Kent Equine Hospital

🐴As we say Goodbye to 2024 and welcome a New Year 2025, it gives us time to reflect. Since the threat of corporatisation of the practice in 2018 which would have lead to closure and NO choice in Kent, to the purchase to maintain it as an independent clinic, we have climbed over many hurdles, not to mention having to move and build a new hospital. 2024 has been the first full year in Hucking and a huge challenge for all the team. It has been an absolute privilege to care for your horses, ponies and donkeys and we remain as passionate as ever to serve our local community by providing what is fast becoming a rarity: TRADITIONAL VETS MODERN MEDICINE. Whether it is just for your routine vaccination and dental examination or for more serious investigations in the hospital or surgery, keeping your horses' safe and healthy is the reason we come to work every day and are passionate about what we do. You are not a number on a conveyor belt, you are a valued client. Next year sees lots of exciting plans ahead. We will reach 8 years old and have loads of talks planned, new team members to welcome and new services. At KEH, we are proud to provide Kent's equestrians with: 🐴KENT EMERGENCY MEDICINE SERVICE, the only independent equine emergency service left in Kent with full hospital and surgical facilities 🐴KENT EQUINE MEDICINE SPECIALIST SERVICE, internal medicine specialist service for all internal medicine referrals 🐴KENT EQUINE MEDICINE AND SURGERY, for all your routine and non-routine healthcare needs 🐴KENT EQUINE EVENTS MANAGEMENT SERVICE for all your facilities to host talks and conferences ALL at Kent Equine Hospital We want to thank all our loyal team members who have worked so hard this year. Still INDEPENDENT and long may it continue! With love and best wishes for a Very Happy New Year, Katie and all the team at KEH x

Firework Season

20% OFF ALL ORAL SEDATIVES UNTIL END OF DECEMBER Whilst we all love celebrations over Christmas and New Year, the propensity for everyone letting off fireworks can be extremely challenging for us horse owners😭 We are offering 20% off all oral sedatives until the end of December. Remember if we have not examined your horse in the past 6 months, you will need to book a medication check to dispense this. So get ordering/booking your meds check on your zone day and remember, last date for ordering is Thursday 19th December. #fireworkseason #kentemergencymedicineservice #independentequinevetsinkent #independentequinevets #independentequinevet #Kentequinehospital

Thank you to Lillico Country Store for hosting us again for a fantastic fun and interactive evening. Dr. Georgia Dollemore, emergency vet, discussed all different types of emergencies and went through a plethora of amazing cases explaining why we worry more about certain wound locations than others. We then had a fun interactive session where Georgia and Elsa demonstrated and taught safe bandaging techniques. After that we had a quiz and sent two clever clogs home with first aid kit prizes and supplements - Congratulations to our winners, Georgie and Holly. We will be announcing our next dates for more talks in the New Year but don’t forget to comment with topics you would like us to cover in the future. Topics coming soon: 🐴Winter colic 🍏what’s your worm risk? 🐴Geriatric horse care 🍏Breeding from your mare 🐴Laminitis 🍏Poor performance #educationtalks #educationaltalks #bandagingtechnique #bandagingtechniques #equineemergencies #kentemergencymedicineservice #kentequinemedicineandsurgery #kentequinehospital #independentequinevets #independentequinehospital #lillicoattlee

Lily came to see Katie as a second opinion after 6 months unresolved respiratory noise/exercise intolerance. Her owner was at her wit's end as this once speedy pony could not cope with exercise. 1. Lily had overground endoscopy whilst being ridden. Lily made a harsh inspiratory/expiratory noise, particularly at canter, and transiently a vibrant expiratory noise. 2. Anatomy of upper airway. 3. Lily had Soft Palate Instability, worst during canter. The expiratory noise was associated with alar fold collapse. Palatal instability is a difficult condition to treat, and can be predisposed by respiratory inflammation, high body condition score and low fitness level. Sadly, Lily had sEA that was not controlled and had gained weight and lost fitness as she was not able to cope with exercise. Under Katie's guidance, a continuous programme of inhaled medications, change in tack and yard location was instigated. There is often a vicious cycle that horses make a noise and lose fitness because understandably owners are cautious to exercise. This leads to weight gain. 4.Lily failed to improve and was admitted to KEH for surgery, with consultant surgeon Dr. Safia Barakzai, of Equine Surgical Referrals. Here you can see Lily undergoing palatal thermocautery, performed under standing sedation. 5. The Alar Folds (red arrow) are part of the false nostril. Alar fold collapse causes expiratory obstruction and may contribute to nasopharyngeal collapse. 6. Nerve block placed in infra-orbital canal to desensitise the nostrils. 7. The second video shows alar fold resection using an electrosurgical Ligasure device. 8. Two alar folds removed. Lily started a fittening programme and continued environmental management and treatment with inhalers to ensure Asthma controlled. 9. After 6 months Lily is out eventing, having lost weight, doing what she loves best. Well done to Lily's owner, to Dr. Safia Barakzai for specialist surgical skills, to Katie for specialist internal medicine sk

🌬️🐴 Understanding Equine Asthma 🌾 Is your horse experiencing chronic coughing, nasal discharge, or labored breathing? They might be suffering from equine asthma, a respiratory condition similar to asthma in humans. With the current heatwave and high pollen count, symptoms can worsen. It's crucial to manage their environment, reduce dust, and consult your vet for the best treatment options. Ensuring clean, ventilated stables and using dust-free bedding can make a world of difference. Let's keep our equine friends healthy and breathing easy! 🐎💚 #EquineAsthma #KEH #Kentequinehospital #Independentequinehospital #Independentequinevets #Equinevetsinkent #Equinevetssoutheast

Biscuit's Story This gorgeous boy came in to see us 3 weeks ago after a routine dental assessment identified Infundibular Caries on 2 of his cheek teeth. He brought his buddy, Cookie, with him for moral support!! Biscuit wasn't showing any clinical signs despite the severe pathology, and often horses and ponies are good at hiding dental pain, especially when, like these guys, they aren't ridden, so don't have a bit in their mouth. The radiographs show both teeth (106 and 206) probing deeply (>1.5cm) and both teeth had a small amount of movement. Under standing sedation and intra-oral local anaesthetic blocks, Natalia and Katie got to work and extracted both teeth. Interestingly, on examination of the teeth afterwards, you can see the hole in the root connecting with the crown, see the food impacted in it and see the pus coming out of the root as the needle advances through. Natalia was delighted and Biscuit immediately felt better. Biscuit was monitored closely overnight after his sedation, as sedation can decrease gut motility and lead to colic. Close monitoring after the procedure by our hospital interns enables prophylactic enteral fluids and analgesia to be administered to ensure the most comfortable of recoveries for Biscuit. He was also on fine form at his 2 week post-op check! Remember - no pain check again ! #nopaincheckagain #notinastable #equinedentistry #independentvets #independentequinevets #Kentequinehospital

Rig Surgery

RIG SURGERY We thought you would like to see our new operating theatre in action with a short video from start to finish of a recent Rig Surgery. This cute pony presented with only one testicle in his scrotum. On ultrasound exam, the retained testicle was seen in the abdominal cavity, just inside the deep inguinal ring. In this video you can see: 🐴The operating table all set up for surgery. 🐴The surgical team performing a Safe Surgery checklist prior to surgery where we confirm procedure, consent, sterility, anaesthetic plan, surgery plan, medication plan and everyones' role prior to the procedure. 🐴 Induction of anaesthesia 🐴 Use of the padded crush door to ensure safe induction of anaesthesia for horse and team 🐴 Hoisting pony on to the surgery table having been intubated in induction box 🐴 Ventilator ensuring the pony is well oxygenated during anaesthesia 🐴 Anaesthetists ensuring all positioning and monitoring equipment is correct 🐴 Surgeons scrubbing up prior to gowning and gloving 🐴 Nurses prepping the surgical site 🐴 Surgeon and assistant draping the patient to ensure sterility 🐴 Surgeon has identified and exteriorised the retained testicle!! 🐴 Surgeon suturing closed the incisions 🐴 Hoisting the pony into the padded recovery box 🐴 All recovered safely and walking back to his stable 🐴 His first sloppy mash post surgery as a gelding!! We hope you enjoyed seeing the team at work in our new operating theatre. We have four clinicians on call that have been trained in busy referral centres performing hundreds of anaesthetics a year, ably assisted by our interns and two in house RCVS Surgery Certificate Holders, with over 25 year's surgical experience, and Visiting Specialist Diplomats in Orthopaedic and Soft Tissue Surgery, should your horse need it. #operatingtheatre #surgicalsuite #rigsurgery #surgicalteam #anaesthetist #KEH #kentequinehospital #equinevetsinkent #Emergencyequinevet

𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐞 𝐬𝐩𝐞𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐝𝐚𝐲 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐧𝐮𝐫𝐬𝐞𝐬! 👩‍⚕️ We could probably make a full-length film detailing everything our nurses do at the practice, but for now, here is a snippet of just some of the amazing work our nursing team do. We’re sure you will agree, they are absolutely wonderful in every way!

Welcome to Princess Leia!!! On this most miserable of May Day BHs in yet more pouring rain, we thought we would brighten your feed with the cutest little Princess Leia born on Saturday morning!! Delphine, one of our Emergency Vet team, went out to perform a mare and foal check and stomach tube this little beauty as she hadn’t suckled properly within a few hours of being born. She is very bright and very excited to meet all her new friends!! Remember that after being born your foal should: - Be able to rest on its chest/sit in sternal within 10-15 minutes - Be able to suckle within 2 hours (preferably within 20 minutes!) - Suckle frequently from the mare - Pass meconium (first faeces) within 4 hours - Urinate within 6 to 10 hours Foal care: - Navel dip (with diluted iodine or chlorhexidine) 2-3 times a day for the first 3 days - Tetanus Antitoxin injection Remember to check the mare as well: - Check for the presence of colostrum (first milk) - Check the vulva for tears - The placenta should be completely expelled within 3 hours - Check her tetanus status (vaccination up to date) Remember that at Kent Equine Hospital, we will never outsource our emergency care 24/7 365 days a year, and have our own dedicated experienced emergency team. One of our vets is always available to give you advice over the phone and will be happy to come and help you take care of your new born baby! #welovefoals #foalcare #emergencyfoalings #foalings #foals #emergencyvetteam #wewillneveroutsourceouremergencycare #independentequinevet #independentequinevets #kentequinehospital

WORLD VETERINARY DAY 2024 Today is World Veterinary Day, a day to celebrate veterinary surgeons worldwide and thank them for the passion and dedication to the health and well-being of all animals. Today we are proud of and thank our vet team, Olivia, Natalia, Elsa, Jose, Delphine, Georgia and Katie for their hard work, teamwork, compassion, empathy and skill in caring for the horses, ponies and donkeys in Kent. Our veterinary care goes on 24/7 365 days a year. Thank you for all that you do. #WorldVeterinaryDay #wvd24 #WVD #worldveterinaryday2024 #WorldVeterinaryDay2024🐴 #kentequinehospital #keh #teamkeh #independentequinevets