Summerleaze Equine Vets

29/08/2026

COLIC WARNING
Unfortunately with the change in weather the risk of your horse or donkey developing colic increases, so it is important to remain vigilant and to ring us as soon as you are concerned your horse might have colic. It’s not always possible to prevent a horse having colic but the sooner we can respond to one, the better the outcome.

Signs that your horse may have colic can include:
🐴Rolling
🐴looking at their flank
🐴kicking up at their abdomen
🐴lying down
🐴pawing at the ground
🐴not wanting to eat
🐴 biting their abdomen
🐴 restlessness
🐴breathing rapidly at rest
🐴 having a high heart rate at rest

In order to prevent colics you can:
🐴make sure your horse always has access to plenty of fresh water.
🐴soak hard feed that requires soaking
🐴ensure your horse has regular dentals
🐴ensure your horse is up to date with worming
🐴 ensure your horse always gets to move around each day either by turning them out, exercising them or walking them in hand
🐴reduce exposure to possible toxins such as acorns

For more information on colic please take a look at our video discussing colic

https://youtu.be/GWgqomNY8ds

And our previous newsletter on colic:

https://www.summerleaze-vets.co.uk/documents/equine-aug21.pdf?fbclid=IwAR22cRIvoOiKJseon8Fl-ieMfESjKq1UWrmkOCFA5hAfUIcsBsO71959hz8

If you are ever worried your horse has colic please call us on 01297304007

28/08/2026

Please be aware the slip road into the practice is temporarily closed this morning. You can still access the practice coming off the A35 from Kilmington. You may need to ask the workmen to open the barrier to let you in.

25/08/2026

One of the diseases we commonly vaccinate for is Tetanus. Tetanus is fatal in 50-75% of cases.

It isn’t passed from horse to horse hence it isn’t required by different competition bodies to compete but is caused by a bacteria Clostridium Tetani that is found in the soil. Horses often contract tetanus from contaminated wounds but this can include very small wounds that wouldn’t otherwise be spotted hence it is so important for your horse to already be vaccinated for tetanus. If your horse does develop a wound and is unvaccinated or their vaccines have lapsed, we can give tetanus antitoxin but we need to do so before your horse shows any signs of tetanus. However due to the very limited self-life of tetanus anti toxin, the cost of this one-off treatment is more than the cost of 14 tetanus vaccinations, which could have covered your horse for more than 25 years! The tetanus anti toxin only provides cover for 3 weeks.

Signs of tetanus can include:

🐴Muscle stiffness resulting in a ‘rocking horse’ stance and ‘lock-jaw’
🐴Difficulty moving and eating
🐴Protrusion of the third eyelid
🐴Seizures
🐴Recumbent and unable to stand
🐴Tail held straight out
🐴The horse has an anxious expression due to muscle spasm
🐴Sweating
🐴Respiratory failure

Most of the time we use a combination vaccination for tetanus and influenza. But we can vaccinate for just tetanus in which case the primary cause only requires two vaccines 4-6 weeks apart another vaccine approximately a year later and then a vaccination once every two years. It is also recommended to vaccinate pregnant mares a month prior to foaling to improve the level of antibodies to tetanus passed to the foal in their colostrum.

For more information on tetanus please see our February 23 newsletter:

https://www.summerleaze-vets.co.uk/documents/feb23.pdf

If you would like any more information on vaccinations please feel free to contact the practice on 01297304007

24/08/2026

Join us for a free client evening on:
Recognizing pain, care of the older horse and the euthanasia: when is the right time
At Curland Equestrian TA3 5SD
17th September
Please bring a chair
Open to all
RSVP to 01297304007 or [email protected]

22/08/2026

Have you spotted our own Stuart Altoft this month on the tv?
Stuart discusses his favourite topic equine dentistry at the wonderful World Horse Welfare on ITV’s Inside the Vets!
To watch, please see the episode from the 9th August, Stuart appears about half way through: https://www.itv.com/watch/fern-britton-inside-the-vets/10a6395/10a6395a0012

22/08/2026

Getting a new arrival? With all of the infectious diseases that have been circulating this year, isolation of new arrivals is key to helping keep your equines safe.
Please see our YouTube video on points to consider:

https://youtu.be/j8Ebqn2Cnjg

If you have any further questions please don’t hesitate to contact us on 012973004007 or [email protected]

A video discussing the steps you should be thinking about when brin...

21/08/2026

It’s important to remember even these little guys get orthopedic issues and to manage their pain levels as appropriate for that pony. It’s great to be able to work with Munchkins Miniature Shetland Rescue to help keep their herd happy and healthy

19/08/2026

Sometimes horses or donkeys may need oral medication to be given directly, possibly they don’t enjoy the taste in their feed, it needs to be given on an empty stomach or it’s important to know they have had all of the dose.
We have created a how to give oral medication to try to help on YouTube, attached below where our wonderful Alice explains how:

A video of vet Alice from Summerleaze Equine Vets on how to give or...

18/08/2026

Warning with rain comes grass growth!

We may be being optimistic about grass growth but with most pastures having been scorched this season it’s been easier to relax about turn out, as the rain hits it’s important to remember the risks posed.

Laminitis although typically more of a risk to good doers, it can affect any horse, pony or donkey. So it is important to be on the look out for your pony being reluctant to move, lameness, not wanting to stand, “footiness” and any increase in their digital pulses and to call out your vet if you have any concerns.

For more information on laminitis take a look at our website:
https://www.summerleaze-vets.co.uk/Laminitis1604.html

One way of identifying laminitis is to feel if their digital pulses have changed. Please see our YouTube video where Stuart describes how to find them:

https://youtu.be/2MD6OlVAsLk

But please be aware changes to digital pulses can also be due other things such as foot bruising or an abscess not just laminitis.