Chloe Tuckwell Veterinary Physiotherapy

21/02/2023

Stay vigilant

We have been made aware of strangles in the area.
Strangles is caused by a bacteria called Streptococcus equi that can be easily spread directly through horse-to-horse contact and indirectly, for example through contaminated equipment, handler clothing and boots. It’s so-called because the airway can become restricted by swollen lymph nodes.

While strangles is not spread through the air (airborne), the bacteria can spread when a horse coughs or snorts.
If you suspect strangles:
*Isolate the horse(s) affected.
*Call your vet.
*Contact owner(s) – including those of horses who have been in contact with the affected horse.
*Monitor other horses on your yard for signs of infection.
*Spread the word, not the disease – tell people such as your farrier and any nearby equine property.

Symptoms:
*Fever
*Loss of appetite
*Depression
*Marked ‘snotty’ nasal discharge
*Lymph node swelling and abscesses (mainly in the head and neck region)
*Coughing
Remember not all horses will show all (or any) of these signs
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Most animals recover quickly and uneventfully often with minimal treatment. However, some horses become very ill for several days and a few (around 2%) may be more serious.

The incubation period of strangles varies from 7 to 14 days. However, because infected horses can shed the bacterium for long periods, the interval between new cases in an outbreak can be far longer, up to 3 weeks or more.

Prevention:
*Good bio security can reduce the likelihood of getting strangles in the first place
*At home use separate buckets, equipment and grooming kits for each horse
*Anyone moving between yards should wash hands, change clothes and disinfect boots between yards
*When at shows, don't let horses have nose to nose contact, don't share buckets
*Disinfect boots and clothing after going to a show
*Keep written records of all horses that enter and leave the premises
*All new horses should be isolated for at least 2 weeks, and after the 2 week period the strangles blood test should be done, to check for potential carrier status
*Vaccination- not widely used in the UK
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The number of strangles outbreaks in the UK has increased in recent years and particular care must be taken to ensure that animals do not become infected and pass the infection on to other horses. We understand that these outbreaks are challenging for horse owners and yards as a whole but open, honest communication and early action can prevent these outbreaks becoming a huge problem. If you have any suspicions or concerns please feel free to call us for a chat and we will help in any way we can 01626 824600.

07/10/2022

We spent some time over the weekend at Billy’s favourite beach - Bantham!

He loves it because the sand is kind to his tiny feet and the water is calm (waves are apparently VERY scary entities that pose a very real threat to his well-being 🤦🏼‍♀️)

04/10/2022

⭐️GOOD DOG OWNER ETIQUETTE⭐️

💩Poop! - pick it up. Every time! Dog poo contains neosporosis which can result in miscarriages in farm animals. It also contains sarcocystosis which can cause neurological disease and death in sheep. Please pick it up!

🟡 The Yellow Lead - see a dog with a yellow lead? They’re nervous! Pop your dog on a lead and keep your distance

🔴 Never let your off lead dog approach an on lead dog without permission. That dog is on a lead for a reason, and that reason may be harmful to your dog. The consequences of any bad reaction due to your off lead dog approaching an on lead dog is your fault!

23/09/2022

💅🐶MANICURED PAWS🐶💅

Your dogs claws are INCREDIBLY important. Getting your puppy used to you fussing their feet and claws will save you a lifetime of stress!
Let me tell you why they’re so important…

🐶 Pain free walking - when long nails touch the floor (when you hear them click-clacking down the road), it puts pressure through the nail beds and causes pain in the joints of the toes. This also forces your dog to try and flatten his toes against the floor to relieve the discomfort…have you seen an older dog with very flat feet? This could be a contributing factor
🐶 Posture - long nails digging into the nail bed force your dog to change their posture. This adapted posture is abnormal and will not be comfortable in the long term!
🐶 Keeping your dogs nails nice and short in early life will prevent the quicks from becoming very long. In some older dogs, the nails cannot be trimmed because the quicks have become too long. Keeping shorter nails through your pets life prevents this.

Contact info:
☎️ 01548 853322 or 07933938096
📧 [email protected] or [email protected]

21/09/2022

2/2

🐶HIP DYSPLASIA🐶

HD is definitively diagnosed through x-rays and/or CT or MRI imaging.

Depending on the severity of the HD, the condition can be managed surgically or conservatively.

Non-surgical management will include strict exercise regimes with managed daily exercise and prescribed home exercises. body weight management, Physiotherapy/hydrotherapy and medication.

Surgical treatment of HD are divided into hip anatomy modifying procedures or salvage surgery procedure. The most common surgeries for HD are a Total Hip Replacement (metal implants) or a Femoral Head and Neck Excision where the head and neck of the femur are removed allowing a false, fibrous joint to form (how cool is that?!)

Contact info:
☎️ 01548 853322 or 07933938096
📧 [email protected] or [email protected]

20/09/2022

1/2

🐶HIP DYSPLASIA🐶

Hip dysplasia (HD) is a canine genetic condition where there is a tendency towards development of hip laxity in early life. It is not congenital as dogs are born with morphological normal hips and the stabilising soft tissue structures become loose within the first few weeks of life.
Consequentially, the ball and socket joint changes shape and no longer fits. The ball of the hip becomes flattened and the socket becomes more shallow and saucer-shaped. All dogs with hip dysplasia develop secondary osteoarthritis of the hip joint.

Although primarily genetic, environmental factors can play a part in the development of HD such as obesity during puppyhood.
It is important to acknowledge that environmental factors are unable to cause HD, rather they can determine if dogs that carry the genes for HD will display clinical symptoms.

HD most frequently affects large rapidly growing breeds although any dog can be affected. It is most commonly diagnosed between 6 and 12 months.

Symptoms include exercise intolerance, difficulty climbing or jumping, stiffness or lameness.

Contact info:
☎️ 01548 853322 or 07933938096
📧 [email protected] or [email protected]

16/09/2022

3/3

What causes poll tension?

Several common activities can cause tension in the poll.
These include but are not limited to:
🐴 Dental problems
🐴 Hay nets - a horse that takes the hay from a net from the same side every time will cause discomfort. A hay net that is tied too high will also cause damage.
🐴 Lunging - circles are hard work! Small circles require compensation that will contribute to poll tightness
🐴 Uneven tension on the reins - riders are right or left handed just like our horses. Many riders are subconsciously heavier on one side than the other and can causes resistance.

There are many things we can do to relieve poll tension, if you are suspicious of poll tension in your own horse, please get in touch.

You do not have to be a client at Selworthy Vets, we can send a consent form and get you booked in.

Contact info
☎️ 01548 853333 or 07933938096
📧 [email protected] or [email protected]

14/09/2022

2/3

The muscles of the poll are comprised of 3 separate muscles in the re**us capitis group. I will almost always treat them as a whole so will refer to them collectively.

The re**us capitis muscles are located at the back of the head, either side of the ears and anchor to the base of the skull and about 8 inches down the neck.

When acting together, these muscles flex the head down towards the chest and when acting separately, they incline the head to the left or right.

Although relatively small, these muscles are key to the horses freedom and ease of movement. Horse movement begins in the hindquarters and flows like a wave to the front of the horse. If there is discomfort and tension, this will interrupt the completion of the wave.

Trouble signs can include leaning on one side, a change in the way of going, unwillingness to step through underneath themselves, suddenly knocking poles or refusing jumps or does not like being touched in the poll region.

Part 3 on Friday!

Contact info
☎️ 01548 853333 or 07933938096
📧 [email protected] or [email protected]

12/09/2022

1/3

Heavy on one rein, resists bending, resists a consistent contact…sound familiar?

When a horse owner mentions any of these, I am generally not surprised if, after completing an assessment of the horse, we find tightness in the muscles of the poll.

This is an issue I encounter in horses of all disciplines and can causes multiple issues.

I’ll go into further detail on Wednesday, but for now, if any of the above sound familiar then your horse may benefit from an assesssment.

I work for Selworthy Vets, but you do not need to be registered with Selworthy in order to book in, we can just send a consent form to your registered vets.

Contact info:
☎️ 01548 853322 or 07933938096
📧 [email protected] or [email protected]
Or DM me here!

30/08/2022

Keeping the old man fighting fit!

Polework should never be underestimated! They are so versatile with so many different layouts.

Alternate raised poles for improved flexion and core engagement / strengthening

13/02/2022

The veterinary profession has a higher su***de rate than any other industry.

Vets are no strangers to pressure, but Covid and the huge boom in pets means they have never been busier – or experienced so much stress. Will Coldwell hears why so many are now turning their backs on the profession they love