs, yards and trainers. Please call (01452 877595) or email us at [email protected] to discuss your needs

20/10/2024

So close but so far today. We unfortunately lost our 4th rider early on but Victoria Gregg, Caroline Taylor and Mark Cubberley were having a flying round and heading for a very fast time. Sadly we lost Victoria four fences from home. Thankfully no injuries and fingers crossed we will have a great run next Sunday at the Cotswold. Thank you so much to Sarah Norris and Charlotte Cubberley for all your help.

18/10/2024

Gloucestershire Equine Vets team chase team is out again on Sunday at the Heythrop team chase. After a phenomenal start to the season with 2 wins and a 4th place from our three runs, we will be in the Intermediate speed class with our start time at 1339 (OX7 5UX Sarsgrove,Nr Chipping Norton). Do come along and say hi if you are about. 💨💨💨💨

16/10/2024

🌳🚨 Atypical Myopathy 🚨🌳

Now that the Autumn and Winter months are upon us, horses are at greater risk of Atypical Myopathy (‘Sycamore Poisoning’).

This disease is fatal in ~75% of cases and is caused by ingestion of the toxin Hypoglycin A, which is found in sycamore seeds and seedlings. As grazing diminishes in the winter months, horses are more likely to ingest the seeds which may blow into their paddocks.

Clinical signs include:

🍂 Generalised weakness and reluctance to walk
🍂 Muscle tremors
🍂 Recumbency
🍂 Dark red or brown urine
🍂 Depression

Diagnosis is based on clinical signs and blood work which will show marked elevations in muscle enzymes due to the destruction of skeletal muscle.

Early detection and aggressive fluid therapy is vital for improving survival rates, so do not hesistate to call the practice if you suspect your horse is affected.

The following interventions reduce the risk of Atypical Myopathy in your horse:

🌳 Removal of sycamore leaves and seeds off pasture or fence off affected areas
🌳 Provide supplementary forage in fields where grazing is sparse
🌳 Remove access to sycamore trees and seeds on or close to grazing where possible

15/10/2024

Our practice team had a great time at The Grafton Hunt Team Chase on Sunday. As you can see from the pictures there were some fairly beefy hedges. As a team this was our first Intermediate run and despite a slip up on the flat for me and a sat nav error we finished in a great 4th place. Thank you very much to Victoria Gregg and Caroline Taylor for leading us round. We are looking forward to our next two runs at the Heythrop and the Cotswold.

11/10/2024

Gloucestershire Equine Vets team chase team will be out again this Sunday at the Grafton Team Chase (OX17 2SH). This will be our first Intermediate Speed class as a team so we are really excited. We are off at 10.12. If anyone is there please do come and say hello.

09/10/2024

SAVE 10% on your annual vaccination when you have routine dental treatment at the same time.

We offer a full routine dental service, including free reminders and a written report, sedation when required, wolf tooth removal, dental extractions and radiography.

Please call our office on 01452 877595 to book an appointment with one of our veterinary surgeons. This is permanent scheme we run all year round.

01/10/2024

What another great weekend for our sponsored rider Victoria Gregg and her young horse Clooncastle Margo. Following a crunching fall last week she bounced straight back at The Cotswold Cup Championships at Cirencester Park last weekend. She finished a fabulous 8th in the 90 three day event. Margo has very little experience so this was a fabulous result. Sadly our team chase was cancelled so she gave our team chasing colours an outing instead 😂😂. Fingers crossed with the weather improves and we will be out again at the Grafton Team Chase in just under 2 weeks.

22/09/2024

What a fabulous weekend for our sponsored rider Victoria Gregg who was again ultra consistent at The Horse Events Championships at Dauntsey Park yesterday. Riding 3 horses, she won one section on Dash and came 5th on Gold and 6th on our own For Luck. Sadly had a bit of a slip today when going very well in difficult conditions with her own young horse Clooncastle Margo. I finally got our own 6 year old Joes Clover out competing British Showjumping again today and he got straight back to winning ways at CCR Equestrian in the 95cm amateur class. It was great to be joined by my daughter Charlotte today with her exciting young mare Lena.

16/09/2024

EHV is the commonest cause of infectious abortion in pregnant mares. Infection can occur without any symptoms up to 100 days before your mare aborts meaning it is too late to do anything to prevent further spread. The loss of a foal at any stage is devastating. Vaccination at 5, 7 and 9 months of pregnancy can help prevent up to 80% of abortions caused by this disease. The vaccine also helps to protect against the respiratory, neurological and immunosuppressive forms of this disease in all horses and ponies and reduces the spread of this disease.
We strongly advise all pregnant mares are vaccinated against EHV. Vaccinating horses that travel and compete regularly also has significant health benefits.
If you have any questions please call 01452877595 to speak with one of our vets

An Independent Equine Veterinary Practice providing high standard of mobile veterinary care in Gloucestershire and surrounding counties. Mark has nearly 30 years experience in equine medicine and surgery in the UK and Ireland

11/09/2024

🚨Our phone lines are now up and running as normal. Please call 01452 877595 for the office as normal 🚨

11/09/2024

🚨 We are currently experiencing some unexpected difficulties with our office phone line 🚨

Whilst this is being resolved, if you have an emergency please call us on 01285720251.