Dukes Equine Vets

14/05/2026

TEAM ZARA WON BUT WHO IS COMING SECOND?
Our first of 3 embryo transfer siblings was born this morning. A smart little filly but who’s going to be next. Zara was due today and foaled this morning. Sally is also due today (340 days gestation) but has not waxed up yet although she looks ready. Maggie is 326 days gestation today and has waxed up slightly this morning. Gestation length in mares is quite variable. We usually say 340 days +/- 10 but only 70% of mares foal in this window. Below 320 days foals are not usually viable but from around 324 days onwards are usually fine. Some mares can easily go 365 days or more and have a perfectly normal foal but hopefully they’ll both foal sooner rather than later. So come on! Who’s going to be next to foal?

12/05/2026

Which mare is going to foal first?
All three mares are embryo transfer recipients carrying three foals from the same donor mare. The black mare, Zara, on the left and the chestnut in the middle, Sally, are both due this Thursday the 14th. Maggie, the chestnut on the right is due on the 28th of this month. Zara has been waxed up for three days, Sally has a full udder but no wax and Maggie looks about two weeks behind the others. But which mare is going to foal first?

03/05/2026

Who else spent the bank holiday weekend trying to secure the fencing for a naughty pony who pays little regard to electricity or rope. Very keen to help, less keen to stay on the right side of the fence. If you are struggling to manage your horse or ponies restricted grazing, we can certainly relate! 🤦🏼‍♀️

https://www.instagram.com/reel/DX4_YIzoYoX/?igsh=MW9xNGc3Z2pqZW0waQ==

28/04/2026

The lovely The Red Mare had a thorough dental check over with the oral endoscope and some radiographs, after some changes were picked up on her routine dental examination. We found some age related changes in the teeth but no current clinical indication for tooth extraction at this stage. This will be monitored at her regular dental examinations and if anything changes then we can re-think the plan. However, sometimes doing less is more!

22/04/2026

The breeding season is underway and the first mares are arriving at Dykehead this week for stud services. We offer AI (artificial insemination rather than artificial intelligence if you work with horses!) with fresh, chilled and frozen semen, embryo transfer, pregnancy scans plus semen collection and shipping services. Please get in touch with the office on [email protected] or 0345 095 9995 for further information and the price list if you are thinking of breeding from your mare this year.

17/04/2026

Equine vet tip: sheath cleaning is about comfort, not over-cleaning.

Most horses don’t need frequent full cleans, in fact excessive cleaning can irritate the skin and remove the commensal healthy bacteria which usually protect the area from harmful bacteria. However, they do need checked if there are signs of discomfort, for example straining to urinate, dribbling urine, frequent urination, swollen sheath or behavioural signs of discomfort such as kicking at sheath. We check for excess sm**ma, beans, irritation, and any abnormal growths or sores. A ‘bean’ is a hardened plug of sm**ma that can sit in a fossa near the tip of the p***s and cause discomfort or trouble urinating. Gentle, sensible hygiene wins every time. We use just warm water and soft cotton wool, and avoid using cleaning products or hibiscrub. The aim is to remove dirt and excess sm**ma, not to make the sheath sterile.

Thank you HorseBack UK for filming this glamorous part of the job as we removed a sm**ma bean from a pony who was dribbling urine.

08/04/2026

Joint Injections – What, Why, and How We Do It Safely 💉🐴

As equine vets, one of the most common questions we get is about joint injections - when they’re used, what’s in them, and how do we make sure they’re the right choice for your horse.

Why do we inject joints :
Joint injections are designed to reduce inflammation, ease discomfort, and improve mobility, especially in horses managing wear-and-tear or osteoarthritic changes. They can make a real difference in a horse’s comfort and performance, whether you’re hacking at home or competing regularly.

What’s in the injection :
There are a few options. We might use corticosteroids to calm inflammation, hyaluronic acid to support joint lubrication or Arthramid to support the joints internal structures. There are also newer biologic treatments that harness your horse’s own healing factors. The choice depends on the joint involved, the horse’s age, workload, and previous response.

What are the risks?
Every injection carries a small risk of joint infection (septic arthritis), flare reactions, or bleeding. We minimise those risks by working in a sterile environment, using clean techniques, selecting the right product, and ensuring your horse gets the appropriate aftercare and rest.

Why do we examine first:
Before any joint injection, we’ll perform a clinical exam and at least a trot-up to confirm the problem actually stems from that joint and establish a baseline for soundness. Lameness can be complex, and injections only help when we’ve identified the correct source of pain. Our aim is to get your horse feeling their best and performing comfortably for the long term.

Have questions about your horse’s joints or whether injections might help? We are always happy to discuss options and work out a suitable integrated management plan with joint injections which are appropriate for your horse.

25/03/2026

Spring is sort of here, in between the snow showers, and so it’s time to think about worms! Apologies if you are eating lunch whilst scrolling and find yourself looking at small redworms swimming around in horse poo.

Excessive worm burdens can result in significant clinical disease, including weight loss, diarrhoea, colic, and in severe cases, intestinal damage, obstruction and death.

We have recently undertaken a comprehensive review of the latest research and evolving veterinary guidelines on equine parasite control. As a result, we have updated our Strategic Worm Control Programme to better balance the risks of clinical parasitism, anthelmintic resistance, cost-effectiveness, and owner compliance.

In Spring, ie around March time, we recommend doing a faecal worm egg count and a tapeworm saliva test. Alongside an assessment of your horses risk level, this will help us to provide appropriate advice on whether your horse needs wormed and which anthelmintic is appropriate.

Please get in touch with the office on 0345 095 9995 or [email protected] to request a copy of our updated Strategic Worm Control Program. We can also send out worm egg count kits and tapeworm saliva test kits.

20/03/2026

This is a fantastic opportunity to get an accurate measurement of your horse or ponies weight. We are already seeing a lot of laminitis cases for this time of year and some horses coming out of winter very overweight. It is much better to tackle weight issues proactively with diet and management changes, then use medication if necessary, rather than dealing reactively to the potentially fatal consequences of laminitis. Let’s get them weighed and make the changes necessary to look after our horses health. 🙌 🙌

Did someone say it’s springtime 🌺
I am now offering weigh sessions at your yard!!

Why is an accurate weight important?

✅Makes sure your horse or pony is receiving enough forage while on restricted rations for weight loss. This is important in cases of laminitis, EMS and arthritis management

✅ Correct administration of wormers and antibiotics to help combat resistance

✅Accurate administration of sedative/drug dosage if your horse or pony requires vet care

Can anyone guess the weight of this fluffy pony?