Abbey Equine Clinic

18/10/2023

06/04/2023

The office will be closed for the bank holiday weekend (Friday-Monday) but we will be open for emergencies. If you have any problems please call us on 01873840069.

Happy Easter everyone! 🐣

27/03/2023

This week we're talking all things physio! 🐴

Regular physiotherapy is an essential part of any horse’s management. It can help support competition fitness, as well as happy hackers and retirees, it can aid maintenance of ongoing conditions, but is also important in rehabilitation following injury or a surgical procedure.

Maintenance physiotherapy focuses on posture, suppleness, balance and range of motion. By improving all these it allows the horse to activate and engage the right muscles, building strength and improving performance. It can also help prevent injury through identification of changes before they become a problem. Where there is an ongoing condition, such as osteoarthritis, regular physio aims to support and strengthen the muscles associated with the affected joints, as well as address compensations in other areas of the body. It can improve joint range of motion and also help alleviate pain related to the arthritis.

Rehabilitation physiotherapy following surgery or injury aims to gradually reintroduce work in a safe and controlled manner, while addressing pain and compensations to preserve a happy, balanced and strong horse. These programmes are generally of an extended duration but are tailored specifically to the individual.

Our very own vet, Helen Vaughan, is a qualified physiotherapist, if you would like to get your horse booked in then CALL the clinic on 01873 840069.

24/03/2023

We are often asked about the difference between the two main forms of Strangles testing, so here is a quick lowdown! 🐴

🔴 Blood testing
The blood test identifies antibodies to the S. equi antigens (Strangles bacteria) in the horse. In practice the blood test is used to identify both carriers and recently infected horses. If the test is positive the horse is likely to have been in contact with Strangles in the recent past. However, further tests are then required to confirm if the horse is actually contagious, recovering from the disease or is a carrier. Therefore, whilst a blood test is quick and easy, the results must be
interpreted carefully.

🔴 Guttural Pouch Sampling/“Wash”
This test is useful to determine the true and current disease status of a horse. It may be used as either a follow-up to a positive blood test result, to test the current disease status of a horse, or to see whether or not a horse which has recently suffered from Strangles infection has fully recovered from the disease. One positive sample result is indicative of a true positive Strangles case (no further testing required until after treatment) and similarly one negative result is indicative of a clear result with no further testing required. This makes it a very useful diagnostic tool.

If you would like more information, CALL the clinic on 01873 840069.

22/03/2023

Just a reminder of our terms of business. 🐴

When booking your appointment, our phone message does remind all clients that all services are payable on the day of consultation.

Please note when our receptionists call you about your bill, they are just doing their job, please don't take it personally. Thankyou for taking the time to read this post.

20/03/2023

Is your yard hard to find? Help us find you as quickly as possible in an emergency by sharing with us your what 3 words location when you book your appointment. 🌎

Every 3 metre square of the world has been given a unique combination of three words.

Our what3words: nuzzling.attic.full
Find out your what3words location: https://what3words.com/

17/03/2023

WHAT TESTS WILL MY MARE NEED? 🤔

Most studs will want to be sure any visiting mares are not going to pass on any venereally transmitted diseases to their stallion and they are likely to require documented evidence that they are free from specific diseases.

Testing requires a cl****al swab for CEM (Contagious Equine Metritis) and a blood sample for EVA (Equine Viral Arteritis). Sometimes other tests may be required, such as a uterine swab. Some studs also require Strangles testing. Results normally take 5-7 days and you will receive your certificate for the breeding season.

Please get in touch if you would like some more information on the stud packages we offer.

15/03/2023

IS MY MARE SUITABLE TO BREED FROM? 🤔

Temperament, confirmation, age and body condition of your mare are all factors which need to be considered. We also advise your mare to be up to date with worming, flu and tetanus vaccinations.

We would recommend a pre-breeding reproductive examination so the vet can assess your mare's suitability and whether there are any reproductive concerns that could affect her fertility. This will normally include examination of the v***a, va**na, cervix and udder and ultrasonography via the re**um to examine the uterus and ovaries. This is also a good time to carry out any pre-breeding laboratory tests that may be required.

Call us on 01873 840069 for more information.

13/03/2023

LOVE IS IN THE AIR! 😍

After a very successful 2022 stud season, our stud vets are rolling up their sleeves and donning the big orange gloves ready for the season ahead.

Our stud packages have been designed to include all routine procedures and drugs required for successful insemination and therefore allow clients to budget for these costs.

There are many factors to consider when breeding from your mare. Over the next few months we will be explaining the process step by step if you are thinking about putting your mare in foal.

10/03/2023

Just a reminder that despite the weather we have been faced with this week... Spring is on its way! 🐴

And only 3 weeks until the clocks spring forward - we've got this 💪

03/03/2023

🐴 FREE EQUINE HEALTH CLINICS - LAST CHANCE - APPLY BY THE 10th MARCH 🐴

Arwain DGC is a project designed to help equine owners and vets to reduce the need for antimicrobials, such as antibiotics.

The free clinics provided under the scheme is to focus on horses’ health and what preventative measures you can take to ensure they stay healthy.

If you would like some more information on the clinics available then please don’t hesitate to contact the office on 01873 840069 or visit the Arwain DGC website.

https://menterabusnes.cymru/arwaindgc/equine-health-clinics/

27/02/2023

Why do we poo pick?

⬇️ Decrease the worm burden
- By poo picking, you will considerably reduce the number of parasites in your fields, as worm eggs thrive in horse poo.

🌱 Grass quality
- When piles of manure are left on the field, vegetation is destroyed and bare patches appear in the field.

🪰 Flies
- Droppings will inevitably attract flies, the bites of these insects are painful and spread disease.

⚠️ Spot poisonous plants
- While you're poo picking it's prime time to keep a lookout for poisonous plants, such as ragwort.