Stowe Equine and Large Animal Vets, 54 Bury Road, Stowmarket (2025)

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.

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.

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!

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! 📞

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.

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.

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.

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

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!

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.

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.

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!

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.

25/12/2024

🎄Wishing you a very Merry Christmas from the Large Animal and Equine Team at Stowe Veterinary Centre! Sending festive cheer to you and all your four-legged friends! 🐴❤️

24/12/2024

Stanley says these are the must-have items to keep on hand for hoof abscesses, which are more common in the winter months. 🐴❄️

Our Country Store is fully stocked with everything you need — stop by and stock up today! ✨

23/12/2024

💦🐴 Mud Fever Awareness 🐴💦

Mud fever is a common skin condition in horses, especially during the wetter seasons and in areas without adequate drainage. Here are a few tips to help you, and advice on when to call your vet:

🌧️ What is it?
Mud fever is a condition characterised by inflammation (sores, swelling, reddening, pain and crusting) of the skin of the lower limbs. You may hear your vet referring to it as pastern dermatitis.

🦠 Causes:
• Bacteria, fungi or a combination of the two
• Prolonged exposure to mud and moisture damaging normal skin barrier mechanisms
• Contact with irritants
• Photosensitisation (for example, secondary to liver disease)

🧴 Prevention Tips:
• Keep legs clean and dry, especially the skin folds at the back of the pasterns
o If your horse is turned out, wash their legs thoroughly when bringing them in and dry them with a towel, allowing at least a few hours a day in a dry environment where possible
• Clip heavily feathered breeds
• Barrier creams can be useful in some cases, and you may wish to discuss options with your vet, however they can also trap bacteria and moisture so should be used with caution

🩺 Treatment:
• Remove your horse from the muddy environment- this is an essential part of the treatment process!
• Clean the affected area with a diluted antibacterial such as chlorhexidine under your vet’s advice, and dry thoroughly after rinsing.
• Discuss if your vet thinks any topical treatments would be beneficial- in some cases, they may prescribe an antibacterial cream that can act as a barrier to further infection while also softening scabs.
• Clip your horses feathers to help keep skin clean and dry
• Investigate and treat underlying liver disease if this is a factor
• Consult your vet if symptoms worsen or your horse shows any signs of lameness or progressive swelling of the limb!

Stay proactive this season—monitor your horse’s legs, keep them clean, and protect them from muddy conditions! 🐾💚

23/12/2024

Foot abscesses are more common this time of year due to harsher weather conditions and excess mud. Unfortunately, Stanley has managed to get one, but he’s on the mend now.

Stanley's advice to reduce the risk of foot abscesses is:

Maintain a Dry Environment
Dry Turnout Areas: Ensure paddocks have good drainage to reduce mud. Use footing materials like gravel or wood chips in high-traffic areas.
Shelter Access: Provide access to dry shelters or stables to allow horses to escape wet conditions.
Regular Hoof Care
Daily Cleaning: Pick out hooves daily to remove mud, manure, and debris.
Hoof Trimming: Keep hooves well-trimmed by scheduling regular farrier visits to minimise cracks and weaknesses.
Preventative Treatments: Apply hoof conditioners or topical products to strengthen the hoof wall and sole.
Protective Measures
Hoof Boots: Consider using hoof boots for horses in particularly muddy conditions.
Bandaging: Use protective wraps in extreme cases, but ensure they are applied and monitored properly.
Good Nutrition
Provide a balanced diet with adequate biotin, zinc, and amino acids to support hoof health.
Monitor and Act Quickly
Check hooves regularly for signs of sensitivity, cracks, or odour, and address issues promptly to prevent abscesses from developing.

If you suspect your horse is suffering from a foot abscess, please call 01449 776200 today!

22/12/2024

Stanley is getting ready for a trailer trip, with his tail bandage and leg boots packed and ready to go! 🐴

What will he be doing tomorrow? - Stay tuned!

Stowe Equine and Large Animal Vets

31/01/2025

27/01/2025

23/01/2025

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13/01/2025

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08/01/2025

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30/12/2024

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