Emergency Veterinary Care for Horses in Staffordshire
When every minute matters, we’re here for you
For immediate equine emergencies in Staffordshire call us now on: 01782 898102
When your horse is unwell or injured, it can be one of the most worrying experiences you’ll face as an owner. In those moments, you need calm advice, experienced veterinary care and someone you can trust to guide you through what happens next.
At Little Rock Equine, we provide a dedicated 24-hour emergency veterinary service for horses, giving you access to experienced equine vets whenever you need us.
We know that equine emergencies don’t happen at convenient times. That’s why our emergency service is available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.
Our team are horse owners too, so we understand the worry behind every phone call. We’ll always take the time to listen, assess the situation and explain exactly what needs to happen next.
What is considered an equine emergency?
If you’re unsure whether your horse needs an emergency veterinarian, it’s always better to call and ask. We’d much rather reassure you than have you worry alone.
Some of the most common equine emergencies include:
- Colic
- Not eating – sick horses do not eat
- Weight shifting/laminitis
- Severe or non weight bearing lameness
- Severe diarrhoea
- Breaking into feed rooms feed overload
- Consuming unsoaked feed
- Deep wounds or heavy bleeding
- Eye injuries including watery eyes, swollen eyes, closed eyelid (s)
- Choke
- Fast shallow breathing, flared nostrils
- Foaling emergencies
- Retained membranes after foaling
- Horses that are unable to stand
- Fractures or suspected fractures
- Neurological signs such as staggering or seizures
Even if your horse’s symptoms don’t appear on this list, trust your instincts. If something doesn’t feel right, give us a call.
What happens when you call?
We know making an emergency call can feel overwhelming, so our aim is to make the process as straightforward as possible.
When you contact us, we’ll ask a few questions about:
- Your horse’s symptoms
- How long they’ve been unwell
- Your location
We’ll then advise whether:
- Immediate attendance is required
- There are steps you can take while we’re travelling
If we’re attending your horse, we’ll give you an estimated arrival time and explain anything you can do beforehand to help keep them comfortable.
Emergency Care at Your Yard
One of the advantages of Little Rock Equine is that the majority of emergency investigations and treatments can be performed stable-side.
Our fully equipped vehicles allow us to diagnose and begin treatment quickly without the stress of transporting your horse unless referral is genuinely in their best interests.
Depending on your horse’s condition, emergency treatment may include pain relief, sedation, wound management, fluid therapy, emergency diagnostics, colic assessment, eye examinations, lameness assessment, emergency medication, stabilisation before referral if advanced hospital care is required.
Our goal is always to provide the right treatment at the right time while keeping both you and your horse informed throughout.
Areas we cover
- Stoke-on-Trent – ST1, ST2, ST3, ST4, ST6
- Keele – ST5
- Leek & Cheddleton – ST13
- Uttoxeter – ST14
- Stone and Hilderstone – ST15
- Stafford, Great Haywood & Eccleshall – ST16, ST18, ST21
- Blythe Bridge – ST11
- Ashbourne – DE6
- Rugeley – WS15
- Market Drayton – TF9
- Bridgemere – CW5
- Crewe – CW1, CW2, CW3, CW4
- Congleton – CW12
- Macclesfield – SK10, SK11
- Rocester – ST14
- Sandbach – CW11
- Cannock Wood – WS11
- Penkridge – ST19
If your location isn’t listed, please don’t hesitate to get in touch. We understand that emergencies can’t wait, and we’ll always do our best to help or advise you on the quickest way for your horse to receive the veterinary care they need.
Why Choose Little Rock Equine?
When you call us, you’re not just getting an emergency vet. You’re speaking to people who understand the relationship between horses and the people who love them.
We know how frightening equine emergencies can feel, and we believe good veterinary care is about more than medicine. It’s about listening, communicating honestly and helping you make the best decisions for your horse.
Our approach is built around:
- Experienced equine-only veterinary care
- A calm, compassionate approach
- Honest advice you can trust
- Stable-side treatment wherever possible
- Personalised care for every horse
- 24-hour emergency availability
- Long-term relationships with owners built on trust
Every horse deserves someone in their corner when they need it most.
Find out more.
Frequently asked questions
How much does an emergency vet visit cost?
Emergency visits include an out-of-hours visit fee, while the cost of any treatment, medications or diagnostics is charged at our standard rates.
The visit fee varies depending on your location and the time of the call-out, with separate fees for emergency visits, out-of-hours visits before midnight, and out-of-hours visits after midnight.
We’ll always explain the applicable visit fee and discuss any expected treatment costs as clearly as possible before proceeding, wherever circumstances allow.
What is classed as an emergency?
If your horse is showing signs of severe pain, difficulty breathing, heavy bleeding, sudden collapse, severe lameness, colic, eye injuries or any sudden change in behaviour that causes concern, you should contact us immediately.
If you’re unsure, please call.
You never need to decide alone whether something is serious enough. We’d much rather assess the situation with you than risk your horse becoming more unwell.
What should I do before the vet arrives?
Remain calm and keep yourself safe.
Move your horse only if it’s safe to do so.
Remove access to feed if advised, particularly in suspected cases of colic.
Keep your horse somewhere quiet and secure where they can be examined safely.
Avoid giving medications unless instructed by a vet.
If possible, have another person available to help and keep your phone nearby in case we need to contact you.
What if I can't afford emergency treatment?
Horses never seem to pick a convenient time to become unwell, and emergencies often happen on bank holidays or outside normal opening hours. We understand how stressful these situations can be.
Our aim is to help you make the most clinically appropriate and cost-effective decision for your horse. While payment is required at the time of treatment and payment plans are not available, you can be assured that every effort will be made to provide the best possible care for both you and your horse.
Do you provide out-of-hours veterinary care?
Yes. We provide a dedicated out-of-hours vet service for horses, ponies and donkeys under our care, available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, including weekends and bank holidays.
Whenever you have an equine emergency, we’re here to help.
Should I bring my horse to the clinic?
No. Our emergency service is designed to come to your horse. In some cases, we may recommend referral to an equine hospital if your horse requires specialist treatment or surgery. If this is necessary, we’ll explain your options and help arrange the referral.
How quickly can an emergency vet get to me?
We always prioritise emergencies and aim to attend as quickly as possible. Arrival times depend on the urgency of your horse’s condition, our current emergency caseload and travel distance. When your emergency call-out is booked, we’ll provide an estimated arrival time and keep you updated if anything changes.
Can you treat horses that aren't registered with your practice?
No. Our out-of-hours emergency service is available for horses registered with our practice.
If you’re not currently registered with us, you’re welcome to register during normal business hours. Once your registration is complete and we’ve taken on your horse’s routine care, you’ll have access to our emergency service outside of normal opening hours.
Need an emergency equine vet ?
If you’re looking for a 24-hour emergency vet for your horse in Staffordshire, don’t wait.
Call now.
We’ll listen, advise you on what to do next and get your horse the care they need as quickly as possible.