Equine

Horses require an indepth knowledge and understanding to give them the care they need. At Highfield, our vets have been working with horses throughout their careers. From reproduction and fertility, to passports, and from vaccinations to breathing, our vets know how to treat your horse.

Routine vaccinations for tetanus and flu, herpes virus, and more as well as routine health monitoring are all fundamental to the well-being of your horse, helping them to live long healthy lives.

List of Equine Services

Lameness
Lameness issues can cause pain, worry and lost time. At Highfield our aim is to find the cause of the problem, recommend appropriate treatment and get you and your horse back to normal as soon as possible.

Passport and Microchipping
All horses born after 01 July 2009 are required by law to have a passport, and all horses born after 30 June 2009 must be microchipped.

Equine passports contain certain information relating to the horse they are attached to including microchip details, age, breed/type, markings, owner’s details and all the medications it has been given.

Microchipping is a simple, safe and quick procedure. The microchip is inserted into the crest on the left side of the neck via a needle. The microchip contains a unique number for your horse which matches their passport and the pet log database.

Pre-purchase Examinations
The pre-purchase exam (PPE or vetting) is a thorough clinical exam of the horse on behalf of the prospective purchaser to assess veterinary factors which may affect the horse’s suitability for its intended purpose.

Vaccinations
Regular vaccinations ensure that your horse has maximum protection against infectious diseases in the UK that can cause serious, and sometimes fatal, illness.

We strongly recommend that all equines are vaccinated against equine influenza and tetanus. If you wish to compete your horse in equestrian sport vaccination will be a requirement of the governing body. e.g. Under the FEI rules horses competing require a booster every 6 months +21 days.

Worming Programs
Developing a targeted and appropriate worming programme for your horse is incredibly important for their welfare. Worms are internal parasites that can do irreversible damage to the gut and other organs and be responsible for poor body condition, respiratory issues, colic and even fatalities.

Emergencies
In the event of an emergency a vet will always be available to offer advice and provide prompt veterinary attention for your horse at your premises. To access our on call vet, please call your local clinic to access the vet’s on call number which will be available on the answering machine.

Autumn Look Out: Aytypical Myopathy

Atypical myopathy (sycamore myopathy) is a severe and often fatal muscle disorder caused by horses eating sycamore seeds that fall onto fields in Autumn and Winter, and their germinating seedlings in Spring. Seeds and seedlings contain the toxin hypoglycin A (HGA) which slows or stops energy production in muscle and heart. It is fatal for around three quarters of affected horses.

Clinical Signs

General weakness : horses struggle to walk, stand and breathe
Heart problems
Horses appear depressed with low hanging heads
Muscle trembling
Signs of severe colic – yet, unlike colic, they still have an appetite
Brown or dark red urine
Severely affected horses become unable to stand

Prevention

The following steps can be taken to reduce horses’ risk to atypical myopathy:

Provide supplementary forage during Autumn
Clear fallen sycamore leaves and seeds from grazing areas
Check neighbouring areas for high risk plants/seeds (some ‘helicopter’ seeds can travel up to 200 yards)
Test for the presence of HGA in your own horses’ pastures

To enquire more about having your horses assessed for any muscular or respiratory issues please contact our Naas AMC clinic.