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Equine Health
Keeping your horse or pony calm
It’s that time of year again for fireworks. Whilst many of us enjoy the fun and spectacle of bonfires, bright lights and bangers, we should not lose sight of the fact that our horses, ponies and household pets do not share our delight. For those us with animals, bonfires and fireworks are a serious cause...
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Biosecurity when travelling your horse to shows and competitions
Spring has arrived and meeting friends, competing and socialising is happily once again the norm and preventing or minimising the spread of disease amongst our animals is an animal health and welfare priority. The costs and disruption of straightforward preventative measures are significantly less than the cost of treating disease once it takes hold. We...
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Bonfires, fireworks and smoke frighten horses and ponies
Fireworks, bonfires, smoke and sudden loud noises do not mix well with horses and ponies – or other animals. Large organised fireworks displays and bonfire parties are almost upon us again for Guy Fawkes night and the Diwali Festival of Lights which is traditionally accompanied by colourful lanterns and fireworks. For those us with animals,...
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Oak, acorns and oak leaves contain tannins which are toxic to horses and ponies. Acorn and sycamore seed poisoning can be fatal for horses and ponies.
Autumn has arrived bringing with it two seasonal poison hazards for horses and ponies – sycamore seeds or ‘helicopters’, and acorns. Atypical myopathy (sycamore poisoning or seasonal pasture myopathy) is a disease caused by the ingestion of sycamore seeds, seedlings or leaves and is often fatal in horses and ponies. Acorn poisoning requires urgent veterinary...
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Equine Influenza vaccine
British Equestrian (BEF) has issued a further update to the statement released jointly with British Equestrian Veterinary Association (BEVA) and the British Horseracing Authority (BHA) on 17 August, confirming that there are supply problems with equine influenza doses of Boehringer Ingelheim’s Proteq product. A Europe-wide issue, impacting the UK first This is a Europe-wide issue, but the shortage...
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How to care for and keep your horse or pony cool in a heatwave
A severe heatwave is forecast by the meteorological office. So now is the time to plan how you are going to keep your horse or pony cool in the exceptionally high temperatures this summer. Be aware of the early signs of heat stroke or heat exhaustion in your horse or pony as, just like us,...
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Fireworks and fire can frighten horses and ponies. It is important to keep horses and ponies calm and relaxed at times of stress.
Now that COVID-19 restrictions are easing, large organised fireworks displays and bonfire parties are likely to return this November. The Diwali Festival of Lights takes place on 4 November this year and will be accompanied by colourful lanterns and fireworks. Bonfires and fireworks remain a perennial and serious cause for concern for those of us...
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Isolation of infected horses and rigorously enforced bio-security is essential to the effective management of strangles
Taking measures to prevent, or minimise the spread of, disease is an animal health and welfare priority. Invariably the costs and disruption of planned preventative measures are significantly less than those associated with treating the disease once it takes hold. The clinical signs of strangles and how it spreads are detailed in All About Strangles...
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Strangles in horses. Taking nasal swabs for PCR testing for Streptococcus equi equi infection
Strangles is caused by a bacteria called Streptococcus equi. subspecies equi. It is a common, highly contagious infection of a horse’s upper respiratory tract. Strangles can cause large abscesses to form, make swallowing difficult, restricting breathing and is both painful and distressing for the infected horse or pony. Whilst the disease often causes considerable suffering...
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Ragwort is highly toxic to horses and ponies and should be dug up and removed from grazing pasture.
The abundant bright yellow flowers of the common ragwort (Senecio jacobaea) seem to be everywhere at the moment – certainly in Hertfordshire ragwort seems to be flourishing to a markedly greater extent than in recent years. Ragwort is toxic to horses and ponies and must be removed from pasture as a matter of priority. Ideally...
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