Here is Cat removing a sarcoid this week by laser. If you suspect your horse has a sarcoid then you can start by sending a picture of it to us.
Excuse the language but had to share 🤣🤣. A new hamster has arrived to join the family, and he’s faster than we expected… he’s called Houdini.. we should have realised 🤣
We were asked to see Blue for a lameness assessment. His owners advised that he was being especially difficult in the arena when asked to trot and he was becoming difficult to ride.
Blue is an 18 year old Irish Sports Horse and he came into the practice to be assessed for his multi-limb lameness.
He presented lame behind and in front and several nerve blocks were performed to find the causes of his lameness. We use nerve blocks to identify the problem area before using more expensive diagnostic equipment to take a closer look.
Focusing on the forelimbs, Blue blocked bilaterally to an abaxial nerve block (which blocks distal limb) and following this radiographs were taken. They revealed arthritic changes in his coffin and pastern joints, which is unfortunately a relatively common finding in horses over 15 years old. At the visit, these joints were medicated with corticosteroids which help relieve the inflammation in the joints and improve comfort levels.
Arthritis is a degenerative disease so there is no cure, but joint medications with corticosteroids and other drugs (such as Arthramid, stem cells, IRAP etc) help to make horses more comfortable.
Alongside nerve blocks, our team of equine vets, and the diagnostic scanning and x-ray equipment, we have also invested in the latest gait analysis technology (Sleip). Sleip uses AI to track over 100 anatomical keypoints on the moving horse, quantifying gait asymmetry and detecting even small irregularities that go further than the limitations of the human eye. This provides our vets with objective data to increase clinical precision and helps to localise the cause of the lameness.
This post shows this gait analysis technology, agreeing with Barbara with an obvious response before and after blocking the front feet.
Blue continues to feel comfortable six months after having received his treatment.
If you are concerned about the performance of your horse then do contact us. We have excellent facilities for
This owner called us as her horse was having sudden trouble eating and suspected choke or maybe a foreign body stuck in the mouth.
He was opening his mouth, looking uncomfortable and unable to chew or eat properly.
Under sedation, Reuben thoroughly examined him with a gag, Reuben found a fractured tooth (109), it was fractured from the first pulp chamber to the gum margin. He must have damaged it possibly by chewing on a stone, and it had become ulcerated due to becoming displaced overnight.
Reuben removed the fractured part under sedation. The owner reported that an hour after he woke up he was back to eating normally, which was lovely to see.
We were called to a newborn foal that was born during the night/early morning in freezing weather and was having trouble standing up.
She had very low temperature of 32 degrees (normal is 38). Her mucous membranes were very pale and her heart rate was going down. Hypothermia lowers their chances to fight infections, and she had no immunity as she had not managed to get any colostrum from her mother. Our vet, Melita milked the mother into a bowl and the foal managed to drink a little from that.
When Melita went back a few hours later the owners had done a great job of keeping her warm with blankets, warm water bottles and heat lamps, and standing the foal up every hour to try and suckle. However, she was still weak, so Melita gave a litre of plasma. Plasma gives the much needed antibodies to foals that do not manage to drink the initial colostrum.
Melita also performed the "Madigan Squeeze". A rope is secured around the foal by looping it around the chest several times. Tension is then applied to mimic the pressures implemented by the birth canal during the foal’s journey from the uterus to the outside world, and the foal falls asleep. At the point the rope is released, the foal awakens, and, if the procedure has been successful, displays normal consciousness.
We are delighted to report that after both these treatments and with the owners great care, the foal is doing well.
Further to our last post, please see the full video here. The answer is ABSCESS in his left hind. Well done to those who got it. Some people ring us thinking that their horse has broken their leg, and they can be forgiven for thinking why! However, if your horse ever presents this lame, it means they are in a lot of pain and should be seen immediately.
For those eagle eyed of you that noticed his front left leg was skinny, that is because this leg has been clipped (for a previous scan).
We are pleased to report that he is now totally sound, literally as soon as the abscess was released.
** PLEASE SEE NEXT POST FOR ANSWER**
Guess the ailment time!
This 15yr old horse had a sudden onset of extreme lameness. When we tried to walk him he was so uncomfortable - as shown in this short clip.
What do you think is wrong with him? We will give you the answer later this afternoon…
The crazy Reuben (and twins) took the FREEZING plunge in the Roman bath that opened in 1791 by George 3rd, filled with fresh spring water. Situated high on Ilkley moor!
A message from Father Christmas! Congratulations to the two winners of £100 vet service prizes. And MERRY CHRISTMAS to you all xx
Laser surgery
We are already busy with our new, fantastic laser machine. Here is Reuben today removing two verrucous sarcoids from the inside of a forelimb. Before and after photos in comments. To find out more about our laser surgery service. Please contact us. We are now also offering laser therapy for all sorts of conditions, with great results already.
Welcome to RW Equine Vet. We offer a fully equipped equine vet mobile veterinary service in the Rother and Wealden areas. Please email in the first instance.
