Dukes Equine Vets

11/11/2025

Free nutrition advice from Baileys nutritionist 🌱

Baileys Horse Feeds are very proactive in helping owners understand the minefield of feeding your horse correctly. On Wednesday and Thursday next week Bailey’s nutritionist, Lorna Edgar and Scotland sales manager, Sarah Cruikshank, are visiting the practice and will be available for personal advice and yard visits. Lorna is very approachable and a mine of information. She spends most of her time advising top level competition horse owners in the South of England, but she is here for a couple of days so make the most of her if you want some free but very valuable nutritional advice for your horse(s). If you have any questions or would like her to visit your horse or yard whilst she is here get in touch with her directly on 07808863864

29/10/2025

Jim’s thoughts this week on sarcoids 👀

Treatment of sarcoids doesn’t always have to be complicated and costly to achieve good results. By the same measure complicated and costly treatments are not always better.

Now it is important to understand that every case is different, and not all horses will respond in the same way. Each case must be evaluated carefully and the most appropriate treatment selected. Over the last few years we have treated well over 100 horses for sarcoids ranging from horses with a single small discrete nodule to horses with over a hundred pedunculated ulcerated and bleeding nodules. The treatment and prognosis depends on the type, location and number of sarcoids and to some extent the temperament of the horse.

When deciding on appropriate treatment I consider a basic few things – location and size of the sarcoids, are the sarcoids discrete individual nodules or multiple clusters of nodules within a mixed type of sarcoid, are there other factors that are going to affect the case? If the horse has been treated by another method previously then they can definitely be much more difficult to treat. However unless the sarcoids have reached the malignant stage then sarcoid type doesn’t seem to have much influence on treatment choice or success rates.

If the sarcoids are all close to or within the surface of the skin, reasonably easy to access, the horse has not been treated by any other method previously and the biggest single palpable sarcoid nodule is not more that 25mm diameter then I am almost always going to start with minimal excision surgery followed by a combination of cryotherapy and chemotherapy. We use this method in the vast majority of the cases we see. We generally examine and treat the horses every 4 weeks until the sarcoids are resolved. About half of these horses only need a single treatment and the rest between two and 5 treatment cycles (overall average 2 treatments per case).

This method has been incredibly successful for us with over 90% of horses making a complete recovery. Some of the best things about the treatment are the short downtime – most horses can be ridden within a week of each treatment -, there are usually very few side effects and, in most cases the cosmetic results are excellent.

Not all horses fit into the above category and for those that don’t we have a range of variations on the method which allow us to successfully treat the vast majority of cases presented to us. We occasionally see very advanced cases that have been treated by every method under the sun. By the time we see them clinical cure is impossible. However we now have methods where even some of these can be very effectively managed.

The pictures below show a sarcoid just in front of the udder and one on the ear. The first two photos are pre treatment. The second two photos are 4 weeks after a single treatment. To date, 2 months after the single treatment, the wounds are fully healed and there is no evidence of re-growth.

If you have a horse with sarcoids that you would like to discuss please contact the practice.

📞 0345 095 9995
📧 [email protected]

27/10/2025

Last week we celebrated not one but two big milestones at Dukes Equine Vets. Linda has been practice manager for 20 years and Jane has been looking after the outside clinic for 15 years. We are all incredibly grateful for their endless kindness, wisdom and hard work. They both do an amazing job of making sure the vets are in the right place at the right time with the right kit in the car. And we know that all of our clients appreciate Linda looking after the admin side of the business and Jane looking after horses when they come up to visit the practice. Who knows where we would be without them both 🙏🎉✨

20/10/2025

There have been a lot of discussions in the media and on social media over the last week following the CMA release of preliminary findings from their review of the provision of veterinary services.

At Dukes Equine Vets, we are proud to be an independent practice, with no external shareholders and no targets to meet.

As an independent practice we already do much of what the CMA is recommending - we list our prices for regular procedures on the website, provide itemised invoices, offer estimates for planned procedures and are transparent about the business ownership. We discuss options and always prioritise horse welfare whilst making sure to give the client options.

We had hoped that the CMA review might have addressed some of the problems created by the phenomenal rise of corporate practice over the last 15 years. However the corporates have allegedly spent over 3.5 million lobbying the CMA and the “review” may end up being nothing of the sort. If they have nothing to hide, why spend all that money? Is it fair that political lobbying may well in fact change the policy in favour of the people they are supposed to be investigating because of this lobbying? Is it fair that the report has been submitted in full to the big 6 corporates and yet not to independent practices? Fair or not life goes on and we will continue to support our clients.

One of the things that it looks like the review will suggest is to promote the use of online pharmacies for fairer competition. What it fails to mention is that the online pharmacies are largely owned by the same big corporate businesses, whilst independent practices are legally obliged to purchase medications through wholesalers.

Like many businesses we have seen our costs rise rapidly in recent years and some price rises have been unavoidable. We continue to work hard to find ways to help our owners manage the cost of veterinary care, such as the prompt payment bonus, health scheme and free visit for 3/more horses.

At Dukes Equine Vets, we pride ourselves on compassionate clinical care, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. As always our priorities remain clear : Empathy, respect and compassion alongside veterinary clinical skills, development, horsemanship and sustainability.

If you are taking your small animals to a vet practice owned by a corporate company, please remember to be kind to the vet or vet nurse looking after your pet. The vets do not control the pricing and we all do this for a lifestyle because we care about animals and their humans. Veterinary mental health is a huge concern, with su***de rates 4 times the national average, alongside high rates of burnout and anxiety. The reporting of this CMA review has provoked a lot of negative comments towards vets online and in person, please remember this can be harmful to receive or read for a vet struggling with their mental health.

As the veterinary world navigates the CMA review, we stand by our values at Dukes Equine Vets and stay proudly independent.

08/10/2025

Shoutout of appreciation to the clients making great progress with their horses weight management in recent months. 🎉🙏🤩

It’s so rewarding to see the difference in the horse’s health, soundness and energy levels. Reducing excess weight can dramatically lower the risk of laminitis, metabolic issues, and joint strain, and it’s great to see some horses looking fitter and feeling better!

So, how can you keep track and make sure things are going in the right direction? Heading into winter is a great time to tackle weight issues when we have less summer grass to contend with.

✅ Measuring and monitoring weight
• Use a weighbridge if available, this is most accurate.
• If not, use a weigh tape placed consistently in the same place each time. The classic method is to measure around the girth area. However, we often advise that measuring the number of cm around the widest part of the abdomen, further back, is more useful as a monitoring tool. If you are trying to manage your horses weight, aim for 1cm loss around the biggest part of the abdomen every 2 weeks - this equates to approximately 5kg and a sensible rate of weight loss (for most horses and big ponies!).
• Weekly or fortnightly photos taken from the side and rear can help you spot subtle changes over time.

✅ Deciding on the ideal weight
• Every horse’s healthy weight is individual – based on breed, type, height, and muscle condition.
• Aim for a body condition score of around 2.5/5 (ribs easily felt but not seen, neck and quarters smooth but not fatty - no cresty neck or apple shaped bottom!).
• Ask your vet at the next visit to help set a realistic target weight for your horse.

✅ Supporting safe weight loss
• Restrict grazing: use a track system, smaller paddock, or time-limited turnout on poorer grazing.
• Grazing muzzles can reduce intake by up to 75% while still allowing movement and social contact.
• Feed soaked hay (for 6–12 hours) to reduce sugar content, split into multiple small meals and use small holed haynets to mimic trickle feeding. Recent research suggests that even a short soaking period of 30mins to 1 hour can reduce the non-structural carbohydrate content of hay significantly.
• Avoid unnecessary hard feeds - most good-doers manage well on a low calorie balancer or vitamin-mineral supplement.
• Keep your horse active – even light exercise or in-hand work helps boost metabolism.

Weight management takes commitment, but the long-term health benefits (and potential savings on vets bills) are absolutely worth it. If you’d like help assessing your horse’s current condition or choosing the best weight loss plan, we’re always happy to advise.

06/10/2025

Monday’s top tips on how to make savings on your vets bill 🔔

We have been asked if we could publicise booked yard visits to allow other clients on the same yard to join on that visit. Unfortunately for client confidentiality reasons we can’t share which yard visits are booked on social media etc. But a yard WhatsApp group is a great way for clients to coordinate with others to share a vet visit. And if you phone the office to book a visit to your yard, our admin team will always try to make you aware if one of the vets is going to be at your yard in the near future.

As a small independent veterinary practice it is important to us that we try to help our clients manage the cost of vet bills where possible.

How we are trying to help our clients make savings on their vet bills :

1. Check if other horses on your yard need a vet visit. The visit fee is reduced for 2 horses and FREE for 3/more horses at the same yard at the same time.

2. PROMPT PAYMENT BONUS - if you pay your bill at the time or within 14days, you receive 10% off the next bill.

3. If you bring your horse up to the practice at Dykehead for an appointment, there is NO VISIT FEE.

4. Join the HEALTHY HORSE CLUB to make annual savings on routine preventative healthcare for your horse.

5. EARLY INTERVENTION is often more cost effective in the long run, get in touch for advice/a check up if you are worried about something.

We will always try to provide options and find the best route forward for you and your horse.

03/10/2025

In equine vet practice every day is different and often we have to be flexible with fitting in extra appointments and emergencies. To name but a few examples of the varied cases we have seen this week :

- Lameness - we have treated horses for hock, stifle and sacro-iliac osteoarthritis, DFTS tenosynovitis, SDFT injury, foot balance and laminitis.

- Colic - some unusual presentations of colic which we often see as the seasons change and we have cold nights, mild days, rain, a flush of grass and anything which unsettles our horses routine.

- Choke.

- Fractures - a pedal bone and a tibial/fibular fracture from a kick.

- Routine dentistry and vaccinations. Don’t forget to coordinate with fellow horse owners on the yard for a free visit if we see 3/more horses at the same yard at the same time.

- Sarcoids - we use a combination of minimal surgical excision, chemotherapy and cryotherapy. We see a lot of referrals and new clients for this sarcoid treatment approach.

- Gastric ulcers.

- Pre-breeding examination for a mare who sustained a vaginal tear during natural covering, assessing future suitability for artificial insemination.

- Eye injury sustained in the field.

It’s definitely keeping us on our toes! If you are wondering whether we can help or you are worried about your horse contact us on [email protected] or 0345 095 9995. (Out of hours emergencies please contact 07966 367746).

25/09/2025

Laminitis alert 🚨

We have seen a spike in laminitis cases in the last week or two with the flush of grass due to warm days plus rain. Please monitor and manage overweight or laminitis prone horses and ponies carefully.

What can you do :
- Restrict grazing and avoid lush sugary grass (especially after sunny days and cool nights).
- Soak hay (ideally for 6-8 hours, but even 1 hour or 30mins can significantly reduce non-structural carbohydrate content).
- Muzzle if necessary.
- Exercise if appropriate to increase insulin sensitivity.
- Avoid excessive rugging.
- Monitor weight regularly with a weigh tape, ask for and take note of veterinary advice on weight management. If we mention your horse is overweight at a routine visit it is because we want to help avoid future problems!
- Blood sample to test for insulin dysregulation and assess laminitis risk.
- Monitor for early signs including increased digital pulses, footsore on hard/stony ground or on tight turns.

Get in touch sooner rather than later if you are worried - 📞 0345 095 9995.

23/09/2025

Earlier this year we started putting together a client survey which we are slowly rolling out to clients seen each month (provided you haven’t already been sent the survey during a previous month). Our goal with this is to take on board client feedback and find ways to improve our veterinary practice. We are incredibly grateful to those of you who have taken the time to fill in recent surveys, the response rate has been higher than expected. We have noted some very useful and constructive feedback comments and will be taking steps to implement improvements where we can. If you are sent a survey at the end of this month (in mailchimp format on email) we would be incredibly grateful for your time taken to respond.

In the meantime, we have been blown away by some really lovely client testimonials. These make a big difference to team morale thank you 🙏

We wanted to share with you a few of these testimonials which capture the essence of the vet practice we work hard to be.

“My horses always get amazing care and attention from the team at Dukes. I never come away from an appointment feeling rushed. I always feel at ease knowing that my questions will be answered in a way I understand and any treatment options or actions plans are crystal clear. The girls in the office are fantastic and will always go the extra mile for clients to make sure our needs are met. I would have no hesitation in recommending Dukes Equine Vets to anybody looking for a first class service for their four legged friend.”

“Since we bought x the helpfulness, friendliness and professionalism of all staff has been fantastic and I couldn’t ask for more. Thank you”

“Being a smaller independent business means they have a closer relationship with their clients and their horses. Would highly recommend Dukes to anyone needing to register with an equine vet.”

“Always quick to respond, it’s easy to make an appointment and I am very confident in all the vets’ knowledge.”

19/09/2025

A Seasonal Reminder: Tree Safety Around Horse Pastures

We hope that our clients and their horses are now well settled back into the work and school routine.

As we move into autumn, we’d like to kindly ask you to take a few moments to identify any trees growing in or around the pastures where your horses are kept. This time of year brings an increased risk of toxicity from two very common trees: sycamore and oak.

🍁 Sycamore Trees

The greatest danger from sycamore trees comes from their helicopter-like seeds, which contain hypoglycin A. This toxin disrupts energy production in the horse’s muscles and can lead to a potentially fatal condition known as Atypical Myopathy.

Common symptoms to watch for:

- Muscle stiffness and weakness
- Reluctance to move
- Muscle trembling or sweating
- Dark, tea-colored urine

🌳 Oak Trees

At this time of year, the primary concern with oak trees is the ingestion of acorns, which contain tannins. These can cause serious damage to the kidneys and intestinal lining.

Signs of oak toxicity include:

- Diarrhoea
- Colic or abdominal pain
- Depression or lethargy
- Dark or bloody urine
- Swelling (especially in the legs or abdomen)

✅ What You Can Do:

▪️Fence off areas of pasture near sycamore and oak trees.
▪️Remove fallen seeds and acorns from the field daily.
▪️Monitor your horses closely for any of the symptoms listed above and contact us immediately if you notice anything unusual.

Thank you for helping us keep your horses safe and healthy during this high-risk season. As always, feel free to reach out if you need help identifying tree species or would like further advice.

17/09/2025

Some of the miniature foals from earlier this year keen for a catch up and a cuddle with Alice

01/09/2025

We’ve had lots of enquiries recently about the area we cover. The area we cover for first opinion practice is shown on the map below and comes under our standard visit charges. Remember a visit for 3/more horses at the same yard at the same time is free. We do travel outside of this area for referrals from other practices and second opinions subject to prior arrangement and an out of area visit fee.