Dooneen Equine Veterinary Clinic

05/08/2026

Equine Influenza: Don't Wait Until It's in Your Yard

Equine influenza spreads rapidly and can affect horses of all ages, including some that have been vaccinated. Early diagnosis is essential to help protect your horses and limit the spread of disease.

Contact your veterinary surgeon promptly. Your vet can collect the appropriate samples for laboratory testing.

At the Irish Equine Centre, we provide rapid, reliable diagnostic testing to support veterinarians in confirming equine influenza and helping them make informed management decisions.

✔️ Accurate laboratory diagnosis
✔️ Fast turnaround times
✔️ Supporting equine health across Ireland and internationally

Early testing helps protect your horse, your yard and the wider equine community.

23/06/2026

🐴During the busy sales season we ask everyone to be mindful of the International Codes of Practice to help reduce the cases of equine disease and outbreak

🧼Biosecurity, hygiene, isolation and monitoring new horses are small ways to help

Scan the QR code or access the Codes of Practice via https://tinyurl.com/bdhwxa77

16/06/2026

All thoroughbred foals should be registered before July 31st to avoid increased Weatherbys fees.

These markings need to be typed up and posted and with Weatherbys by the 31st- so! Please book your appointments for any remaining foals to be marked and microchipped BEFORE 23rd July as we cannot guarantee kits being processed, posted and delivered to Weatherbys in time after this date.

16/06/2026

Free Webinar this Thursday evening - 7:30pm.

To register-

https://eventmaster.ie/event/9nlncw5HWJ

11/06/2026

Flu vaccines-
Check your governing body for minimum requirements but! If you are planning a busy schedule competing please do have a chat with your vet about moving to a six monthly program or adding an extra pre competition season booster. There is a high level of circulating virus out and about this year.

Equine influenza vaccination is effective in reducing clinical signs and virus shedding. The influenza virus circulating at present is related to the recommended vaccine strains. A booster vaccination is recommended for horses that have not been vaccinated during the last six months. Horses attending competitions and shows are most at risk, but all horses on a premises should be vaccinated irrespective of their activity.

11/06/2026

Kind of a public service announcement!

Now that summer is here ( I know - 🌧️🌧️🌧️🌧️☔️☔️☔️☔️) everyone is having a fab time going to shows and events and whatever pony parties are on. But. Please just remember some of your Covid manners - we are seeing more cases of strangles and equine influenza around the country. Mostly these diseases are irritating cause for social isolation but horses can and do get very very sick 🤧🤒( and remember a sick horse is expensive horse )

If you are planning a fabulous summer of social butterfly ponies and shows and championships galore - ESPECIALLY pony camps, festivals and overnight shows with stabling - please protect your horses and other people’s horses by being vaccinated for equine influenza and having those vaccines up to date! And keep to your own space, no horse to horse contact where possible, no sharing of buckets etc.

We can also vaccinate for strangles so please have a chat with your vet if you think that you might need a strangles vaccine program. And yes the new vaccine is far less drama and more effective than previous versions.

Be careful out there and have fun 🤩

17/05/2026

Equine nutrition is a definite minefield with a lot of contradictory advice. I was asked today about keeping condition on competition ponies - and there’s one easy answer for that one!

Top line is muscle and all your training is what really creates top line but they also need their daily fix of protein to be able to build that top line and well muscled bum ( that’s the engine!) - absolute definite go to for a balanced protein punch is the Connolly's RED MILLS Grocare. Just add to your existing feed !

As always we are happy to chat all things nutrition with our clients whether you are feeding broodmares, young stock, racehorses, eventers, pony clubbers or beloved old dears!

07/05/2026

06/05/2026

What practical steps can protect a horse from Strangles? In today’s Q&A video, Dr Abbi McGlennon explains that while situations vary, there are four key principles that any owner can consider when looking at the BEST ways to steer clear of infectious disease.

Strangles Awareness Week 2026 is brought to you by:
Redwings Horse Sanctuary
World Horse Welfare
Mare and Foal Sanctuary
British Horse Society
The Horse Trust
Dechra UK
Equine Infectious Disease Surveillance
The University of Edinburgh
Surveillance of Equine Strangles
Intervacc

06/05/2026

Plenty posts on here previously about how we really don’t recommend the dreaded “blue spray” on wounds.

Here’s a kinder, safer alternative to help with hard to bandage wounds and those ones that are ready for no bandage but still aren’t completely sealed.

On the website now https://dooneenequine.ie/webshop/

Cuvestrequin is ideal for high-movement areas like elbows, hocks, and other spots where bandages just won’t stay put. Its non-drip, waterproof gel forms a flexible barrier that protects the area while allowing your horse to move freely.
No slipping. No rubbing. No constant re-bandaging.
✨ Smarter protection for real-life situations.
👉 Available through your local vet.