Stowe Equine and Large Animal Vets

Stowe Equine and Large Animal Vets Independent veterinary practice in Stowmarket providing a caring and professional service for horses and large animals for over 70 years.

Visit our Country Store for a range of livestock and equine essentials.

🐴 Equine First Aid: Be Prepared to Act Quickly!Around horses, we all know that accidents and injuries can happen! Being ...
17/02/2025

🐴 Equine First Aid: Be Prepared to Act Quickly!

Around horses, we all know that accidents and injuries can happen! Being prepared with a first aid kit, and knowing when and how to use it, can make dealing with these situations less stressful. See below some essential tips to keep your horse safe!

Need advice on equine first aid or supplies? Call us at 📞 01449 776200—we’re here to help!

🐴✨ Spotting Lameness in Your Horse ✨🐴Our vets, Katy and Lyndsay, have been busy performing lameness checks on these hors...
12/02/2025

🐴✨ Spotting Lameness in Your Horse ✨🐴

Our vets, Katy and Lyndsay, have been busy performing lameness checks on these horses. Do you know how to check for lameness in your own horse? Here’s what to look out for:

• 👀 Watch Them Move: Observe your horse at walk and trot on a straight line and a circle. Look for irregular movement or limping- this might be seen a head nod on the unaffected forelimb or asymmetry of the pelvis.
• 🦶 Inspect the Hooves: Check for stones, bruises, cracks, or signs of thrush that could cause discomfort.
• 🤲 Feel for Heat or Swelling: Run your hands down your horse’s legs to detect heat, swelling, or sensitivity.
• 🐴 Pay Attention to Behaviour: Notice reluctance to move, changes in gait, or uneven weight-bearing.
• 📏 Check Limb Symmetry: Compare the size and shape of legs for any differences that could indicate injury.
✨ What to Do Next:
• 🛠️ Limit Activity: Rest your horse to avoid worsening the condition.
• ❄️ Apply Cold Therapy: Use cold packs or hosing to reduce inflammation if needed.
• 🩺 Call your Vet: If lameness persists, contact us for expert advice and treatment at 📞 01449 776200.

Taking swift action can make all the difference in your horse’s recovery. Let us help keep your horse healthy, happy, and comfortable! 💙

🐴 Why Checking Your Horse’s Weight is So Important! 🐴Regularly monitoring your horse’s weight is essential for their hea...
07/02/2025

🐴 Why Checking Your Horse’s Weight is So Important! 🐴

Regularly monitoring your horse’s weight is essential for their health and well-being. Here's why keeping track matters and how to do it effectively:
⚖️ Detect Changes Early: Subtle weight loss or gain can indicate underlying health issues, so regular checks can help to catch these early
🥕 Proper Feeding: Knowing your horse’s weight ensures they’re getting the right amount of feed and supplements for their size and workload. It can also help your vet to develop a nutrition plan designed to support your horse’s needs.
🏇 Performance Ready: Maintaining a healthy weight supports your horse’s energy levels and performance capabilities.
Medical conditions: an increased body condition score can put your horse at higher risk for diseases such as EMS and laminitis
💊 Medication Accuracy: Weight checks are vital for accurate dosing of medications and dewormers to ensure effectiveness and safety.
🌡️ Seasonal Adjustments: Horses’ weight can fluctuate with seasonal changes—monitoring helps keep them in tip-top shape year-round.

Stowe Veterinary Centre is able to measure your horses weight accurately on our scales. If you have any questions or need weight management advice or support, call us on 📞 01449 776200—we’re here to help!

Did you know? Microchipping your horse is the best way to ensure they can be easily identified and reunited with you if ...
05/02/2025

Did you know? Microchipping your horse is the best way to ensure they can be easily identified and reunited with you if they’re ever lost or stolen.

Since October 2020, it has been a legal requirement that all horses, ponies and donkeys in England, Scotland and Wales are microchipped. These details must then be passed on to the relevant Passport Issuing Organisation, who will submit this record to the Central Equine Database.

We offer equine microchipping services – contact us today on 📞 01449 776200 to book your appointment.

🐴 February is Hoof Care Month! 🐴Caring for your horse’s hooves is key to their health and well-being. Here are some tips...
03/02/2025

🐴 February is Hoof Care Month! 🐴

Caring for your horse’s hooves is key to their health and well-being. Here are some tips to keep their hooves in top condition this month and beyond:

🧹 Daily Cleaning: Pick out hooves twice daily to remove mud, stones, and debris.
🥕 Balanced Diet: Provide a balanced diet to ensure your horse is receiving the necessary macronutrients, vitamins and minerals. Biotin is often a supplement recommended for horses with poor hoof quality.
✂️ Regular Farrier Visits: Schedule trims and shoeing every 4–6 weeks to maintain balance and prevent cracking or overgrowth.
🔍 Inspect Regularly: Check for signs of thrush, cracks, or unusual wear and address any issues promptly.
🐴 Activity: Horses are naturally nomadic animals and this movement is an integral factor in creating healthy hooves. This could mean turn out, or regular exercise for stabled horses.
☔ Protect in Wet Weather: Ensure that your horse always has a clean, dry area to stand- consistently wet, muddy feet can lead to problems! Consulting with your farrier or vet on suitable topical dressings can help with seasonal variances.

Got questions or need expert advice? Give us a call at 📞 01449 776200. We’re here to help your horse stay happy and healthy! 💙

🚚🐴 Delivery Service Made Easy! We’re here to make caring for your animals convenient with our free local delivery servic...
31/01/2025

🚚🐴 Delivery Service Made Easy!

We’re here to make caring for your animals convenient with our free local delivery service for pre-registered clients (minimum spend £30).
📍 Delivery Options:
• FREE local delivery within a 10-mile radius or 20 minutes from our location.
• Feed and bedding delivery to all IP postcodes for a small charge.
🌾 What We Offer:
Our Country Store stocks a wide range of essentials, including:
• Wormers, feed, minerals, and supplements.
• Practical items like animal ID products, outdoor clothing, electric fencing, and general farming equipment.
• Veterinary medicines delivered or collected from our other centres.
For more information or to arrange a delivery, give us a call at 📞 01449 776200.

Supporting our community Did you know: farmers and agricultural workers are more likely to suffer from mental health dis...
27/01/2025

Supporting our community

Did you know: farmers and agricultural workers are more likely to suffer from mental health disorders, including an increased su***de rate compared to the national average?

Our large animal team at Stowe have recently attended meetings with RABI and YANA to better understand the current issues facing our rural community and the support that is on offer through some of these amazing organisations and charities.

Both RABI and YANA have helplines and tools specifically for farmers and agricultural workers who are struggling with their mental health, or are worried that someone else is.

Young Farmers Events Last night (January 23rd) two of our large animal vets, Lyndsay and Megan, hosted The Debenham Youn...
23/01/2025

Young Farmers Events

Last night (January 23rd) two of our large animal vets, Lyndsay and Megan, hosted The Debenham Young Farmers Club for an interactive evening at Stowe Veterinary Centre. Lyndsay gave an interesting talk accompanied by a demonstration of common veterinary procedures and medications, culminating in a practical session on suturing....bananas! 🍌The young farmers were then given a tour of our facilities by the team, including one of our mixed practice vets Akvile, and the floor was opened for questions.
Our next Young Farmers talk will be held for Haleigh YFC on 12th March. If you are interested in an interactive session for your Young Farmers Club, Riding Club or Pony Club, then please do not hesitate to contact us. We will be performing regular client evenings on a variety of topics, so keep your eyes peeled for information on upcoming events on our social media page!

Our Equine Health Plans are designed to help you manage the cost of keeping your horses, ponies, and donkeys happy and h...
20/01/2025

Our Equine Health Plans are designed to help you manage the cost of keeping your horses, ponies, and donkeys happy and healthy. 🐴

These plans include essential care such as:
- Annual health checks
- Vaccinations
- Dental care
- Parasite prevention

Plus, they can be tailored to suit your horse’s needs, with discounts on certain lifetime medications.

If you’d like to learn more or set up a plan, give us a call at 01449 776200 — our team is here to help! 📞

🐴Meet the team🐴Megan is one of our veterinary surgeons at Stowe Veterinary Centre, where she cares for both small and la...
17/01/2025

🐴Meet the team🐴

Megan is one of our veterinary surgeons at Stowe Veterinary Centre, where she cares for both small and large animals. She is involved in consultations, surgeries, and interpreting test results. Megan finds great fulfilment in managing cases from start to finish and ensures that pet owners are always kept informed. An avid horse rider throughout her life, she shares her home with a variety of animals, including three horses, two cats, a flock of Shetland sheep, and a border collie named Oakyn, who can often be found in the large animal office. In her free time, Megan enjoys horse riding and competing in triathlons.

🐴 Let’s Talk About Colic in Horses 🐴Colic is a term used to describe abdominal pain in horses, most frequently caused by...
13/01/2025

🐴 Let’s Talk About Colic in Horses 🐴

Colic is a term used to describe abdominal pain in horses, most frequently caused by a problem with the gastrointestinal (digestive) tract. Although most cases are manageable with conservative treatment, some are life-threatening and therefore all cases should be treated as an emergency and attended to by your vet.

🔎 Signs of Colic:
• Restlessness
• Lying down more than usual, or getting up and down frequently
• Pawing the ground
• Looking at or biting their abdomen/ flanks
• Rolling
• Sweating
• Heavy breathing
• Inappetence
• Reduced/ no manure production
🛠️ What to Do if You Suspect Colic:
• Call your vet immediately
• Remove food and water
• Where possible, keep your horse walking in a safe environment, such as an arena, where they are less likely to get cast
• Don’t let yourself get injured trying to stop them from rolling or lying down
• Never administer medication without veterinary advice.
• Arrange transport in case your horse needs admitting to a veterinary hospital
⚠️ Prevention Tips:
• Feed a consistent diet with plenty of forage, making any changes gradually.
• Provide clean, fresh water at all times.
• Perform regular worm egg counts, and worm your horse if recommended by your vet
• In sandy areas, adding psyllium husk to your horse(s) diet may help to remove unwanted material from the gastrointestinal tract
• Allow turnout or exercise regularly to promote good gut motility
Early diagnosis and quick treatment give your horse the best chance of a quick recovery or survival in more severe cases. If you have any concerns, or would like to discuss a case, please don’t hesitate to contact us.

🐴Meet the team!🐴Akvile is a mixed animal veterinarian at Stowe Veterinary Centre, skilled in treating both small and lar...
10/01/2025

🐴Meet the team!🐴

Akvile is a mixed animal veterinarian at Stowe Veterinary Centre, skilled in treating both small and large animals. She studied at the University of Edinburgh. Each day brings new experiences for her, and she particularly enjoys welcoming puppies for their first vaccinations. Akvile goes the extra mile to distract them during the process, ensuring it’s a calm and enjoyable experience, as she aims to prevent any fear of vet visits. In her free time, she loves horse riding, practicing judo, and reading.

🌧️🐴 Rain Scald in Horses: What You Need to Know Rain scald, also known as dermatophilosis, is a common skin condition ca...
08/01/2025

🌧️🐴 Rain Scald in Horses: What You Need to Know

Rain scald, also known as dermatophilosis, is a common skin condition caused by bacteria that thrive in wet, warm and humid conditions. It often affects the back, neck and rump, and is seen more often in the autumn and winter months. It can occur in un-rugged horses exposed to wet conditions for prolonged periods of time, or horses who are over-rugged and sweat more.

🔎 Signs to Watch For:
• Scabs with tufts of hair attached – these can look a little like the ends of paintbrushes
• Painful, inflamed skin underneath, sometimes with discharge
• Clusters of lesions, especially in damp areas or areas under rugs.
🛠️ Care and Prevention:
• Keep your horse dry and provide shelter during wet weather
• If your horse is rugged, make sure you check underneath at least once daily
• You may need to clip your horse if they have a long coat
• Gently clean affected areas with warm water and a dilute antibacterial wash such as hibi-scrub (chlorhexidine), leaving it on for 5-10 minutes
• Rinse the area thoroughly, and then thoroughly dry the area
• Don’t put rugs back on until you are sure your horse is dry!
• Apply cream to the affected area after consultation with your vet – this may help to soften scabs and have further antibacterial action
• Disinfect grooming tools and tack to reduce the chance of reinfection.

Rain scald is treatable with proper care, and avoidable with good management. In more severe cases, a course of antimicrobials may be necessary.

If you’re concerned about your horse, please give us a call to arrange an appointment with one of our vets.
01449 776200

🐑 Lambing Season is Here! It’s one of the most exciting (and busiest!) times of the year for farmers and their flocks. A...
06/01/2025

🐑 Lambing Season is Here!

It’s one of the most exciting (and busiest!) times of the year for farmers and their flocks. As new life enters the world, it’s a season full of hard work, long nights, and plenty of joy.
Here are a few tips for a successful lambing season:
✔️ Ensure lambing pens are clean, dry, and well-stocked with supplies.
✔️ Keep a close eye on ewes for signs of labour and ensure they’re in good condition.
✔️ Have a lambing kit ready, including iodine for navels, feeding bottles, and warming lamps.
✔️ Don’t hesitate to reach out for veterinary support if needed. 01449 776200

If you need any supplies, please visit our Country Store where we stock a wide range of products!

🐴Meet the team!🐴Katy is one of our skilled veterinary surgeons here at Stowe Veterinary Centre. She grew up in Suffolk s...
03/01/2025

🐴Meet the team!🐴

Katy is one of our skilled veterinary surgeons here at Stowe Veterinary Centre. She grew up in Suffolk surrounded by horses and graduated with honours from Warsaw in 2016. She then moved to the Netherlands, where she completed a rotating internship at one of the country's busiest referral hospitals.

Afterward, she returned to Newmarket, spending two and a half years as a stud associate at Rossdales, working primarily with Thoroughbred mares, foals, and young stock, while also supporting the ambulatory team. With a growing passion for foals, Katy moved to Kentucky to undertake a six-month fellowship in Internal Medicine at Hagyard Equine Medical Institute, before starting her residency in Equine Internal Medicine at the Royal Veterinary College in London.

Three years ago, she returned to general practice in Suffolk, where she now works mainly with sport and leisure horses, enjoying all aspects of her role as an ambulatory vet.
Outside of work, Katy enjoys walking, running, and riding through the Suffolk countryside, often chasing after her mischievous lurcher, Mr. Scruffles.

🚨🐴 Equine Influenza (EIV) – What You Need to Know 🐴🚨Equine Influenza (EIV) is a highly contagious respiratory disease th...
01/01/2025

🚨🐴 Equine Influenza (EIV) – What You Need to Know 🐴🚨

Equine Influenza (EIV) is a highly contagious respiratory disease that spreads quickly among horses, especially in stables or at events. Protect your horses this season with these key tips.

❗ Symptoms to Watch For:
· High fever (>38.5°C / 101.3°F)
· Persistent harsh cough
· Nasal discharge
· Swollen lymph nodes under the jaw
· Lethargy
· Loss of appetite.

🛡️ Prevention:
· Vaccination: Keep your horse’s vaccines up to date – it’s the most effective way to reduce risk
o Make sure you are aware of the vaccination requirements of your chosen discipline’s governing body, as these can vary
· Biosecurity: Isolate new or sick horses and practise good hygiene.

💉 If your horse is showing any of the above symptoms, isolate them immediately and consult your vet. The time from infection to your horse(s) showing signs – also known as the incubation period – is one to five days. There is unfortunately no specific treatment for equine influenza, and recovery can require several weeks of rest.

🐴 Understanding Ringworm in Horses 🐾Ringworm is a common infection in horses that affects the skin; despite the name, it...
30/12/2024

🐴 Understanding Ringworm in Horses 🐾

Ringworm is a common infection in horses that affects the skin; despite the name, it’s not caused by worms, but primarily by fungi called Trichophyton.

🔎 Signs to Watch For:
• Circular patches of hair loss
• Scaly, crusty skin in the affected area
• Itchiness or discomfort
• Broken hairs.

📌 How Does it Spread?
Ringworm is highly contagious and can spread through direct contact with infected horses, grooming equipment, tack, and even the environment.

🛠️ Treatment:
• Isolate the infected horse to prevent spread, and disinfect surfaces and equipment they may have been in contact with.
• Use antifungal treatments if they are prescribed by your vet. However, in most cases, horses will overcome the infection themselves in a matter of weeks. Treatment may be used in part to minimise the spread of disease.
• You shouldn’t travel with your horse to competitions if they have been diagnosed with ringworm – this can have financial consequences for competition yards so if you are suspicious of a case, please call your vet and take necessary biosecurity measures.
• Wear gloves when handling infected horses and wash your hands thoroughly – ringworm can spread from horses to humans!

⚠️ Prevention is Key:
Regular cleaning of – and not sharing! – tack and grooming equipment and good stable hygiene can help minimise the risk.
If you suspect your horse has ringworm, please call us to arrange an appointment. Early diagnosis and treatment can stop the spread and ensure a quicker recovery!

🐴Meet the team🐴Abigail graduated from Nottingham University this year with a BVMedSci BVM BVS MRCVS degree. Before atten...
27/12/2024

🐴Meet the team🐴

Abigail graduated from Nottingham University this year with a BVMedSci BVM BVS MRCVS degree. Before attending university, she studied animal management at an agricultural college in the Midlands. It was during a work experience placement that Abigail decided to pursue a career as a vet, after seeing firsthand how she could make a practical difference in the lives of both animals and people.

During her time at university, Abigail particularly enjoyed her placements and the opportunity to work with a wide range of species, including exotic animals. This broad interest is what drives her passion for mixed practice, allowing her to work with many different species. Abigail also has a love for continuous learning and is always seeking out new experiences.

In her spare time, Abigail enjoys walking, travelling, reading, and spending time with friends. She also has a creative side and enjoys doing crafts. While at university, she even took an extra module called "Communicating Anatomy through Art and Media," which she found to be a fun and unique experience.

Address

54 Bury Road
Stowmarket
IP141JF

Telephone

+447900266357

Website

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