THREE COUNTIES EQUINE HOSPITALAUTUMN NEWSLETTER 2011

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Staff NewsWe welcome Sophie Mosseri DVM ResECEIM MRCVS into our veterinary team. She brings with her a wealth of experience in diagnostic imaging, having regularly worked alongside one of the leading experts in this field Jean-Marie Denoix for 8 years, whilst in France. Sophie also has a particular interest in internal medicine and is studying for the prestigious European Diploma in Equine Internal Medicine (DipECEIM).

Harriet Russell joins our nursing team. She is an experienced equine nurse and has a particular interest in theatre nursing, having spent the last 3 years in an Equine Hospital. Local to this area and a keen rider, Harriett may also become a familiar face at riding events.

We wish Caroline Farmer the greatest of luck as she leaves our nursing team on maternity leave. Emma Poucher steps into her role. A qualified Equine Veterinary Nurse she has worked for the previous 8 years at Arundel Equine Hospital. We welcome her into our team.

After Hours VisitsWhen you ring up out of normal office hours for an emergency call out (Monday - Friday - before 8.30 am and after 5.30 pm, Saturday after 12.30 pm and Sunday), the standard procedure is to telephone the TCEH number (01684 592 099). Our out of hours answering service will ask for the following information:

• Owner name and horse name• Contact telephone number• Where the horse is located (including post code or street name)• What symptoms the horse is showing

The vet on duty will be paged immediately. If you have requested a telephone call first, we will telephone you as soon as possible to arrange what time the vet will be with you and give advice on what should be done in the meantime.

Please ensure once you have telephoned the emergency line that you keep your contact telephone number free, thus enabling the vet to return your call.

Preparing for an EmergencyFinding yourself in an emergency situation involving your horse can be stressful for all those involved. Being prepared to cope with emergencies can make things just that little easier. Please remember that your own safety is paramount.

If you are required to travel to the hospital it may help that someone travel with you. They can then assist with directions, phone calls, unloading the horse etc.

The following details should be readily available:

1. The Three Counties Hospital telephone number and directions to the hospital.

2. Contact numbers for transport should you need to move your horse to the clinic.

3. Horse insurance details.

4. Passport (Also ensuring vaccinations for tetanus are up to date).

5. Equine first aid kit.

Your first aid box should be checked regularly and any items that have become damaged or are out of date should be replaced.

First Aid Kit ComponentsHardware:• Hoof pick• Thermometer (digital)• Scissors (straight)• Disposable gloves• Roll of paper towel• Plastic/metal bowl• Pen torch

Wound Management Materials:• Cotton wool (1/2 x 500g rolls)• Sterile gauze swabs• Sterile 0.9% saline (1 x 500 ml)• Antibacterial scrub (Chlorhexidene- Hibiscrub, 100 ml)• Sterile wound gel (e.g. Intrasite)

Dressings:• Non adhesive absorbent dressings (e.g. Melonin)• Poultice (e.g. Animalintex)• Soft cotton rolls (e.g. Soffban)• Gamgee• Stretch cotton bandages (e.g. K band)• Semi-adhesive bandages (e.g. Vetrap)• Adhesive bandages (e.g. Elastoplast)• Black cloth tape• Stable bandages

If you would like us to make up a comprehensive first aid kit then please contact the surgery on 01684 592099 to arrange this.

Equine Papilloma virusThese three conditions are caused by the same virus, equine papilloma virus, the warts virus. They may range from small slightly raised white areas to large clumps.

Aural plaques - sited on the inside of the ear.

Grass warts - these most commonly occur at areas with a fine hair covering such as the muzzle and around the eyes.

A diagnosis is usually made on clinical examination of your horse to differentiate papillomas from other skin nodules such as sarcoids. A biopsy of the lesion is only usually performed if the horse is older than expected or if the lesions are present at an unusual site on the body.

Papilloma virus most commonly affects young horses (aged less than 4 years), particularly in the case of grass warts, this is because immunity develops with age. The virus appears to be transmitted by direct close contact between horses. As these conditions almost always resolve spontaneously, rarely is any treatment required.

Umbilical hernia in the foal

This is characterised visually by a bulge under the skin at the umbilicus. It is a defect in the abdominal wall at the navel that allows fat and sometimes intestine to protrude. A foal can be born with an umbilical hernia, or the hernia can develop during the first weeks of life.

It is important that any swelling around the umbilicus is examined by your vet. An umbilical infection/abscess or the presence of a patent urachus (noted by urine leaking from the umbilical stump) is very important to rule out. Ultrasound examination of the area may be used to aid diagnosis. After assessment, a management and treatment plan can be made.

Many are small and those less than 2 cm in diameter often resolve spontaneously in 6-12 months. Manually reducing the hernia daily can help (pushing the contents of the hernial sack back into the abdomen with your fingers). Others require treatment, either because they are large, unable to be reduced or because they may be associated with other problems.

Correction of smaller (<5cm) uncomplicated hernias may involve the placement of elastrator rings under standing sedation. Larger hernias may require general anaesthesia and surgical correction. These procedures are generally carried out at 3-4 months of age, before weaning.

Independent of the size of the hernia, they require close monitoring. Any change in the appearance, an increase in swelling, heat, firmness, pain, if the hernia becomes non reducible or if the foal becomes unwell, are all causes for concern and immediate veterinary advice should be sought.

Pastern papilloma - at the back of the pasterns.

Dentistry ReminderAs we approach the autumn/winter months, this is a good time to arrange for your horses annual dental check. The teeth of all horses and ponies should be checked by a vet at least annually, sometimes more frequently if a particular problem is present. Please contact the surgery for zone visit days or to arrange a visit in combination with annual vaccination or the Annual Health Package (which includes a vaccination, teeth rasping, a general check over and two worm egg counts).

Photo by kind permission of Dr D Knottenbelt, OBE, BVM&S, DVM&S, DipECEIM, MRCVS.