News
Busy day for Hannah at British Carriagedriving National Championships in Cirencester Park - 115 teams to be vet checked. Cross country is an amazing spectacle, entry is free, and goes on until 5 pm today.
Summer may be coming to an end but we are still hearing reports of lots of itchy horses and ponies! Cutasol is a brand new product to the market aimed at horses suffering from Sweet Itch. It is the only foam product targeting this condition but due to its unique formula it is also ideal for soothing, hydrating and repairing the skin and hair of horses suffering from general 'itchiness'. One can will produce 9 litres of product so it will certainly last until next season as well! Please contact us if you are interested in purchasing a bottle (£36.80 for 300ml).
**UPDATE** This has now been resolved - apologies for any inconvenience.
**Phone line disruption** BT are having widespread issues with certain phone numbers and at present our office number is unfortunately affected. We have obviously escalated this issue with BT and hope to have it resolved as soon as possible but in the meantime if you need to contact the office please use the emergency number - 07796 338979. We will update you again when we can.
Are you worried about Cushing's disease? Has your horse had an ACTH test this year? Are you aware of the Talk About Laminitis scheme? Boehringer have increased their support on this scheme which means any horses and ponies that are currently receiving treatment for Cushing's disease can also benefit from a free* ACTH test before 31st October 2017 (providing they have not already had a free test this year). Why not take the opportunity to ensure your horse is receiving the correct dose of medication? Check out the TAL website where there is loads of useful information about this condition including signs to look out for and ongoing management once your horse has been diagnosed. Last year over 80% of the horses we tested were positive for this condition and as many as 9 out of 10 laminitis cases are caused by an underlying hormonal disease, indicating how important it is to test your horse or pony if you have any concerns or they are in the 'at risk' category (showing clinical signs and/or over 10 years of age with laminitis). Please contact us if you would like to have this worthwhile test carried out. (*lab test provided free of charge but charges will still apply for taking/processing the sample and examination of your horse where appropriate)
www.talkaboutlaminitis.co.uk/laminitis
#FridayFactsheets Here is the latest factsheet written by our vet, Hannah, providing information on splints. We hope you find these factsheets informative and if you have a topic you would like to see covered in future please let us know!
Are you interested in thermal imaging and the changes in skin temperature under boots or bandages during exercise? If so then read on! Last year Hannah carried out a study looking at tendon thermoregulation and here is the (very) abbreviated version of her paper:
One of the most common reasons for lameness found in performance horses is superficial digital flexor tendon (SDFT) injuries. It has been studied and hypothesised that these tendon injuries mostly occur from the chronic overheating of tendons during and post exercise, and not from an acute injury. The continuous small bouts of hyperthermia change the function of the tendon cells which leads to tendon degradation over time. The heat produced from the tendons during exercise gets emitted to the skin to cool down. In this study, thermal imaging was used to compare the effects bandages and boots worn during exercise have on the skin temperature at the region of the SDFT in polo ponies.
For one summer season, thermal images were taken of polo ponies before and immediately after they played a full chukka. The temperature differences for each pony were recorded and statistically analysed. The results showed that polo bandages caused a statistically significant higher increase in temperature than boots (see image and table below), suggesting that modern day boot designs are superior to polo bandages in limb thermoregulation.
Other studies have shown that cooling the limb externally showed a parallel decrease in tendon core temperature and it is therefore reasonable to suggest that the core temperature would similarly increase if the external limb temperature is heated.
With all this in mind, it is beneficial to ensure your horse's tendons are cooled as quickly as possible post strenuous exercise to aide in prevention of prolonged tendon hyperthermia.
Are you a supporter of the practice and the care that we provide to your horses? If so your help would be gratefully appreciated.
We recently applied for planning permission for use of the building on Fourways Farm as our practice office. This has, however, met with local opposition with a number of respondees questioning the need for and location of the practice.
So, if you would like to see the practice continue to operate then please make a comment on the Stroud District Council website at www.stroud.gov.uk/apps/planning using planning reference S.17/1416/FUL
There is also a local residents' meeting in Bisley WI Hall this evening at 7.30 pm. Any support would be invaluable.
Much of the adverse comments about the practice appear to be prejudiced by our plans to have an equine incinerator at Fourways Farm. We have identified a clear need for local disposal facilities since horses currently undergoing routine (as opposed to 'ashes back') cremation are deposited at a depot in Tewkesbury and then transferred to an incinerator in Cambridge, or are stored in refridgerated units and collected weekly for disposal.
The incinerator we plan to install has a low throughput with zero emissions, noise or smell. Its capacity is limited to 10-14 horses per week that will be collected using an approved deadstock trailer. There will thus be minimal increase in vehicular traffic to Fourways Farm. The planning application for this is being dealt with by Gloucestershire County Council.
Search and comment on planning applications
stroud.gov.uk
You can get up to date information on a planning application, see how your application is progressing, make a comment or view decision notices by using our planning application search system | Stroud District Council
We are very excited to welcome Hannah Anderson to the team as an assistant veterinary surgeon! Hannah graduated from the Royal (Dick) Veterinary School in Edinburgh and her special interests include sports horse medicine, poor performance, and reproduction. Prior to her veterinary degree, Hannah trained horses and competed internationally up to 1.50m level in show jumping alongside Olympic medalists. She also holds a Biology degree from Berry College in Georgia, USA and will shortly have a certificate in veterinary acupuncture. Hannah has spent time at the Palm Beach Equine Clinic in Wellington, USA, where she was involved in lameness and pre-purchase examinations. In her spare time she is an avid polo player, runner, and still enjoys producing young show jumpers. Hannah is looking forward to meeting you and your equine partners over the coming months.
Have you checked out our new website yet? We have added some factsheets including this one on Cushing's Disease/PPID and don't forget that ACTH tests are currently free* so please contact us if you would like to book an appointment for your horse to be tested.
*Conditions apply. Only the lab test is free; charges for taking the sample will still apply.
www.waterlaneequinevets.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/Waterlane-Cushings.pdf
Freya and Oscar flying the Waterlane Equine flag at Dauntsey today, double clear and 6th in BE100 class. Well done to both. Over to Laura and Molly tomorrow!