Cambridge Equine Hospital

26/06/2024

Reminder we are closed tomorrow, Friday 28th June for Matariki. As usual, we will have Vets on call 24/7 for emergencies, just call the clinic number 07 827 7097.
Wishing you all a safe and happy long weekend!🌟🌠✨

26/06/2024

🏇 JULY GASTROSCOPY PROMOTION 🏇

Receive a free dental exam and faecal egg count with every gastroscope done in July!

Winter is a great time to tick off some key routine health checks. This is especially important if your horse isn't thriving as well as you would like over these winter months, if you didn't finish the season on the high you were hoping for, or if you are still competing over winter. 💩🦷🩺

Please email or phone the clinic to book in!
☎️07 827 7097
💻[email protected]

24/06/2024

MEET THE TEAM
Andie Gibberd - Vet Nurse

Andie is one of our amazing Vet Nurses here at CEH. She graduated with a diploma in Nursing in 2021 and started work here that same year. She grew up on a dairy farm in Te Awamutu and has ridden and competed her whole life.

Her favourite part of her job is all the variety and being able to get out and about on different farms and studs, as well as being a surgical nurse and nursing sick foals.

When she isn’t working Andie loves being at the beach or out fishing 🐟🏖️🚤

19/06/2024

We have an amazing bunch of vets, nurses and support staff here at Cambridge Equine Hospital. Stay tuned over the next few weeks for individual introductions of all the team! You’ll get to know all the important people who help to keep the wheels churning here!
🏇🏇🏇🏇🏇🏇🏇🏇🏇🏇🏇🏇🏇🏇🏇🏇🏇🏇🏇

First up is Michaella Hanham, our super organised head nurse.🩺

Michaella joined CEH in 2017 after completing her Diploma in Veterinary Nursing. Born and raised on a small stud in Pukeatua, she has been involved with the breeding and training of thoroughbreds most of her life.

Alongside keeping the hospital and nursing team in-check, she enjoys working in a diverse range of areas. If she had to pick one, it would be looking after the ICU patients. Here she gets to utilise her nursing skills and loves the reward of seeing the patients bounce back.

When she isn’t working, she loves spending time in Whitianga, helping out her father with his charter boats and exploring the great outdoors of NZ.

12/06/2024

🦴 BONES 🏇

Everyone that has been into the clinic will be familiar with ‘Bones’, our trusty old skeleton that has been proudly displayed in the shop front.

Former CEH Vet Dr Paul Fraser has had the task of ‘re-inventing’ him after he began to fall apart and has done an amazing job restoring him so he can still be used as a great learning tool for us all.

Paul has kindly written a history on Bones so we can all get to know him a bit better. Have a read and check out his transformation photos! 🏇🦴

“Bones”

The old skeleton we have referred to as “Bones” has had a globe trotting career. His original name was ‘Perfect Symmetry’, and he was born in Ireland in 2007. His Dad was Le Vie Dei Colori, and his Mum was Wide Range. He won two races in Ireland before being sold to Hong Kong in 2009 and had a name change to ‘Easy Winner’. He went on to have another 31 starts for two wins and $2.8 million HK dollars in stakes before being retired in 2012. Somewhere in those intervening years, he cracked his cannon bone, and it required the placement of two screws to repair it, these remained in his cannon bone forever (see the X-rays of s similar crack and repair).

After this he was exported to New Zealand and upon his arrival, he was domiciled as a Hong Kong horse for rehoming with Gina Schick at Windsor Park Stud. Unfortunately, before that was possible, he had a fall and cracked a vertebra in his neck effectively making him a quadriplegic. This meant there was no choice but to euthanase him. Dr Patrick Sells, the resident veterinarian at the stud at the time, felt he had more to give, he had not yet fulfilled his destiny! Pat began the demanding task creating Easy Winner’s skeleton by removing the fleshy tissue, maturing the remaining bones, and reassembling him to become our very own “Bones”.

Being a skeleton is not as easy as it looks! After ten years, some of his appendages were beginning to fall apart so he needed repairs. To return him to his former glory was going to be too difficult so we had to look at what was his main function? It was to be a demonstration aid so our vets could point out various sites of injury or pathology. The best way to do that seemed to be to separate him into several anatomical sites and mount them on a display frame so Bones-reincarnated now exists as a front leg, a hind leg, a back, spine and pelvis, and a head and neck (still with the vertebral fracture!)

Bones has spread himself even further with his spare front and back leg having been gifted to Waikato Equine Veterinary Centre where we hope they can be just as useful as he has been with us for all these years.

Long live Bones!

09/06/2024

Registrations open now for the EquiChip event coming to Cambridge on 26th July. Only $15 for microchipping and registration to New Zealand Companion Animal Register.

Click on the link below for all the information and booking details.

https://www.companionanimals.nz/2024-equichip-events?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTAAAR2u3TlMl7rOrV2H4AWajQE8qV_qoecubTVXMQwtXrW9Sma8d-w7ZueugPs_aem_AQxlVJ3q3kloAIJjMo57-Y6iQ6EsuLNAIYZKrKGOCxVhxixTftI2oOJp3wL50O7pCIq-I7TIbqmszsASaUhLGhHL

In the 2024 series, we hope to microchip and register between 400 and 500 horses across the six events, involving the local equine community and vet clinics - making them very community-driven events.

06/06/2024

🐴📣 Calling all yearling owners! 📣🐴

Has your yearling had their booster vaccination for tetanus strangles (2in1) yet? 🤔 If not, now is the perfect time to book their appointment at Cambridge Equine Hospital! 🏥💉

We know how important it is to keep our horses healthy and protected against these serious diseases. The initial course is usually given at branding/weaning time, and the booster is due one year later. 🗓️✅

By getting your horse vaccinated, you're ensuring their well-being and safeguarding them against the potential risks of tetanus and strangles. 💪🏇

Contact us today to schedule your horse's booster vaccination. Our experienced team is here to provide the best care for your equine companion. 🩺🐎

Remember, prevention is always better than cure! Let's keep our horses happy, healthy, and protected together. 🌟❤️

29/05/2024

👏Congratulations to trainer Clint Isdale and 'Lucky Bay', winner of the Cambridge Equine Hospital sponsored race yesterday. Well done to everyone who was out competing in that weather! 🏇⛈

28/05/2024

Pink Ribbon morning tea ready to go! 💓

27/05/2024

Pre-order your Equilume Belfield masks now!
We recommend dry mares have masks (and rugs) on from 1st July to promote cycling early in the season.
Please call the clinic on 07 827 7097 or email [email protected] to order.

26/05/2024

Don't forget our pink ribbon morning tea this Wednesday that our lovely Rachel has helped organise. If you are in the area please pop in and say Hi, grab some food and make a donation for this very worthy cause. We have a donation box and a QR code to scan and donate. If you can't make it in but would still like to donate please click on the following link

https://fundraise.bcf.org.nz/fundraisers/rachelhill/pinkribbonbreakfast?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTAAAR0wJceyYQ089hv-FyVGz0sAl-Ncbh38xd-_Iu5abG72lSOfUkFU5MPo-7o_aem_AafYg2-hCHDRiHGkJcYfeBJsh2czsZROsnV27Vrd6z9Y0Xyq_wkrg1cvf0dD7-scNgAhAzqLqFoT_WHodg3J5vtQ&mibextid=xfxF2i

14/05/2024

06/03/2024

Are you deworming your horses every 6-8 weeks? If the answer is yes, you are needlessly throwing away your money and probably making it more likely you’ll end up with a worm population that doesn’t respond to treatment. You can save thousands of dollars per year and have no decrease in horse health with a much more targeted approach. If you’d like to chat about how to achieve more for less expense - give us a call!

How often should you deworm your horse? This video is about the latest research into deworming.

17/11/2023

Great to be part of some impressive work by EquiBreed ART!

Every embryo has a great story! This little baby was created by ICSI at EquiBreed ART, the recipient mare was managed by Cambridge Equine Hospital and the embryo was transferred by MVS EquiBreed - great team work in the Waikato! Thanks guys for making our babies :)

17/07/2023

Blood tests and performance horses - how do you get the most meaning out of the results? Each horse is an individual and it’s helpful to know the normal results for that athlete when you’re trying to detect subtle changes. Did you know that there are many factors that can change blood parameters? Stress, prior exercise, fear of needles and even time in relation to feeding can cause shifts in different parameters. When comparing results over a season it’s best to standardise collection - meaning ideally the same day of the week in the schedule, and same time of day in relation to the work and feeding schedule. Also, as much background information as possible is really helpful when working with your vet to manage horses to compete at their best.

12/06/2023

Hormones get blamed a lot with undesirable behaviour in mares. It’s also important to know that I’m mares, urinating and squealing can be fear or aggression based and behavioural rather than hormonal. It’s worth looking further than just reaching for the regumate.

It's no secret that mares have an (undeserved) reputation for being bossy, hormonal and stubborn.

A recent retrospective study suggests that hormones might not be to blame after all...

Lauren Huggins, VMD, MS, from Select Breeders Services in Chesapeake City, Maryland, presented her findings on abnormal mare behaviour at the 2022 American Association of Equine Practitioners Convention in San Antonio - potentially debunking the theory that mares are difficult as a result of hormonal imbalances.

Generally, when mares show abnormal behaviour, Granulosa Cell Tumors (GCT) come to mind. These tumours account for up to 85% of reproductive tract tumours in mares and are frequently diagnosed when owners report abnormal behaviour in their mares.

When a mare exhibits aggressive behaviour such as biting, kicking, or attacking, owners often choose to remove both of her ovaries (even when preoperative testing does not reveal a tumour).

In most cases, hormonal imbalances are not to blame for the behaviour at all though - and the behaviour often persists after the ovaries are removed.

During Huggin's study, a total of 2,914 profile samples were submitted to UC Davis Clinical Endocrinology Laboratory to be analyzed - with less than 15% of them showing hormone levels consistent with behavioural influences.

Of the mares exhibiting abnormal behaviour, Huggins and her team found that only stallion-like behavior could be associated with elevated reproductive hormone levels.

A comprehensive evaluation of environment, training, and health may therefore be advantageous when identifying and managing abnormal behaviour in mares that isn't necessarily hormonal.

27/04/2023

Exciting opportunity! We are looking for seasonal equine veterinary nurses to join our team for the busy foaling and breeding season. How to apply in the job posting below.

Cambridge Equine Hospital in New Zealand is a well-equipped primary care and referral equine clinic situated in the heart of the Waikato region, with a strong focus on animal and client care. Our growing company currently has 12 Veterinarians, 5 Veterinary Nurses and 6 Administration Staff. For more...

20/02/2023

A good time to for a reminder as we come into autumn that if you have an autumn deworming treatment planned it’s a great time to evaluate how effective the product you’re using is. There is widespread resistance to dewormers developing rapidly worldwide - ignoring it will just waste money and put horses’ health at risk.

Parasite f***l egg counts in horses! OK, so they are important and all that, but how are we supposed to use them again? And what are they telling us? This vi...

16/02/2023

We have sent a pack of veterinary supplies to the Hawke’s Bay and we’re still receiving requests from people who want to send medications there. Some of the items are prescription only and can’t be supplied for people to send on, but the emergency response teams going in there will be equipped with everything they need. Here’s a way to contribute to the rescue for you wonderful people desperate to help.

https://givealittle.co.nz/org/vert?fbclid=IwAR04TOQuKgDJwwXm1sJTnr4gaFsZwoKEC9CtlgQhknJx-xQ7QEwIEdFlOiw

A specialist team, able to conduct technical rescues and perform in-field veterinary treatment and disaster assessment.

25/10/2022

Sometimes people are confused when a horse has choke, and mistakenly think there’s an obstruction to breathing. The name of the condition makes it an easy mistake but here’s some more information to make it clearer. https://www.facebook.com/128570532690/posts/10158444776072691/?d=n

Espophageal obstruction, or “choke,” is a common equine emergency but can look alarming, especially if you've never seen it before. Unlike in human medicine, where choking refers to a tracheal (or windpipe) obstruction, choke in horses refers to an obstruction of the esophagus, the muscular tube that carries food from the mouth to the stomach.

Most commonly, choking occurs when horses eat concentrated feed too quickly without chewing it appropriately, which results in a firm bolus lodged in the animal's esophagus. However, esophageal obstruction can also occur with hay or straw, hard treats, carrots, or nonfood objects. Poor dentition, which leads to inadequate chewing, is also a frequent cause of choke.

While common, chokes can have serious consequences so be sure to call your veterinarian as soon as you notice signs of choke. A bad choke is fairly obvious to both veterinarians and horse owners, but a mild choke could be confused with an upper respiratory tract infection or colic.

Read more about this condition on our website at https://aaep.org/horsehealth/understanding-choke-horses

19/10/2022

Sometimes we have a very special patient! Ella is a yearling thoroughbred filly (her birthday is today) who unfortunately had to have her left eye removed which means her intended career as a racehorse is off the cards. She is rather a special lady, with the kindest nature and movement to die for. Her syndicate recognised what a lovely girl she is, and wanted to find her a home she deserved. One of our vets fell in love with her so took her home to care for her until she finds a new home. You can throw a rug over and she doesn’t even flinch, and ties up quietly even in a strong wind. She has real wow factor with a huge trot, plenty of bling and the most gentle temperament. She will do just fine as a ridden horse with one eye, and would also breed a flash sport horse when she grows up a little, as her sire was a lovely eventing type and we hear he was jumped by Mark Todd. Please message us if you’re interested in giving Ella a home - with the right person she has a great future!

06/10/2022

Laminitis risk! Frosty conditions and sunlight will make grass store sugar at increased levels. If you have a horse or pony at risk of laminitis the conditions right now are very dangerous for the sugars in the grass to cause a big insulin spike and can push these horses into a laminitic episode. After 10am is more dangerous (the sun has been on the grass long enough to build up sugar) so consider limiting grazing to very early morning or taking the horse off the pasture entirely and feeding hay (preferably soaked). An ounce of prevention is worth a ton of cure!

18/08/2022

There were a lot of people wishing they had attended our ulcer evening with Dr Sykes, so here is the first in a series of talks he has on the subject.
https://fb.watch/eZhDMOPep3/

17/08/2022

Thanks to all the people who came and attended our hindgut health seminar. It was a great night of very practical information and great food. Special thanks to Kelato and Prydes feeds for sponsorship and to Fayette Catering and Annie Peters for amazing food. Dr Rachel Mottet has a Facebook group called Equine Nutrition Education with loads of good information and it’s also worth checking out Dr Ben Sykes’s page - Equine Ulcer Research if you would like to extend your knowledge.

15/08/2022

This event has sold out and due to high demand we have now opened a waitlist to join for anyone who would like the chance to attend. If you are unwell or find you are unable to attend please do reach out to let us know so tickets can become available for those on our waitlist."

The hindgut seminar is SOLD OUT! There is a wait list on eventbrite so you can still register there in case people can’t make it. The initial people who messaged me before registration - I have you accounted for on a list but please let us know if you can no longer attend!

10/08/2022

We thought this was a beautifully written piece for people who have had to let go of their much loved horse.

https://www.doctorramey.com/things-ive-said-to-grieving-horse-owners/?fbclid=IwAR08TEUgWzhlqtYYSgiESZEe1uaOzoZmbGTpNMMURgkVAM37Rlmytb9OEtg

I’m not sure how many horses I’ve had to euthanize in my career. My best guess is that it’s probably somewhere between 200 – 300, over coming on 40 years. I don’t work with horses that are regularly suffering catastrophic injuries, so that helps keep the numbers down, I think. I also don.....

08/08/2022

The hindgut seminar is SOLD OUT! There is a wait list on eventbrite so you can still register there in case people can’t make it. The initial people who messaged me before registration - I have you accounted for on a list but please let us know if you can no longer attend!

04/08/2022

It’s now even easier to get yourself a registration to this amazing evening. For all of you who have already phoned or texted, you can register through eventbrite but if you don’t , we do have you on the list!
https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/exclusive-free-hindgut-seminar-tickets-395753237587

02/08/2022

Come and join us for two expert talks on how to feed for optimum hindgut health and what to do when the hindgut isn’t happy. The hindgut of the horse is crucial to health and performance and our speakers are internationally recognised experts in their fields . It will be a fun, social evening with food and drinks and plenty to learn. There’s a free drink on arrival and door prizes. Thanks to Kelato, Prydes Easifeed and Massey University for helping us bring this evening to you!

https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/exclusive-free-hindgut-seminar-tickets-395753237587

10/07/2022

Worth reading before you part with your hard earned cash. We’re always happy to discuss the pros and cons and evidence for the options available for your horse. As they say, “there is nothing so expensive as a cheap treatment that doesn’t work”.

Horse owners are faced with new claims for products or devices all the time, and I get lots of questions about them, along the lines of, “Should I use this or not?” I thought it might be fun and instructive to look at one of those products and go through my thought processes in hopes […]