Sometimes the decision for euthanasia is made for us in an emergency situation but sadly more often than not we have to make these difficult decisions and as loving horse owners it is our responsibility to choose when to say goodbye and the decision can lie heavily on our shoulders. It is my job as a vet to be there to help and support you so that you don’t feel like you have to make this decision on your own.
This has been a very busy week for us at Ridings Equine, unfortunately the spring grass and relatively hard ground have been causing a lot of problems for our lovely patients!
As previously mentioned in our 'Spring Emergencies on the Rise!' blog by Jenny, the spring grass has continued to flourish with the spells of rain and warm weather we've been having making our once bare paddocks into large sweet shops for our horses and ponies!
A reminder that although equine flu is not making the headlines all owners should still be maintaining their flu vaccines We would still recommend that ideally your horse should have a booster 6 months after their previous vaccine - or arrange a booster if it is already over 6 months since your last vaccine.
The latest update shows 9 new cases confirmed in the UK last week - and a case has been confirmed in Yorkshire earlier this month.
Well spring is definitely here and summer is on the way. It's this time of year we are getting our horses up to their peak condition and increasing their fitness. Whether you have a happy hacker, a retired friend or you are heading to Bramham next month it's so important to keep all our horses in the right condition all year round. With all horses having such different nutritional and management regimes and requirements, finding the right one for you can often seem like a complete minefield. It's not just about looking good - the right bodyweight is paramount to the health of our horses with conditions such as asthma and arthritis being more common in overweight horses. Now is a great time to try and make some changes as lighter nights mean we can spend more time with our horses and the ground is (usually!) on our side.
I can't remember an Easter as nice as the one we're currently having but the flies have come out with a vengeance! Poor Charlie gets mithered by flies particularly around his head and eyes which means each year I go through the same process of trying to find a fly spray that actually works! One trip to the saddler's and it is very overwhelming the number of options for fly control. I thought it would be useful to give my top tips when choosing a fly repellent and explain some of the most common ingredients so you can have a bit more knowledge when choosing the best for your horses.
Spring is well and truly here and with it we have seen a spike in emergency call outs. This happens every year but the type of emergencies vary depending on the weather and include foalings, colic, laminitis, wounds, lameness, eye injuries and many more. This year in particular we are seeing a higher than average number of laminitis and colic cases. Here's my thoughts on why we see these conditions more in the spring and what you can do to prevent them.
If you’re planning on breeding from your mare this season choosing the right stallion is one of the most important decisions you will have to make. You have no doubt been reading the stallion catalogues, browsing the internet and visiting the many stallion parades around the country to find the perfect match for your mare.
Despite the wild weather over the last few days the nights are drawing out, the daffodils are flowering, and Spring is definitely around the corner, plus the first events of the season are underway. If you’re still planning your 2019 competition season or you’ve got your first event under your belt, make sure you read the following tips to give you the best possible chance of success!
We are coming to the time of year when biting insects start to emerge - as the weather warms up. After last year when we think overall we saw a lot less sweet itch than usual, this year some yards have seen insects in the very warm spell we had in February! And prevention and being ready is always important.
Colic! It's not a surprise really when 1 in 3 of emergency call outs are due to colic, so it really is worth thinking about what you would do in an emergency. Colic can be a devastating thing as it comes on so quickly and the horse may be otherwise very healthy. Luckily 8/10 cases are mild and non-critical and these can be treated by your vet at your yard.
There are many different types of training aids on the market and many different opinions on them too! This blog will hopefully give you a little more insight on what you should do if you are considering using them.
Training aids are most commonly used for the following reasons –
Well we are finally have some frost and even some snow in Yorkshire this week! It's been very cold and the mud seems to be just about everywhere now. Changing conditions make it difficult for the foot to adapt quickly we are seeing a lots of conditions related to the weather such as foot abscesses, hoof wall cracks and thrush.
