For your animal family I offer a gentle release of the soul in the familiarity of their home. Epona Vet, owned and operated by veterinarian, Dr Charlotte Patterson-Green, is the culmination of 15 years in clinical veterinary practice and a lifetime love of animals. SERVICES
EQUINE DENTISTRY
Epona Vet provides a fully mobile Equine Dental service allowing your horse to be treated in the familiari
ty of their own surroundings. AT HOME EUTHANASIA FOR PETS, HORSES AND FARM ANIMAL PETS
Over the years Charlotte has been asked on many occasions, whilst on veterinary visits, whether she is able to euthanize the old goat, sick farm dog or elderly cat. She came to realise that their was a need for this service and decided that Epona Vet would fulfil this need. Having worked in clinical practice for many years and as an owner of much-loved animals, Charlotte understands how difficult it is to say goodbye to your animal family. Euthanasia at home allows you to say goodbye in private. It also provides the most familiar and reassuring place for your pet to peacefully leave this earth without unnecessary anxiety that can be associated with visiting a veterinary clinic. At Home Euthanasia is available to all animals including farm pets, horses, cats and dogs. Unfortunately, euthanasia cannot be carried out on an emergency basis. This service is for old, terminally ill or chronically unwell animals that have a diminished quality of life. To enquire about At Home Euthanasia please give Charlotte a call or send a private message via the Epona Vet page. With no obligation or judgement Charlotte will discuss the process with you over the phone and answer any questions you may have. (Non-emergency) for all species of pet, from horses and farm pets to cats, dogs and rabbits. ABOUT -DR CHARLOTTE PATTERSON-GREEN BVMS
Charlotte graduated from Glasgow University Vet School in 2007 and emigrated to NZ shortly after graduation to start her career as an ambulatory equine vet in Christchurch. Charlotte has since worked as both a companion animal and equine veterinarian and has settled in beautiful Marlborough. She has a special interest in equine dentistry and is trained by the EVDS (Equine Veterinary Dental Society) in Australia. Charlotte lives in Marlborough with her husband and two children. She has a horse called Alaska, three cats and two dogs. In her spare time Charlotte likes to horse trek in Marlborough’s high country in summer and rides with Starborough Hunt in the winter. EQUINE DENTISTRY
Why choose an Equine Vet to perform Dentistry in your horse? A dental with Epona Vet means choosing an Equine Veterinary Professional who not only understands the oral cavity but the whole body of your horse. This holistic approach allows Charlotte to piece together a general picture of your horse’s wellness of which dentistry plays an integral component. Only a Veterinarian is licensed to administer any sedatives required for procedures or prescribe medications such as pain relief or antibiotics for dental conditions. Should a dental emergency arise a dental vet provides an after-hours service to tend for your horses needs. Many non-veterinary dentists travel into an area to perform as many dentals as possible in a short space of time and then leave. Epona Vet remains in the area and is here for your horse if required. Epona Vet is a local service provider therefore the money you invest in your horse’s teeth stays in the community. A local service sponsors local events and has an incentive to keep their community happy. Vets can only practice in NZ if they are registered with the VCNZ (Veterinary Council of NZ). The VCNZ is here to make sure veterinary standards are maintained in NZ and insist that veterinarians remain current by demonstrating continuous progressive development annually. In short, vets are constantly learning and upskilling to provide the very best in equine dental care. The VCNZ is a professional body that allows clients to make complaints if they feel that their veterinarian has underperformed OR has acted outside the Codes of Professional Conduct. No such body exists for non-veterinary dentists, you cannot hold them accountable for their work. Charlotte is registered with the VCNZ and is a member of the NZVA (NZ Veterinary Association ), NZEVA (NZ Equine Veterinary Association )and the EVDS ( Equine Veterinary Dental Society ). This means that she has the most current scientifically researched protocols and procedures available to her as well as access to some of the best equine veterinary dental courses in the World. An Epona Vet dental isn’t simply about rasping teeth. The discipline of equine dentistry involves the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of equine dental conditions and diseases that affect the oral cavity and jaws. It has always been an integral component of equine veterinary practice. The procedures performed by Epona Vet Equine Dentistry include removal of sharp enamel points, removal of hooks and protrusions, extraction of wolf teeth, removal of retained caps, creating bit seats, treatment of malocclusions, reduction of canine teeth, reshaping teeth and balancing the arcades, treatment and prophylaxis for periodontal disease.(suggest making these bullet points)
Does my horse require sedation? Veterinary dentistry, just like human dentistry, has become an area of medicine requiring specialised education, equipment and abilities and the bar is continually being raised. Modern equine dentistry cannot be performed without adequate sedation, a full mouth speculum, a dental pick, a dental mirror, and a good light source to fully assess the mouth. Why not make use of the dental sedation and “piggyback” an additional procedure post dental such as a sheath clean in geldings, clipping, foot trimming in youngsters, branding of weanlings or mane and tail pulling. How often should your horse have a dental? Horses will suffer silently from dental disease so it is important to have regular check-ups to ensure their mouth is healthy. Aged 0-5 years-At least every 6 months
Aged 5-13 years -At least annually
Aged 13 plus-At least every 6 months
The above is a general guide and your horse should be examined if they are showing any signs of dental disease. What are The signs of Dental Disease ? Poor performance/under-performance
Quidding – dropping feed
Halitosis (bad breath)
Weight loss
Reduced appetite, slow eating
Food packing in cheeks
Long stems of fibre (hay) in faeces
Nasal discharge (especially if one sided)
Difficulties when ridden e.g. abnormal head carriage
Do Wolf Teeth require Extraction? Approximately 70% of horses develop wolf teeth erupting between 5-12 months of age. Wolf teeth are a vestigial tooth and probably date back to when horses were much smaller, forest-dwelling browsers. They are not involved in the chewing process and are therefore no longer useful to the modern- day horse. It is deemed normal practice to extract wolf teeth in horses that are ridden or driven with a bit. This prevents any issue with the bit contacting the wolf tooth and allows access to the second premolar so that it can be contoured smooth making it comfortable on the cheeks when they are pulled back by the bit. This process is called bit-seating and something that Charlotte performs routinely. Charlotte will check for wolf tooth development on oral examination and if present, will remove them at the owners request under sedation, local anesthetic and administer a tetanus antitoxin if required. Where does the Dental take place? Epona Vet provides a fully mobile service allowing your horse to be treated in the familiarity of their own surroundings, or if you would prefer, Charlotte can meet you at Waterlea Racecourse in Blenheim with zero travel fee. Why use Horse Stocks? Using a horse stock provides support and safety to your horse during treatment. The stocks also carry water and power required for equine dentistry. The stocks can be erected on any flat surface and therefore yards or stables are not required. This means that a professional and comprehensive dental can be carried out in a paddock without any additional facilities. Performing dentistry in an unrestrained horse is dangerous and is not recommended by the EVDS. Epona Vet uses Equistill stocks. Equistill stocks allow horses to be easily released with a simple flick of a handle which causes the entire side of the stocks to open. Your horse does not need to be backed out of the stocks or negotiate any poles on their exit. The stocks also allow the use of a dental halter which can be raised or lowered adjusting your horses head height allowing for proper visualization. Hand Tools versus Power Tools
Any tool used on a horse's mouth is only as dangerous as the hands that drive it. The same can be said for a surgery scalpel. In the hands of experts, they can save lives, but in the hands of an uneducated and inexperienced operator, they can be lethal. Whether using power tools or hand tools, ALL horses receive a full dental examination with a full speculum, sedation, dental pick, a good mouth light and dental mirror. All dental findings are recorded on a written dental chart and a copy is left with the owner for their future reference. In terms of dentistry, it is always better to remove the least amount of tooth as possible to achieve the desired effect. In most cases, this is simply the sharp enamel point, along with some rounded bevelling up of those edges, so that the sharp points don't return for 6-12 months (depending on age and diet). Thus, the horse is comfortable whilst eating and when bitted up. In good hands, the PowerFloat tool is gentler, more effective, efficient, precise, thorough and affords a far better job. It also allows a wider range of corrective procedures to be done. For example, the treatment of periodontal disease (which affects 60 % of horses over 15 years of age), impacted teeth in young horses etc. Charlotte uses a top of the range powerfloat tool imported from Australia for 90% of her work for the above reasons. Referral
For dental X-rays and advanced surgical procedures of the mouth Charlotte refers cases to Dr Julian Shorten BVMS MANZCVS of Keelah Vets based on the West Coast. Julian has the equipment to carry out these procedures and a wealth of experience. Often these procedures can be timed for when Julian visits Nelson.
