Shires Vets Equine

28/04/2024

Well they don’t get much cuter than this little lady who arrived last night 😍

26/04/2024

Go to the Strangles awareness week to enter their competition to win a prize bundle!

25/04/2024

Our vets come in all sizes to treat patients of all sizes!

19/04/2024

We have had a busy week at Shires and what better way to finish the week off than with some cute foals. One was an unexpected arrival🐴

If you have any new arrivals on the way and have any queries please contact the office on 01785850218 and we will be happy to help.

11/04/2024

Less four weeks to go before Strangles Awareness Week!
Stay tuned for some more information in the upcoming weeks and the prizes up for grabs!

04/04/2024

Our phones are working again!
For routine and emergency calls please call us on the normal number 01785850218

Thank you for your patience

03/04/2024

We are experiencing technical difficulties with our phones.
If anybody is needing an emergency vet please call on 07808309351

29/02/2024

Atypical myopathy is caused by horses eating sycamore seeds that fall onto pasture in Autumn and Winter, and their germinating seedlings in Spring.
Seeds and seedlings contain the toxin hypoglycin A (HGA) which slows or stops energy production in muscle and heart
Some apparently unaffected horses have high concentrations of HGA in their blood suggesting that some horses are more susceptible to the toxin than others.
Symptoms
• Horses struggle to walk, stand and breathe
• Many horses develop heart problems.
• Horses appear depressed with low hanging heads
• Muscle trembling
• Signs of severe colic - yet, unlike colic, they still have an appetite
• Brown or dark red urine
• Severely affected horses become unable to stand
Treatment
As confirmation can take several days, vets often start treatment immediately and before official confirmation. Your horse may require admission to a specialist equine hospital for 24 hour advanced care. If horses survive the first few days of treatment they usually go on to recover completely, although this can take several months.

Prevention
• Provide supplementary forage during Autumn
• Clear fallen sycamore leaves and seeds from grazing areas
• Check neighbouring areas for high risk plants/seeds as some ‘helicopter’ seeds can travel up to 200 yards
• Test for the presence of HGA in your own horses’ pastures

22/02/2024

Monday, we covered why you might need to soak your horse’s hay, and how long for. But what about steaming?

Steaming hay is a potential alternative to soaking hay for respiratory health. It is more effective than soaking at reducing the levels of dust in the hay, as well as mould and other bacteria. It helps to eliminate coughs caused by horses ingesting dusty hay, and it’s generally easier and less hard work for the person responsible for draining and carrying soaked nets! Steaming hay also makes it more palatable to horses.

Hay that has been steamed will retain more of the original nutrients than hay that has been soaked. Steaming hay is therefore nowhere near as effective as soaking hay for reducing the water soluble carbohydrate (WSC), and so it is not recommended if you are primarily trying to manage your horse’s weight.

The hay needs to be steamed to a high enough temperature to eliminate the dust, which takes around 60 minutes.

For horses who have both weight and respiratory conditions, soaking the hay for an hour before subsequently steaming can help to tackle both issues.

If you need advice on feeding your horse and whether steaming hay might be right for you, speak to your vet or call us on 01785 850218

19/02/2024

Soaking hay is done for two main reasons:
💦 Reduce the water soluble carbohydrate (WSC - sugar content) in hay - this is particularly crucial for laminitic horses or those with EMS
💦 Reduce the dustiness of hay for horses with COPD or other respiratory conditions

If you’re soaking hay to reduce the dust content, soak for between 10 - 20 minutes and feed the hay as soon as possible after draining.

If you’re soaking the hay to reduce its sugar content, you’ll need to soak for longer: around 1 - 2 hours is recommended. Any longer and other desirable nutrients will also start to be removed from the hay.

As the sugar is lost to the water through the process of diffusion, using as much water as possible will help to maximise the reduction of sugar. Consider using rainwater and always dispose of the water following soaking.

If your horse is a “good-doer” and you have a regular source of hay, we recommend getting it analysed so you know exactly what you are feeding your horse or pony.

If you need advice on feeding your horse and whether soaking hay might be right for you, speak to us on 01785 850218

15/02/2024

What is Ertugliflozin?
Ertugliflozin, is a human drug, used for the treatment of type 2 diabetes. Although not licensed in horses, more recently it has been found to have beneficial effects for horses that struggle with laminitis and particularly when it comes to horses that have EMS and struggle to get their insulin levels down.
How does it work?
Ertugliflozin acts by blocking the uptake of glucose by the body and reduces the levels of insulin cutting the risk of laminitis.
What’s involved?
Ertugliflozin is a new drug in the equine world and requires closer monitoring than other medicines! Horses need to have a baseline blood test prior to starting the treatment course and then a further blood test two weeks after starting. With a final blood test at the end of the course typically.
If you would like to find out more about Ertugliflozin, please call us on 01785 850218

08/02/2024

EMS or Equine Metabolic Syndrome
Is a disease similar to Type 2 diabetes in people. Horses with EMS are resistant to the effects of insulin and as a result over produce it in order to get the same effect causing persistently high levels of insulin in these horses.
Why does this matter?
Horses with persistently high levels of insulin have a greatly increased the risk of developing laminitis.
How do we diagnose it?
EMS is easily diagnosed by either a resting insulin blood test or in some cases measuring the blood after the horse has been given karolight syrup.
Management
Diet – Once diagnosed, reducing the amount of sugar in the diet is one of the easiest ways to bring insulin levels down! This can be done by reducing the amount of concentrates and soaking hay overnight to remove easily accessible sugars as well as restricting the area the horse has to graze.
Exercise – Increasing the horse exercise even by walking them for 20 minutes twice a week, has been proven to have a dramatic impact on the levels insulin and help mobilise the hormone Adiponectin, which sensitises the horse to insulin.
Medication – There also a variety of medications can also be used to aid in the reduction of insulin. Such as Metformin and Ertugliflozin
For further information speak to one of our vets on 01785 850218

01/02/2024

Insol is a ringworm vaccine which is licensed for use in Europe. One of the side effects of Insol is that it decreases the effects of allergic dermatitis (Sweet itch) in horses.
Insol can be imported into the UK under a special import certificate to be used off license to reduce the unwanted effects of sweet itch.

We recommend vaccinating in February prior to the start of the high-risk period.
Insol is given as a course of 2 vaccinations, 14 days apart.
It is common to get a small swelling at the inject site which usually subsides after a few days.
If you are interested contact the surgery to be added to this years treatment list.

22/01/2024

How often should you have your horse’s teeth checked?
How often routine dental checks take place varies according to the individual horse and will depend on age and any pre-existing conditions. A good rule of thumb is that the teeth should be examined at least annually but in some cases checks might be undertaken two or three times a year. Up until the age of five years the equine mouth undergoes a lot of change with the shedding of ‘baby’ teeth and the eruption of permanent teeth. Often, dental check-ups are more frequent during this period and settle into a more regular rhythm during ‘middle age’ once all the adult teeth have erupted.
Getting your horse ready for the examination
Many horses will tolerate routine dental examination and treatment quite well, and will only require normal restraint with a head-collar. However, the dental exam should not become stressful for your horse since the safety of horse, handler and person performing the dental is paramount and so it is sometimes required to sedate your horse as a routine part of this procedure.
What to expect at the Examination
Firstly your vet will ask some questions about your horse, his eating habits and any problems you may have noticed as well as performing a brief examination of his head to check for symmetry and swellings. A gag will be used to allow a full visual and manual examination of the whole mouth including the teeth, palate, tongue, cheeks, bars and the lips.

Don’t be alarmed if it is suggested that your horse would benefit from sedation to allow even the most minor of procedures and rasping. In addition, sedation is standard for more advanced procedures that may be painful or time consuming.

Speak to your vet about sedation and to ask any questions you would like answered. They may be able to prescribe an oral sedative, which you can give before the appointment, however in many instances your horse’s vet will give sedation intravenously. This allows your horse to relax ensuring the procedure can be carried out effectively and safely for all parties including your horse, the handler and the vet.

21/01/2024

The temperatures may have dropped this week, but with all the wet weather we've had we've been seeing an increase in mud fever cases.
Mud fever is a skin condition that commonly forms on the pastern area and on the heel. It's non-contagious, so it doesn't spread between horses or to people.
Mud fever is most common in the wet winter months, when the wet and muddy conditions soften the horse's skin causing damage and enabling bacteria to enter. Horses with white legs and pink skin are more likely to suffer, as the pink skin is often thinner and more sensitive than darker skin.

Common signs of mud fever include:
Broken and damaged skin
Crusty scabs with lesions underneath
A creamy discharge between the skin and the scab
Heat, swelling and soreness in the lower limb Lameness in severe cases
Causes of mud fever include:
Regularly standing in wet, muddy fields Standing in dirty, wet bedding
• Washing the legs too often
Broken/damaged skin from another injury

If you suspect your horse has mud fever, it's best to get your vet to check and make an accurate diagnosis, and make a recommended treatment plan for your horse's particular case. Some cases may require antibiotics or anti-inflammatories, and particularly severe or untreated cases can cause further complications including cellulitis and lymphangitis.

Once you've been armed with the correct information and treatment, it's generally possible to manage the condition yourself!

16/01/2024

One of our equine vets took this out on their rounds! Chilly but beautiful!

14/01/2024

Our vaccination guidelines are updating to stay in line with current equestrian organisations' vaccination rules.

The interval between the 1st and 2nd vaccine is now 21 - 60 days (3 weeks to 8 weeks 4 days)

The interval between the 2nd and 3rd vaccine is now 150 - 180 days (5 months to 6 months)

Example
1st vaccination given on the 1st March so 2nd vaccine is due no earlier than 22nd March and no later than 30th April.

2nd vaccine given on the 1st April so the 3rd vaccination will be due no earlier than the 29th August and no later than the 28th September.

12/01/2024

At Shires we offer zone visits, these are visits at a reduced fee and are organised depending on the postcode where your horse is kept. Each zone has a fixed day of the week and the following rules are:
• All visits must be pre-booked in advance (by 5pm the preceding day)
• All work on zone visits must be paid for at the time
• Your account must be clear and up to date to qualify for a zone visit
• We will allocate you a time on the morning of your zone visit
• You cannot request a specific vet, it depends who it doing the zone on that day

These rules are in place to enable us to improve efficiency thus enabling us to drop the visit price.
Please see map below to check what day your zone is.

08/01/2024

Here's our top tips on how to take care of your horse during the winter months:

❄️Keep a close eye on your horse's body weight, particularly if your horse is older or prone to dropping weight easily
❄️Ensure your horse has a continuous supply of ad-lib, good quality forage
❄️Ensure your horse always has access to water and remember to break any ice that forms over cold nights
❄️Watch out for signs of impaction colic - reduced water intake and turnout during the winter increases the risk
❄️Encourage your horse to drink water by adding warm water or electrolytes

❄️If your horse lives out, make sure they have access to shelter - either man made or natural
❄️Rug your horse according to temperature guides and their individual needs, rather than how cold you are!
❄️Inspect your horse's legs frequently and be alert for signs of mud fever

If you have any queries or questions don't hestitate to phone us on 01785 850218

04/01/2024

At Shires we offer a rewards scheme for your horse or pony. The Shires rewards scheme helps you spread the cost of your horses routine veterinary care across 12 months.
For £16 a month Shires equine reward members will receive the following:
• Annual Vaccination (Equine Influenza and Tetanus)
• Health check 6 months post vaccination
• 1 routine dentistry (not including sedation if required)
• 1 Equest Pramox wormer (December)
• 3 Faecal egg counts (April, June, September)
• 1 Tapeworm saliva test (July)
• All zone visits
• 10% off all other purchases

If you would like to sign up please visit our website.
https://www.shiresvets.com/equine/shires-equine-reward-scheme

01/01/2024

Happy New Year from all the Equine team at Shires

28/12/2023

We've noticed a lot of signs up locally for firework displays over the weekend. We know that they can be very distressing for some of our equine friends (and their owners.), so we wanted to re-share our advice for coping with firework season.

Check social media and local noticeboards to find out whether there are any planned firework displays in your area.

Reach out to your neighbours to see if they are planning on setting off fireworks near to your horses

If your horses live out, check your fields and fencing to make sure there aren't any broken sections or edges that could cause an injury, and fence off any ditches or holes.

It's important to check your fencing year-round, but be particularly vigilant when you think horses might be unsettled
If your horses are stabled, leaving a radio with music on can help to mask the sudden loud noises of fireworks and help them feel calmer. If your horses aren't used to the sound of a radio, starting a couple of nights before can help.

When deciding whether to turn out or stable horses, consider your individual horse and what they are likely to cope best with. If your horse is likely to be stressed by a change in routine, switching things round on Bonfire Night is unlikely to be the right solution for them.

If you believe your horse is likely to be stressed by fireworks, check on them more often than you usually would by adding in an extra late night check or using a camera.

If you have a problem with firework displays in your area, report the incident to the BHS via their dedicated website www.horseincidents.org.uk to help them better understand the levels of incidents across the country.

We run events across the country - from summer camps to dressage competitions, there's something for every level of equestrian.

22/12/2023

During the Christmas period Shires Equine only does emergency call outs and the Eccleshall office is on reduced opening times. Normal non emergency work will resume on the 2nd January.

If you have an emergency don't hestitate to call our emergency line on 01785 850218

From everyone on the Shires Equine Team, have a wonderful Christmas and a happy New Year!