Tier 3 equine hospital with a team of ambulatory equine vets, treating shires to shetlands and every Endell Veterinary Group Limited. VAT number: GB737145235
Registered in England and Wales No. 08078309. Registered address CVS House, Owen Road, Diss, Norfolk IP22 4ER. Endell Veterinary Group Limited is part of CVS (UK) Limited, a company which owns veterinary practices within the UK. Company Registration Number 03777473. Registered address: CVS House, Owen Road, Diss, Norfolk IP22 4ER.
*** DENTAL CLINICS ***
Don't forget to book into our regular dental clinics with our vet Amarins.
They are ongoing every fortnight, so call the hospital reception on 01722 710046 to book your appointment.
And don't forget that if you are part of our Horse Health Programme, then your membership includes a free dental check.
*** BANK HOLIDAY MEDICATION REQUESTS ***
Check your horse's medication now, and if you need them posted out to you, order them before Thursday, 22nd August, to avoid running out over the Bank Holiday Weekend.
You can, of course, collect medication from the hospital reception up until 5:30pm on Friday 23rd August.
*** JUST FOR FUN ***
We hope you've been having a fabulous summer so far and have managed to get out and about with your horses on some fantastic rides and hacks.
Let us see what you've been up to by posting your "view from behind the ears" in the comments below.
We can't wait to see them!
*** FLY CONTROL AND PREVENTION ***
Hot weather and pesky flies go hand in hand, so if your horse is struggling with the flies this summer, here are a few tips to help them cope.
🔹️ Manage high-risk areas of the stable yard
The main areas for fly breeding are the muck heap and any stagnant water. Effectively managing these areas can decrease the population of flies in any yard.
• Muck heap: Ideally, cover the muck heap with black plastic, and only uncover it when depositing dung from poo picking. As the muck heap ferments away under the cover, the temperature will increase, and fly eggs, or any developing fly larvae, will be destroyed.
• Stagnant water: Do not let water sit and gather in old buckets or containers lying around the yard. Any ditches should be drained if possible and allowed to dry out.
🔹️ Avoid risky times and places
Culicoides midges are most active at dawn and at dusk. So, if possible, keep your horse in their stable at these times to minimise irritation.
Avoid hacking through any woods, especially on warm days as the horse fly is most present in these kinds of wooded, shady areas.
🔹️ Remove bot eggs
Remove bot eggs from your horse each day using a specialised comb. Worm your horse with an appropriate wormer that is effective at treating any bots that have managed to set up home in the stomach.
🔹️ Use protective wear
Using a fly-protection rug is vital to prevent Culicoides Midges from getting access to your horse. It is especially important for those horses that have allergic reactions to the fly saliva – in other words, horses that suffer from sweet itch.
A fly mask that covers the ears and eyes is an excellent deterrent and good at preventing both the house fly (eyes) and the black fly (ears) from gaining access to their preferred feeding sites on your horse.
🔹️ Fly repellents
A wide range of sprays, creams, gels, and wipes are on the market that contain a variety of active ingredients, from traditional natural solutions to powerful synthetic substances. These can be effective at repelling flies.
Remember, any fly repellent will only be effective for a limited time. It is important to reapply these during the day to keep the levels high, especially if it rains, since repellents are not waterproof. They will be washed off in wet weather, and your horse will not be protected.
If you need help with fly repellents or treatments, then do not hesitate to get in touch with us on 01722710046 for some veterinary advice.
*** PROUD TO BE A SPONSOR ***
We are proud to be one of the sponsors for the New Forest and Hampshire County Show!
We'll be sponsoring the Dales, Fell and Highland Classes H56 & H57 on Wednesday 31st July in Happy Hot Tubs East Ring.
Good luck to all the participants!
*** HHP BENEFITS ***
Have you used your HHP Dental benefit yet?
A routine dental examination with rasp, including sedation , is included as part of your Horse Health Programme membership.
If you haven't used yours yet, then call the hospital on 01722 710046 to get booked in or to sign up to the programme.
*** MESOTHERAPHY ***
Mesotherapy is an interesting and very useful technique developed in France for the treatment of musculo-skeletal pain and muscle spasm involving problems of the neck, back, and pelvis in the horse. Reduction in pain and excessive muscle spasm can restore normal mobility and function. This, in turn, allows the horse to respond to training correctly, improving core muscle strength and stability and reducing susceptibility to injury.
Mesotherapy involves multiple injections in a grid pattern, with tiny needles, into the thickness of the skin. Following treatment, horses are typically restricted to light exercise without a saddle for 3 days, and then normal exercise may resume. However, horses will continue to improve further over a couple of weeks. Treatment may be repeated a few weeks later if there has been an incomplete response.
How does it work? In part by slow release of anti-inflammatory medication into the affected area. However, rather cleverly, it also works even when just injecting sterile water by tapping into a trick of the nervous system involving stretch receptors in the skin.
Physiology for the details people: Epicritic nerve fibres in the mesoderm (deeper layers) of the skin are involved in fine touch sensation. When stimulated, these send a signal into the dorsal horn of the spinal cord. There is a convenient branch in this nerve pathway which crosses over to activate a negative feedback pathway, reducing motor nerve stimulation, in turn reducing muscle contraction and spasm in excessively tight muscles in that area. Because of the segmental organisation of these spinal nerves, injections are administered in several rows on both sides of the spine, at the level of the injury and a few inches caudal (towards the tail). The area affected by treatment is in the region just ahead of the level of each injection.
In this video, you can see Hani, one of our vets with a large orthopaedic caseload, treating a patient who has struggled with back pain and saddle fit issues.
If your horse suffers from back pain or neck stiffness or you think they may benefit from mesotherapy, please do not hesitate to give us a call to discuss treatment options with one of our vets.
*** CONGRATULATIONS! ***
Our Student Veterinary Nurse, Emily, has just passed the first year of nurse training. Congratulations, Emily. We knew you could do it!! 🌟
*** HOT WEATHER ADVICE ***
With the weather warming up, here is some hot weather advice to keep in mind over the next few months to help keep your horse safe this summer.
*** HARRY'S WOUND***
Harry is a 16 year old Shire gelding that went through some electric fencing, causing multiple lacerations. The biggest wound was approximately 7x5cm, and was on the lateral aspect of the left forelimb at the level of the proximal radius. The wound was stitched for the transport as the decision was made to move him here to Endell Equine Hospital.
On arrival at the hospital, the exploration of the wound on the forelimb showed significant muscle disruption and contamination; it was flushed with three litres of saline and debrided with swabs. A Kerlix roll (antibiotic impregnated gauze roll) with hypertonic solution was placed inside the wound and covered with a bandage. There was a smaller laceration, approximately 2cm in size, on the medial aspect of the right hind limb, at the level of the adductors muscles, which was flushed as well.
The following morning, the wound looked clean, with a little bit of expected discharge. Stitches were placed around the wound on the forelimb in order to keep the new Kerlix in the wound, and these were removed the next day. Oral antibiotics were administered to Harry twice daily, as well as oral anti-inflammatories. After a few days, he was discharged from the hospital.
The video shows the progression of Harry’s wound over seven months, and his leg is now looking fantastic!
*** THANK YOU!! ***
Thank you to all who donated towels over the last few weeks. We now have enough in stock, thanks to all your generous donations. We are very grateful!
*** GUIDELINES FOR COLLECTING A FAECAL WORM EGG COUNT SAMPLE ***
Collect the sample as fresh as possible, the fresher the better, but this can be up to 12 hours old.
When taking the sample, collect samples from three different areas of the dung pile. This helps to ensure the sample is representative across the faecal pile.
5 grams is enough for us to test.
Once collected, place the sample into a zip lock bag, preferably, and remove as much air from the bag as possible. This helps to prevent the eggs from hatching whilst in transit. Place into the refrigerator if this sample is not being delivered immediately, but then get it to us as soon as possible.
If posting this sample, please ensure you comply with the Royal Mail packaging instructions and no more than 50 grams.
If you have any questions about taking sample for a faecal worm egg count, or de-worming your horse, then please contact the hospital on 01722710046.
*** CONGRATULATIONS ***
Massive congratulations to our very own vet Rebecca Hamilton-Fletcher and her 26-year-old Connemara Smokin Gun (Gunner), who has reclaimed the senior-plus ridden pony title for the second year running at the 2024 Royal Windsor Horse Show! 🏆 🏆
Well done Rebecca and Gunner!
Rebecca Hamilton-Fletcher, 64, and her 26-year-old Connemara gelding Smokin Gun won in ridden veteran ranks at the 2024 Royal Windsor Horse Show
*** VETERINARY NURSING AWARENESS MONTH ***
It's Veterinary Nursing Awareness Month during May, and we'd like to say a huge thank you to our nursing team, which is made up of Registered Veterinary Nurses, Student Veterinary Nurses and Patient Care Assistants. These amazing people, together with the Yard Team, work tirelessly to provide gold standard care to our patients and support to our vets. A Registered Veterinary Nurse usually
studies for 2 to 3 years for their qualifications, and once they are qualified, they are permitted to carry out certain procedures. They have such a huge and varied role, and we would
be unable to function without them!
*** *** STRANGLES AWARENESS WEEK ***
Do you know the signs and symptoms of Strangles?
It can take up to 21 days for a newly infected horse to show signs of illness, so it is important to recognise the symptoms early to protect your horse and those around it.
*** STRANGLES AWARENESS WEEK ***
Reducing contact with unfamiliar horses can help to protect your horse against Strangles.
*** STRANGLES AWARENESS WEEK 2024 ***
Strangles Awareness Week (SAW) is a global collaborative initiative aimed at preventing and managing Strangles - the most common infectious equine disease.
As proud Ambassadors of SAW, we aim to help raise awareness, educate and support owners to protect their horses against Strangles.
*** BODY CONDITION SCORING ***
Here's some great information from the Horse Health Programme on body condition scoring (BCS)
With hope the weather will brighten soon and allow our horses more turnout! Now is a good time to get clued up on your horse’s weight. Whilst horse’s weight naturally fluctuates between the seasons, it’s a good idea to keep track of how they’re doing so that you can pick up any dramatic changes sooner. The best way of doing is a combination of body condition scoring and using a weight tape.
Body condition scoring focuses on key areas of the body: along the neck, along the withers, crease down back, tailhead, ribs and behind the shoulder.
1. Poor – extremely emaciated; bones prominent and no fat palpable
2. Very thin – emaciated; withers, shoulder and neck structure faintly visible
3. Thin – slight fat covering ribs, hip joints slightly rounded with mild fat cover
4. Moderately thin – slight ridge along back, ribs faintly discernible
5. Moderate – ribs easily felt but not visible
6. Moderately fleshy – slight crease down back, spongy fat over ribs, small fat deposits behind shoulders
7. Fleshy – noticeable fat filling between ribs, fat pads
8. Fat - crease down back, difficult to feel ribs, thickening of neck
9. Extremely fat – obvious crease down back, bulging fat pads, inner thighs may rub together
If you would like some advice on managing your horse's weight please call your vet.
*** BANK HOLIDAY MEDICATION REQUESTS ***
Make sure you send any medication requests in to the hospital by tomorrow, Thursday 2nd May, if you want them sent out in the post to be with you before the bank holiday weekend.
However, if you would prefer to collect them from the hospital reception, then you can do so until 5:30pm on Friday afternoon.
*** WORLD VETERINARY DAY - 27th April 2024 ***
Today is World Veterinary Day.
Celebrating the incredible contributions that vets make, not just to animal health, but to society as a whole. It recognises the many important jobs vets perform every day for the health of our companion pets and farm animals.
*** LAMINITIS ***
Laminitis is a condition that is an inflammation of the laminae. Laminae holds the pedal bone in position within the hoof. What causes laminitis?
🔹️ Increased sugar intake from fresh spring grass
🔹️ Overweight ponies and horses are unfortunately more susceptible, and this is often common in our native breeds, which are very fond of food!
🔹️ It is more likely to affect ponies or horses with EMS (Equine Metabolic Syndrome)
🔹️ An increased risk of laminitis is common in ponies or horses with Cushing’s Disease
What are the signs of laminitis?
🔹️ Reluctance to walk or move forward
🔹️ Difficulty making tight turns
🔹️ Weight shifting from one foot to another
🔹️ Bounding digital pulses, these can be felt by the back of your horses fetlock
🔹️ Very hot feet
🔹️ Lameness, especially on hard ground
How can you help minimise the risk of laminitis?
🔹️ Managing your horse’s weight effectively. Overweight horses are much more susceptible to suffering with laminitis. Your vet can help with a weight loss plan if needed.
🔹️ Good regular hoof care with a registered farrier.
🔹️ If you suspect your pony or horse may have EMS or Cushing’s seek testing from your veterinary surgeon to confirm this. Having a diagnosis will help you manage the risk.
With laminitis, prevention is always better than cure. If you suspect that your horse or pony may be showing early signs of laminitis, please contact your vet immediately to arrange a visit.
*** FREE TO A GOOD HOME!! ***
We have a large number of pallets here at the hospital available for free, if anyone would like them. If you want them, and are able to collect them, then please call the hospital on 01722 710046 to arrange a day and time to collect.
*** VET STUDENTS ***
Did you know that Endell Equine Hospital is a teaching hospital? You may have seen vet students accompanying our vets out on the road, or when you’ve bought your horse to the hospital. All of the students who spend time here will be in their final years of vet school and it is a very important part of their training to see clinical cases and get a better feel for the “real world” of veterinary medicine that they will be joining shortly.
We get students visiting from numerous vet schools around the UK, but for Bristol Vet School, we are one of their core equine rotations with a number of other hospitals around the southwest. The Bristol vet students usually come in pairs and spend 2 weeks with us, doing a mixture of hospital and ambulatory work.
We really appreciate all of our clients who allow the vet students to be involved in their appointments, however, if you feel uncomfortable, please either let the vet or the office know, in advance if possible. The more that they can do, the better prepared they will be as vets and all of the vets who already work here, were lucky that they gained similar experience when they were vet students to accumulate the experience they have now.
*** TOWELS NEEDED ***
If you have any old, second hand towels that you no longer need, please consider sending them in to us to use on our inpatients.
They will be very much appreciated!!
Please drop any towels off at Endell Equine Hospital reception Monday - Friday 8:00am to 5:30pm.
*** JOIN OUR TEAM ***
Endell Equine Hospital is looking for a hardworking, reliable groom to work on Saturday mornings.
The job will include all general yard duties such as:
🔹️mucking out
🔹️grooming
🔹️preparing feeds etc
These duties will be undertaken to the highest of standards with attention to detail.
The ideal candidate will have experience handling and looking after a variety of horses of all ages.
Excellent CVS company benefits including discounts on veterinary care for your horse.
To apply please send your CV and covering letter to
[email protected]
joinourteam
*** APOLOGIES - COMPUTER SYSTEM ISSUES ***
We are currently experiencing a problem with our computer systems, including email. We apologise for any inconvenience caused, but please bear with us over the next few days as it is ongoing.
If you have emailed us over the last week, please call us 01722 710046.
Again, apologies for any inconvenience.
*** MRI COLLATERAL CASE STUDY ***
MRI is an incredibly clever technology that requires no radiation to image intricate details within the body. Equine standing MRI has been a game changer in the industry to be able to image minute detail within a horse’s limb, particularly within the hoof. The advent of standing MRI 20 years ago allows us to make diagnoses now that weren’t necessarily possible previously.
One example is injuries to the collateral ligament. The collateral ligament of the distal interphalangeal (“coffin”) joint runs from the distal end of the middle phalanx (“P2”) to the proximal end of the distal phalanx (“P3”) on each side (see highlighted image). Grossly swollen collateral ligaments can sometimes be picked up via ultrasonography, however, the vast majority of the time the affected section is within the hoof capsule and thus the ultrasound cannot get an adequate view.
These images are of a severe case found in a hunt horse that went acutely lame and blocked to the foot. The circled areas show increased signal on the MRI, which is indicative of an acute (active) disruption within the medial collateral ligament of the coffin joint. Tendons/ligaments normally show mostly as dark on an MRI, however when there is active tearing, blood and healing fluid enters the area, which shows bright on an MRI.
The severe case is obvious, but the advantage of the MRI is that it can even detect very small disruptions in the collateral ligament from this 15-year-old Warmblood mare that also blocked to her hind foot. (Image 4)
This horse was managed with shockwave of the affected area, some time off and a special shoe to reduce the strain on the collateral ligament.
Please call Endell Equine Hospital on 01722 710046 to discuss if an MRI is appropriate for your horse or ask your normal vet to refer you to Endell for an MRI scan.
#
*** DENTAL CLINICS ***
Our vet, Amarins, will be holding Dental Clinics here at the hospital for routine dental health checks. They will take place every fortnight on Thursdays.
You would be saving the cost of a visit by bringing your horse to us, therefore only paying for the procedure and medications needed.
You would also benefit from an oral video examination, which is considered the gold standard treatment.
All horses will need to be sedated for their dental examination, and they can also be weighed at the same time if you would like them to be. All this for the same price as a routine dental, and Horse Health Programme (HHP) discounts will still apply.
Each appointment will take approximately 1 hour, and there are various clinic dates available.
So call the hospital on 01722 710046 now to book your place, or if you need more information.
*** HAPPY EASTER ***
We hope you all have a happy easter and enjoy the long weekend with your horses.
However, if you do need us at any point throughout the weekend, then please call our On-Call vet on 01722 710046.
*** MEDICATION REQUESTS ***
Please ensure that any routine medication requests are sent in to us by today Wednesday 27th March 2024, if you would like them posted out to arrive with you before the Easter Bank Holiday weekend.
However, medications can still be collected from the hospital reception until 5:30pm tomorrow, Thursday 28th March 2024.
Southampton Road, Clarendon
Salisbury
SP53DG
Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Endell Equine Hospital posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.
Send a message to Endell Equine Hospital:
*** PROUD TO BE A SPONSOR *** We are proud to be one of the sponsors for the New Forest and Hampshire County Show! We'll be sponsoring the Dales, Fell and Highland Classes H56 & H57 on Wednesday 31st July in Happy Hot Tubs East Ring. Good luck to all the participants! #endellequinehospital #endellequine #CVSvets #newforestandhampshirecountyshow #newforestshow #dalesfellsandhighlands #showponies #horsecompetitions
*** MESOTHERAPHY *** Mesotherapy is an interesting and very useful technique developed in France for the treatment of musculo-skeletal pain and muscle spasm involving problems of the neck, back, and pelvis in the horse. Reduction in pain and excessive muscle spasm can restore normal mobility and function. This, in turn, allows the horse to respond to training correctly, improving core muscle strength and stability and reducing susceptibility to injury. Mesotherapy involves multiple injections in a grid pattern, with tiny needles, into the thickness of the skin. Following treatment, horses are typically restricted to light exercise without a saddle for 3 days, and then normal exercise may resume. However, horses will continue to improve further over a couple of weeks. Treatment may be repeated a few weeks later if there has been an incomplete response. How does it work? In part by slow release of anti-inflammatory medication into the affected area. However, rather cleverly, it also works even when just injecting sterile water by tapping into a trick of the nervous system involving stretch receptors in the skin. Physiology for the details people: Epicritic nerve fibres in the mesoderm (deeper layers) of the skin are involved in fine touch sensation. When stimulated, these send a signal into the dorsal horn of the spinal cord. There is a convenient branch in this nerve pathway which crosses over to activate a negative feedback pathway, reducing motor nerve stimulation, in turn reducing muscle contraction and spasm in excessively tight muscles in that area. Because of the segmental organisation of these spinal nerves, injections are administered in several rows on both sides of the spine, at the level of the injury and a few inches caudal (towards the tail). The area affected by treatment is in the region just ahead of the level of each injection. In this video, you can see Hani, one of our vets with a large orthopaedic caseload, treating a patient who has strug
*** HARRY'S WOUND*** Harry is a 16 year old Shire gelding that went through some electric fencing, causing multiple lacerations. The biggest wound was approximately 7x5cm, and was on the lateral aspect of the left forelimb at the level of the proximal radius. The wound was stitched for the transport as the decision was made to move him here to Endell Equine Hospital. On arrival at the hospital, the exploration of the wound on the forelimb showed significant muscle disruption and contamination; it was flushed with three litres of saline and debrided with swabs. A Kerlix roll (antibiotic impregnated gauze roll) with hypertonic solution was placed inside the wound and covered with a bandage. There was a smaller laceration, approximately 2cm in size, on the medial aspect of the right hind limb, at the level of the adductors muscles, which was flushed as well. The following morning, the wound looked clean, with a little bit of expected discharge. Stitches were placed around the wound on the forelimb in order to keep the new Kerlix in the wound, and these were removed the next day. Oral antibiotics were administered to Harry twice daily, as well as oral anti-inflammatories. After a few days, he was discharged from the hospital. The video shows the progression of Harry’s wound over seven months, and his leg is now looking fantastic! #endellequinehospital #endellequine #veterinarycare #horsehealth #equinevets #CVSvets #veterinarynursing #woundcare #legwounds #shirehorses
*** VETERINARY NURSING AWARENESS MONTH *** It's Veterinary Nursing Awareness Month during May, and we'd like to say a huge thank you to our nursing team, which is made up of Registered Veterinary Nurses, Student Veterinary Nurses and Patient Care Assistants. These amazing people, together with the Yard Team, work tirelessly to provide gold standard care to our patients and support to our vets. A Registered Veterinary Nurse usually studies for 2 to 3 years for their qualifications, and once they are qualified, they are permitted to carry out certain procedures. They have such a huge and varied role, and we would be unable to function without them! #endellequine #endellequinehospital #equinevets #CVSvets #veterinarynurseawarenessmonth2024 #VNAM2024 #whatVNsdo #20YearsOfVNAM #horsehealth #veterinarycare #veterinarynursing
*** DENTAL CLINICS *** Our vet, Amarins, will be holding Dental Clinics here at the hospital for routine dental health checks. You would be saving the cost of a visit by bringing your horse to us, therefore only paying for the procedure and medications needed. You would also benefit from an oral video examination, which is considered the gold standard treatment. All horses will need to be sedated for their dental examination, and they can also be weighed at the same time if you would like them to be. All this for the same price as a routine dental, and Horse Health Programme (HHP) discounts will still apply. Each appointment will take approximately 1 hour, and there are various clinic dates available. Call the hospital on 01722 710046 now to book your appointment, or if you need more information. #endellequinehospital #endellequine #equinedentalcare #equinevets #horsehealth #veterinarycare #equinedentalclinic #equinedentistry
*** HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY! *** Horses love affection and today is the perfect day to show them how special they are. Maybe some extra grooming, staying out a little longer on a hack, or even some of their favourite treats. Let us see in the comments below how your horse is spending this Valentine's Day. #endellequine #valentinesday2024 #happy horses
*** CHANGE IN JMB MEASURING AGE *** The official national measuring of horses is co-ordinated and run by the Joint Measurement Board (JMB), and only JMB Associated vets are trained and authorised to carry out such measurements. If you compete under affiliated rules then your horse or pony may need an official height measurement, so please check the requirements of your particular society. From 1st January 2024 the age from which a horse can obtain its full height certificate (providing it has already held at least one annual height certificate) has increased from 7 to 8 years. The board made this decision following studies of growth rate data, which showed that there could still be some significant increase in height between 7 and 8. All full height certificates granted to 7 year olds prior to 2024 remain valid, and there is no requirement for them to be measured again. In addition, from January 2024 British Showjumping (BS) are adopting their own national measurement scheme, which will mirror that of the FEI’s for international measurements. For more information on this visit the British Showjumping website. Check back in here later this week for more information of the JMB measurement process. #endellequinehospital #endellequine #horsevet #horsehealth #cvsvets #JMBMeasurements #dressagehorses #showjumpers #eventinghorses #poloponies
*** FOREIGN OBJECT REMOVAL *** An Irish Sport Horse was recently referred to Endell Equine Hospital due to a foreign body being present in its throat. A bramble branch had originally become stuck in its right nasal passage, however, it then ended up moving further down into the trachea. An endoscopic examination confirmed the location of the bramble branch in the trachea, which was approximately 40cm long and highly barbed. It was deemed too challenging to remove it endoscopically, without causing further damage to the larynx, pharynx and nasal passage. Therefore, it was decided to perform a tracheotomy, which is an incision through the throat into the trachea, and remove the foreign body through that opening. After careful manipulation, our surgeon, Andrew, was able to successfully remove the thorny branch from the horse’s throat. After an overnight stay, some pain relief, anti-inflammatories, and medication to control the bleeding, the horse showed great improvement and was discharged the following morning to continue its recovery at home. #endellequinehospital #endellequine #veterinarycare #horsehealth #horsevet #equinevet #cvsvets #foreignbodyremoval #bramble #surgicalprocedures #tracheotomy
*** KEEPING YOUR HORSE HYDRATED DURING WINTER *** Water is vitally important for a horse’s health and well-being and, whilst dehydration is a major concern during the summer months, it is important to be aware of the risks of fluid loss during the winter also. Horses are likely to be stabled more, exercised less and fed dryer, higher fibre foods like hay. This, coupled with frozen or icy drinking water causing your horse to drink less, can lead to issues such as impaction colic. Most horses need at least 20 to 30 litres of water a day so ensure that there is always plenty of fresh water readily available for them. Look out for these signs of dehydration: 🔹 Dark urine or not passing urine regularly 🔹 Dull, listless or depressed appearance 🔹 Gums and inside eyelids that are dark red rather than a healthy salmon pink 🔹 Decreased performance levels If you are at all worried about your horse becoming dehydrated, or concerned that it is not drinking as much as it should, then please don’t hesitate to give us a call on 01722 710046 and one of our vets will be happy to provide advice. #endellequine #endellequinehospital #veterinarycare #horsehealth #staying #hydrated #stayinghydrated #winterhorsecare
*** ONE YEAR LATER *** It's been exactly one year since we received our Standing MRI and it's been a whirlwind year for MRI's at Endells since. Our vets and nurses underwent extensive training before we introduced it as a diagnostic service for our own clients, as well as for referral clients from other veterinary practices. MRI has numerous benefits in diagnosing potential causes of lameness and is considered the gold standard in soft tissue imaging in horses. With Standing MRI the scans can be acquired with just standing sedation, so the horses can walk in and out of the machine, not requiring general anaesthesia. It has been a huge asset for us in offering advanced diagnostics and thus better tailored treatment plans, and we are hoping for further growth and uptake in the coming year. If you feel that your horse may need an MRI to help diagnose a condition, then give us a call at the hospital for more information. #endellequinehospital #endellequine #veterinarycare #equinevets #horsehealth #cvsvets #equinevet #standingmriforhorses #lamenessinvestigation #magneticresonanceimaging
*** LEST WE FORGET *** The purple poppy is a symbol of remembrance for all the animals who have lost their lives in wars or other conflicts. This excerpt from the poem I Spoke To You In Whispers by Neil Andrew so aptly reminds us of the sacrifices made by animals in war. "I spoke to you in stable tones A quiet tranquil voice At least I volunteered to fight You didn't get to make the choice" Today, we honour those that have served and those that are still serving, be it on foot, paw, hoof, or wing. We will remember them. #RemembranceDay2023 #lestweforget #animalsinwar
*** HOT WEATHER ADVICE *** It looks like we may be heading for some pretty hot & humid weather over the next few days. In very hot weather, horses can become dehydrated, lethargic and generally reluctant to work. Severe heat stress can cause colic, diarrhoea or collapse, so it is important to keep your horse cool. Here are some top tips from our vets: 🔹️Choose the coolest times of the day for both exercise and turnout. Try to slow down & reduce the work in warm weather. 🔹️Provide shade – trees are best as one side will always be out of the sun, whereas many shelters are in full sun some of the time. 🔹️Provide fresh, cool water and lots of it. Most horses drink more in warm weather, but others will need a salt lick or extra salt to encourage them to do so. 🔹️ Provide salt/mineral licks in field/stable or consider adding electrolytes in feed to replace salts lost through sweating. 🔹️ If you are bringing horses in to avoid the heat, ensure there is adequate ventilation. It is safe to do so it can help to use fans to provide a breeze. 🔹️Clip hairy horses, such as those with Cushing’s disease 🔹️ Avoid sunburn: Horses, especially those with pink ‘flesh marks’ (i.e. pink noses) can suffer from sunburn, but the sun can also affect white socks, blazes and hairless patches from scarring. Fly masks & sheets can help, as well as generous application of sunblock. 🔹️ Staying out of the sun is best. If a horse has excessive sunburn, it can indicate underlying liver disease. If you are unsure, speak to one of our vets and they can check this with a simple blood test. Signs of heat stroke to watch out for: 🔹️Profuse sweating 🔹️Increased temperature, pulse and respiratory rates 🔹️Lethargy and dullness 🔹️A reluctance to work 🔹️Loss of appetite 🔹️Staggering and weakness 🔹️Muscle tremors 🔹️Collapse Treatment of overheating: 🔹️Move your horse into shade immediately 🔹️Cold hosing of the
*** INTERNATIONAL DAY OF VETERINARY MEDICINE *** To celebrate this special day in veterinary medicine, we have unwrapped our early Christmas present here at Endells. Lots of exciting work has been going on here over the past few weeks, and now we are so excited to announce the arrival of our new Standing Equine MRI machine! Watch this space for more information about this fantastic new piece of equipment that will further enhance our diagnostic capabilities for our own and our referral clients.
*** COMPETITION TIME! MATCH THE VET TO THEIR PET *** On this incredibly frosty morning, we thought we’d have some fun to warm everyone up. Let’s see who can match the vet to their pet! Leave your answers in the comments below, and the person with all correct answers will win one of our fabulous Endell’s knitted bobble hats. It’s perfect to keep you toasty and warm in this weather.
**ANTIBIOTIC AMNESTY 2022** It is World Antibiotic Awareness Week! Don’t forget that you can return any unused or out of date antibiotics and medication to our hospital for safe disposal. This will help limit the amount of medication entering our environment, impacting water quality and wildlife; as well as protecting the effectiveness of these drugs. Appropriate use and disposal means that we can continue using these medications to treat our animals when they need it. Antibiotic resistance is one of the biggest global health issues of our time. Let’s all act together to keep our own horses, and the national herd, healthy for generations to come.
** NEW EQUINE INFLUENZA CASES REPORTED ** There has been a significant rise in confirmed cases of equine influenza in the UK over the last two weeks following recent horse and pony sales where flu vaccinations were not a requirement. This highlights the importance of having your horse's vaccinations up to date, especially if they travel to events or have contact with other horses. When welcoming new horses to your yard or premises, ensure that you are vigilant with biosecurity and quarantine, and that vaccinations are up to date, to prevent any potential infections spreading to stable or field mates. Call us at the hospital if you need advice on biosecurity measures that are tailored to your yard. One of the benefits of our Horse Health Programme is a free annual vaccination, so speak to a member of our reception team if you need more information, or to sign up to the scheme.
**BUILDING WORKS** We apologise for the building works that you will encounter if you are coming to the hospital for the next few weeks - our exciting new project is underway! Watch this space! The contractors will be as careful as possible when horses are being unloaded but we are asking you to also take extra care when driving in, turning or unloading your horse.
**FIREWORKS** As Halloween and Bonfire Night approaches, take some time to prepare your horse for what may be a stressful and scary time for them. Firework displays will be happening all across the country and the resulting bangs and flashes can cause distress for your horse. See the links below for more advice on horses and how fireworks can affect them. If you are at all worried about how your horse will react during fireworks, or have had a bad experience in the past, then please call our vets for advice. Like and Share this post so that we can ensure our horses are as calm and safe as possible during the Fireworks season. https://www.bhs.org.uk/go-riding/riding-out-hacking/common-incidents/fireworks/ https://www.worldhorsewelfare.org/advice/general-advice/fireworks
Hampton Park, Ringwood, Downton Vets
Sycamore Drive
Jaffa's Health Centre for Cats
Street Francis Road
