North West Equine Vets Ltd.

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North West Equine Vets Ltd. Dedicated Equine Vets in the North West

BEWAREWe are in exactly the same grass position 12 months on... heavy rain fall and hot temperatures have made the grass...
01/07/2025

BEWARE
We are in exactly the same grass position 12 months on... heavy rain fall and hot temperatures have made the grass very flush...

Laminitis - Be Aware

Our wet and warm summer has led to increased grass growth at a time of year when we would normally have slow growing, scorched grass. This increases the risk for those prone to laminitis. Being vigilant and looking out for the signs will help you catch it early, making the prognosis for recovery much better.

Laminitis in horses is a serious condition characterized by the inflammation of the laminae - the tissues that connect the hoof wall to the pedal bone in a horse's foot. This inflammation can disrupt blood flow, leading to swelling and damage to the laminae, which causes severe pain and lameness. The condition can affect any number of feet but is most commonly seen in the front feet.

Symptoms can include:

• A strong or bounding digital pulse in the hooves. Click here to see a video
• Heat in the hooves and increased sensitivity, especially over the toe area.
• Reluctance to move, walk on hard surfaces, or turn in tight circles.
• Visible lameness, which may be more pronounced on hard ground.
• A "rocking back" stance or shifting weight off the forehand to relieve pressure on the hooves.
• Laying down more frequently than usual.
• Sweating, elevated temperature, and signs of pain.
• In severe cases, the pedal bone may rotate downward, potentially puncturing the sole.

Click here to watch a short video highlighting these symptoms.
You should consult a vet immediately if you suspect your horse is showing signs of laminitis, as early intervention can be key to managing the condition successfully.
0808 168 5580 or 01254 888 600

Nominations Are Now Open for the 2025 Veterinary Awards! 🏆These awards celebrate the hard work and dedication of veterin...
01/07/2025

Nominations Are Now Open for the 2025 Veterinary Awards! 🏆

These awards celebrate the hard work and dedication of veterinary professionals.
If you would like to nominate a particular team member or the practice as a whole, follow the link attached to put your nomination forward!
Your support is much appreciated :-)

✨ Award categories include:

Practice of the Year
Vet of the Year
Vet Nurse of the Year
Practice Manager of the Year
Support Staff of the Year

If someone at North West has gone above and beyond for you and your horse, we'd love your support.
👉 Nominate today: https://www.petplanvet.co.uk/veterinary-practice-insurance/veterinary-awards/

Thank you!

We have some exciting news to share with you! - RCVS Knowledge Awards 2025Alice Cassidy has submitted and achieved an aw...
30/06/2025

We have some exciting news to share with you! - RCVS Knowledge Awards 2025

Alice Cassidy has submitted and achieved an award-winning application to the RCVS Knowledge Awards 2025, gaining highly commended status.
The RCVS Knowledge Awards celebrate outstanding achievements across the veterinary profession — recognising teams who are using QI methods to advance the quality of care through innovation, leadership, and evidence-based practice.

North West Equine Vets have been selected as a Highly Commended in the “RCVS Knowledge Antimicrobial Stewardship Award”, for improving responsible antimicrobial prescribing using clinical audit and recognised Quality improvement (QI) techniques. It was noted that…
“Over a number of years, it's easy to see the impact you have had, and one would hope this could be rolled out to inspire many other equine practitioners. Especially as a sector where QI needs championing. It is not only important to demonstrate reduction in antimicrobial use but also to be able to demonstrate that this does not result in an increase in post castration complications to clients and to the veterinary teams.”

Congratulations to Alice and the whole team!

https://knowledge.rcvs.org.uk/awards/rcvs-knowledge-awards/award-winners/

Thank you to everyone who has sent their horses passport details in, this has been a monumental effort, and we have been...
30/06/2025

Thank you to everyone who has sent their horses passport details in, this has been a monumental effort, and we have been able to update many many records, thank you!

We have a lucky winner from the random prize draw generator…
Congratulations Paula Smith!

You have won A FREE ZONE VISIT, INCLUDING A HEALTH CHECK, VACCINATION AND ROUTINE DENTAL for one horse.

⚠️Strangles - Be aware⚠️📋The attached factsheet gives a good overview of the disease and also has advice about preventin...
25/06/2025

⚠️Strangles - Be aware⚠️

📋The attached factsheet gives a good overview of the disease and also has advice about preventing the spread of infection.
🐴The key point to remember is that Strangles is only spread via direct contact e.g. horse to horse or contaminated stable, water, clothing and equipment.

All in a days work for an 'equine'nurse!
25/06/2025

All in a days work for an 'equine'nurse!

📸 The Importance of Sending Quality Images of Your Horse When Asking for Our Advice 📸The advances and wide circulation o...
25/06/2025

📸 The Importance of Sending Quality Images of Your Horse When Asking for Our Advice 📸

The advances and wide circulation of smartphones mean that many clients send us pictures for our advice, but you'd be amazed at the poor-quality images we sometimes receive! 📱 While sending photos of your horse’s injuries or ailments can be extremely helpful, they need to be clear and diagnostic-quality for us to provide accurate advice or treatment. Here’s why:

🔍 Clarity is Key: Blurry or poorly lit photos make it hard to spot crucial details like swelling, bruising, or cuts.

📍 Show the Area: Always make it clear which part of the horse's body you're capturing. We need to know exactly where the issue is!

📏 Scale Matters: Including something for scale (like a coin or ruler) helps us gauge the size and severity of the problem.

⏳ Save Time: High-quality images allow us to give you faster feedback and advise on the need or urgency of a visit.

Remember, while great photos and videos are excellent tools to help us assess your horse’s condition, they don't replace a proper examination or necessary diagnostics.
So, when you're sending images, make sure they're clear, well-lit, and provide some context and scale. It helps us help you and your horse more efficiently! 🐴😊

23/06/2025

THIS IS THE LAST WEEK TO STAND A CHANCE OF WINNING THE PRIZE!
👏 Thank you to all of those that have already sent your horses passport details in....
🤚 For those that havn't yet, look what you could win!!!! 😄

NEW BORN FOALSWe have many new foals arriving at the moment, this is just a reminder what to look out for in the first 2...
11/06/2025

NEW BORN FOALS
We have many new foals arriving at the moment, this is just a reminder what to look out for in the first 24 hours?

The mare
• The afterbirth has been passed within 3 hours. (if you can save it in a bucket of water to be checked by the vet).
• The mare is allowing the foal to feed.
• Eating and drinking, passing urine and faeces.
• No obvious bleeding from her back end or tears in her v***a.
• Not straining or showing signs of colic

The foal
• The foal has consumed plenty of colostrum within 6-12 hours of birth.
• The foal is feeding frequently and sleeping in between.
• The first droppings (meconium) have been passed (dark brown in colour). Some foals (especially colts) can become constipated and this may lead to serious infection.
• Urine has been passed.
• The umbilicus is not leaking fluid
• Treat the navel with a suitable topical spray as soon as possible after birth

We have a 24 hour emergency service and we are available to attend at any time, even if just to check the mare and foal for piece of mind. Contact us on 0808 168 5580

Let’s talk about ‘Topline’.Developing a muscular topline on a horse is a process that involves correct training, proper ...
11/06/2025

Let’s talk about ‘Topline’.

Developing a muscular topline on a horse is a process that involves correct training, proper nutrition and time. The ideal topline shape will vary depending on the discipline - whether it’s dressage, showjumping, eventing or showing - so your goals should match your horse’s workload and career.

🔑 What is the Topline?
The topline includes the muscles running along the horse’s neck, withers, back, loin, and croup. A strong, well-developed topline supports movement, balance, rider and gives that "lifted," athletic look.

✅ Start with the Basics – Health First
• 🦷 Teeth: Ensure your horse has good dentition. Dental problems reduce your horse’s ability to chew effectively. Digestion of fibre starts in the mouth with chewing. If they can not chew properly this can affect the quantity of food they can consume. Also, chewing starts to breakdown fibre preparing it for further digestion in the hind gut. If chewing is poor they will not obtain all the expected energy and nutrients from their forage feeds.
• 🐛 Worming: Monitor and control parasites that may affect nutrient absorption and weight.
• 🧘 Saddle Fit: poorly fitting tack can lead to horses not moving well or working correctly leading to poor muscle development as well as back pain.
• 🩺 Veterinary Check: If your think your horse’s topline is not developing as you would expect then please discuss with your vet. They will also be able to discuss pain related issues such as kissing spine, ulcers and possible subtle lameness.

🥕 Feed – Nutrition Matters
• High-quality forage is the base. This is vital as an energy source and for gut health. Make sure they are eating enough forage before adding to their diet.
• Providing good quality protein in your horses’s diet is essential as this provides essential amino acids (building blocks of muscle) like lysine, to support muscle development. Good quality protein sources include alfalfa and soya.
• Consider supplements with - Provide a balanced diet. Even the best quality forage in this country is not sufficient to supply a balanced diet. Therefore, a balancer suited to your horse’s needs or broad-spectrum vitamin and mineral supplement should be given alongside their forage based diet. Many vitamins and minerals are needed to support effective muscle function and development including Vitamin E, vitamin D, selemium, calcium and phosphorus, magnesium, potassium, sodium and copper. Omega 3s from oils such as linseed or rapeseed - great for coat shine and over all condition. Oil is also great for providing energy that is not starch or sugar based in situations where additional calories are needed.
• Avoid feeding excess calories with no structured work - it builds fat. Energy requirements need to match workload. You want to build muscle not fat.
• Ensure good hydration and give electrolytes if the work being done creates sweat.

🐎 Train the Right Way – Movement Builds Muscle
✅ Key Training Principles:
• Correct Posture: Encourage the horse to lift through the back and stretch into the contact - not just hold its head in.
• Engagement: Hind end activity is the engine for topline muscle.
• Consistency: 4–6 days per week of correct work is ideal. Rest days are equally important.

🎯 Discipline-Specific Toplines
Correct, effective topline may look different dependant on the breed of horse and the ‘job’ that they do. We must not pre judge certain shapes as being right or wrong, instead we must consider the requirements being asked of the horse:
• Jumpers: Require power behind the saddle - developed loins and croup for take-off.
• Eventers: Must build endurance muscle, not just power. Balanced development across topline and core.
• Show Horses: Often shaped for rounded, aesthetically pleasing outlines, but watch for overfeeding vs true muscle.
• Dressage Horses: Need a lofty neck, strong core, and lifted back for collection and lateral work.

⏳ How Long Does It Take?
In our experience, muscle development takes 8–12 weeks of consistent, correct work - longer if starting from poor condition or after injury. There are no shortcuts.

❌ Common Mistakes to Avoid
• Poor nutrition, not providing a balanced diet.
• Using draw reins or gadgets to "hold" a frame without engagement
• Overfeeding without exercise - maintain correct condition rather than just becoming fat because too many calories are being provided.
• Pushing too fast - muscle must be built gradually to prevent injury. Horses must be fit enough for the work being asked of them.
• Ignoring posture from the ground (leading, lunging, turnout)
• Not meeting the needs of the individual - be aware that in the same way that human athletes will each have specifically designed exercise/training and nutrition plans for their needs and the discipline they are performing. Horses require the same individual plans.

✅ Final Tip:
A great topline is built from the hind legs forward, not from the head down. Train for balance, strength, and stretch, not just shape. Speak with vet and equine nutritionist if you need to discuss any of this further or have more questions.

📣 Think Before You Feed: The Truth About Milk Powder and HorsesFeeding milk powder to adult horses is sometimes done to ...
10/06/2025

📣 Think Before You Feed: The Truth About Milk Powder and Horses

Feeding milk powder to adult horses is sometimes done to enhance coat shine, increase body condition quickly, or mimic the rounded, well-fleshed look of young horses… but is it worth the risk?

⚠️ Dangers and Risks of Feeding Milk Powder

Not Designed for Adult Equine Digestion -
Horses lose the ability to digest lactose (milk sugar) as they age. Foals can digest lactose well due to the enzyme lactase. Post-weaning, from approx 4 months old, lactase activity declines, and the ability to digest lactose significantly reduces, which is why adult horses should not consume milk or milk-based products. Feeding milk based products can potentially cause:
• Colic
• Laminitis
• Diarrhoea
• Gas and bloating
• Metabolic issues / Insulin resistance

Imbalanced Nutrition -
Milk powder is fortified and formulated for young foals, calves or lambs, not adult horses. It will offset the overall balance of the rest of the diet being fed. It can disrupt:
• Calcium-phosphorus balance
• Protein-to-energy ratios
• Mineral absorption

Masking Underlying Issues -
Using milk powder to make a horse ‘look’ healthy may hide health or management problems. Ask yourself, if you are currently doing all you can to develop top line, why is it not developing?
• Poor nutrition - Balanced forage based diet. Use good quality forage and protein alongside a balancer or broad-spectrum vitamin and mineral supplement.
• Not performing the correct training and exercise
• Not allowing enough time for muscle development.
• Underlying pain meaning the horse cannot move correctly and therefore not develop desired muscle.
• Reasons for not thriving e.g worm burden, dental issues.
• Underlying medical/ health reasons.
If topline is not developing as you are expecting then please speak with your vet to discuss possible causes.

Bottom Line -
Feeding milk powder to adult horses is a quick fix that can have long-term health consequences. It’s not recommended by equine nutritionists or veterinarians.
A rounded, strong topline cannot be mimicked. Correct topline is achieved by correct training, proper nutrition, and time.
We will do a separate post discussing topline shortly!

💰WOULD YOU LIKE TO SPREAD THE COST OF YOUR HORSES ROUTINE PREVENTATIVE HEALTH CARE?With the rising cost of living affect...
10/06/2025

💰WOULD YOU LIKE TO SPREAD THE COST OF YOUR HORSES ROUTINE PREVENTATIVE HEALTH CARE?

With the rising cost of living affecting many, managing routine expenses like veterinary care can make a big difference to your budget.

✅Our Horse Health Plans Can Help You Spread the Cost

🩺At NWEV, we believe in taking a proactive, preventative approach to your horse's health. We understand how much their well-being means to you, and our Horse Health Plans are designed to help you keep your horse, pony, or donkey healthy and happy for longer.

👩‍💼Our Horse Health Plan is not insurance, but a way to cover the essential routine care, such as vaccinations, worming, dental treatments, and advice – the things traditional equine insurance often doesn’t include.

🐴For existing clients, the plan offers an easy way to spread the cost of preventive care. With regular check-ups, vaccinations, parasite control, and dental care all included, you’ll be helping your horse avoid preventable issues and stay in top condition. Early detection of potential health problems also gives you peace of mind, knowing your horse will lead a more comfortable life.

👌Flexible and Affordable Horse Health Plans

Our Horse Health Plans provide all the routine care your horse needs, with the option to spread the cost over 12 months through convenient Direct Debit payments. Choose from two affordable options:
🥈Standard Care Plan: £18 per month
🥇Premium Care Plan: £23 per month

📞For more information or to sign up, give us a call at 0808 168 5580. Our friendly team is here to help!
You can also find out more information, or join online today at

Our Horse Health Plan is not insurance. It is intended to take care of the regular things – like vaccinations, worming, dentals and advice, all in an easy monthly payment plan. It’s all the things that equine insurance generally doesn’t cover.

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