Our Blog
The importance of fitness and nutrition:
It is important that we prepare our horses correctly to ensure they stand up to the work we are asking of them. Fitness: Its important that you build the fitness of your horse. Below is a short list of what you should be doing to build fitness: Preparation before you...
Community spirit
Shelley was asked to read to some local school children this week. This was to show the importance of reading and what jobs it can take you into. Shelley decided that she would try and stick with the Vet theme (quite hard to do) and decided to read the "wonky donkey"....
Other toxic plants:
Buttercups: These are a common sight across the rolling hills of staffordshire. Buttercups thrive on poor horse poor ground and whilst they are usually not tempting to horses we do find that if grazing is restricted that horses will eat them. Toxins are...
Acorns and oak:
Acorns and therefore Oak trees are poisonous to horses. This is most commonly seen in the autumn months when grazing is at a premium. Toxins present: Gallic Acid Tannic Acid Can cause damage to kidneys, intestines and liver if the acorns, the branches and leaves are...
Sycamore and other acers
This is known as a seasonal toxin. It is thought that the helicopter seeds in autumn, and the saplings in spring, contain Hypoglycin-A that causes atypical myopathy in horses. Not all seeds or saplings will have the same amount of the toxin in them therefore...
Ragwort – The yellow killer.
Ragwort when it is fresh and growing has a very bitter taste. This means that horse’s are unlikely to eat it unless limited grazing is available. It tends to grow tall and when it is knocked down and becomes dried, it is more palatable to equines. This is...
Vaccinations – why do we do it?
Routine vaccinations allow us to take our horses out and about safely. There are diseases that we can't easily vaccinate for (strangles) and therefore when out and about mixing with horses from different yards it is important to maintain biosecurity to ensure...
Impaction Colic:
We have been busy with impaction colic's over the last few weeks and with more storms and changeable weather to come, that unfortunately we will be seeing more of them. This has been down to the awful storms we have been having and the number of “duvet days” some...
Clinical Examination and why it is important.
You know your horses well. That is why any vet worth their salt will listen to you first before starting a clinical exam. However we thought it was important that you know your horses clinical parameters so that if you suspect something isn't quite right you can check...
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We cover Staffordshire moorlands, North Staffordshire and North Staffs county. If you have any equine veterinary needs we would love to hear from you.