Oakhill Equine Vets

POST ACUPUNCTURE 💤 Red’s owner reports that his acupuncture treatment has made a huge difference to his wellbeing and overall demeanour. He does this religiously after each session which we have found really interesting! 😴 . . . #HorseAcupuncture #EquineAcupuncture #EquineAcupunctureVet #EquineAcupunctureWorks #EquineAcupunctureSuccess #AcupunctureRocks #AcupunctureWorks #AcupunctureHealing #AcupunctureBenefits #AcupunctureHorse #AcupunctureHorses #PonyAcupuncture

🎄 ON THE TENTH DAY OF CHRISTMAS, OAKHILL GAVE TO ME… 10 KILOS OF FIBRE NUGGETS Have a guess how many kilos of fibre nuggets we get through in the clinic each week… If you thought 10, you’re wrong! We use FOUR 10kg bags on average each week to assist with keeping your horses happily distracted during diagnostic procedures, or just as the occasional treat! Our yard assistant, Imogen, is a particular fan of the tasty nuggets! . . . #OakhillVets #OakhillEquineVets #EquineClinic #HorseClinic #HorseClinics #EquineVet #HorseVet #EquineVets #EquineVeterinary #EquineVeterinarian #EquineVetLife #EquineVeterinarians #EquineVeterinaryMedicine

NEW TURNING SYSTEM AND IMPROVED PARKING AT GOOSNARGH! With the recent completion of our brand-new building - Brook House - we have extended our car park to provide ample parking for all our valued clients. The main equine car park remains in front of reception (straight ahead as you come through the main gates). To make navigating easier, we’ve also implemented a one-way system around the new building for smooth turning of horseboxes and trailers. Upon entering through the main gates, turn left towards the new building and follow the road around it, keeping the building on your right. We hope you love it as much as we do!!

£1,038 RAISED FOR WORLD HORSE WELFARE Thanks to the generousity of our wonderful clients who attended our Equine Client Evening last night we raised a whopping £1,038 for World Horse Welfare – the most we've ever raised through the raffle! Thank you to everyone who bought tickets and donated prizes. Special thanks go to Hallmarq Veterinary Imaging, Dechra UK and BOVA for sponsoring the evening and our fantastic speakers - Kai, Rosie and Merry - who gave really informative talks, packed full of interesting case studies, and practical tips for all horse owners.

QUESTION: WHAT ARE WE DOING HERE? ANSWER: This is the first stage of an infundibular restoration (or filling). The food material is removed using a combination of high-speed drilling and manual files- you can see the discolouration of the water from the amount of food within the cavity! Once the cavity is clean, a filling is placed within it to prevent infection or fracture of the tooth. . . . #HorseDentist #EquineDentistry #EquineVet #HorseDentistry #EquineDentist #HorseDentalCare #EquineVeterinarian #EquineDental #EquineDentalCare #OakhillVets #EquineVeterinary #HorseFilling #HorseFillings

LUNGING ON A HARD SURFACE Why do we lunge horses on the hard at a vetting? Lunging a horse on a hard surface is considered a standard part of both two and five stage pre-purchase examinations (vetting’s). Such importance is placed on it, that vetting certificates have a section devoted to it. The vet will have to note if it has been undertaken, and if not, why. Subtle lameness, including bilateral (both sided) issues, are exacerbated by lunging on a hard surface. The ideal surface is firm, but not slippery, such as the hard lunge arena at our clinic. This allows the vet to give the purchaser a much clearer picture of a horse’s soundness. Whilst we wouldn’t recommend routinely lunging horses on a hard surface for training, a brief trot on a hard surface is safe and well within the capabilities of a horse. Care must be taken to make sure that the horse does not slip and fall. This is of particular concern in young, unbacked horses, or large, shod horses on wet concrete. If the situation is unsafe, we will note why the horse wasn’t lunged on a hard surface. We undertake a large number of pre-purchase examinations each year, in a wide range of horses. Our experienced equine vets are on hand to guide you through the process, and feel free to get in touch to discuss what options are available to you. . . . #HorseVetting #VetAHorse #prepurchaseexaminationofthehorse #prepurchaseexamination #EquineVet #HorseVet #EquineVets #EquineVeterinary #EquineVeterinarian

⭐ COMPETITION TIME: CAPTION THIS! ⭐ Look at this clever boy, who has figured out how to get to the tastiest grass! 😂 👉 Caption this video in the comments for your chance to win some Oakhill goodies. We'll announce the winner next week. **REMEMBER: beware of fake accounts. We will NEVER ask you for any personal details, ask you to click a link or pay anything. ** #HorseCompetition #EquineCompetition #HorseCompetitions #EquineCompetitions

HOW SATISFYING IS THIS? This is typical of an inflamed joint - there is excessive fluid on the joint and that fluid contains lots of inflammatory proteins that have a negative effect on the joint environment. The fluid becomes very watery, as you can see and loses it’s lubricative effects within the diseased joints. Simply removing the excessive fluid by needle is a form of treatment in these cases. In this horse you can see vet Rosie injecting some of the horse’s own plasm (Alpha-2 EQ macroglobulin plasma to be precise), to deliver more natural anti-inflammatory medication, as opposed to corticosteroids, which can have deleterious effects in high motion joints such as this one. If you would like to discuss the different joint medications available for use in your horse, please do not hesitate to contact us. Oakhill has everything from traditional steroid therapies to plasma, hydrogel and even stem cells for joints! #HorseInjury #EquineClinic #HorseClinic #HorseClinics #EquineVet #HorseVet #EquineVets #EquineVeterinary #EquineVeterinarian #HorseDiagnostics #EquineVet #EquineVeterinarian #EquineVets #OakhillVets #EquineVeterinary

No better place to be than the Royal Lancs Show on this beautiful afternoon 🌞. Come and say hi (and enjoy some cold refreshments) if you're there - stand C1!

HOW LONG CAN FROZEN SEMEN LAST? 🐴 We took this video down our microscope, when checking the frozen semen we had just used. But here's the question: How long had this semen been frozen? Scroll down for the answer 👇🏻. . . . . Answer – It’s ‘only’ been stored in liquid nitrogen for two and a half years!! Once frozen semen can technically be stored indefinitely, and in practice it is frequently stored for over 10 years successfully. #EquineAI

WHAT DO OUR NURSES DO? All our nurses have spent years training to get their qualifications and are crucial in keeping our equine clinic running smoothly. You can find our nurses in the clinic every day doing a range of tasks including: ✅ Patient checks and general care. ✅ Administration of medications. ✅ Preparation of patients for surgical procedures. ✅ Assisting in endoscopy, surgical and dental procedures. ✅ Assisting in and taking X-rays and MRIs. Their tireless energy and dedication to horses and owners deserves some recognition – which is what #VNAM2024 is all about! #20YearsOfVNAM #WhatVNsDo

HYDROTHERAPY We are often asked about hydrotherapy – particularly the use of water treadmills versus swimming - as part of a horse’s rehabilitation plan following injury or surgery. Which option is best for your horse will vary depending on their problem! WATER TREADMILLS • Water adds resistance to the horse’s movement, resulting in a longer stride length and increased muscle development • Water depth can be adjusted to account for a particular injury • Horses will naturally lower their head on the water treadmill, increasing back flexion • Good for horses with back pain, particularly as part of kissing spine rehabilitation SWIMMING • Swimming is a great option for cardiovascular fitness and therefore weight loss. Swimming for 5-8 minutes can increase the heart rate of a horse to 175 beats per minute! • As the horse has to raise their head and neck to swim, it is not always ideal for horses with back pain • Ideal for recovering laminitics, horses/ponies with EMS, or those needing low concussion exercise #HorseHydrotherapy