Dental health for horses is very important, as it can hinder their ability to eat or perform at their best.
 

Dan visited our clinic last week for Gastroscopy to investigate suspected gastric ulceration.  A diagnosis of gastric ulcers explains Dan's reduced performance in weeks, and now we have started treatment he will hopefully be back to his winning ways very soon!  
 
Equine gastric ulcer syndrome (EGUS) describes the erosion of the horse’s stomach lining due to prolonged or excessive exposure to acid produced by the stomach. Any horse can suffer from gastric ulceration, from elite performance horses to pleasure horses and ponies.
 

As part of KBHH (Keeping Britain's horses healthy), we wanted to focus on taking care of the mare and foal.

Breeding your own foal can be a wonderful experience, but they do require additional care and dedication to thrive.

It may seem like waiting for the birth of a foal takes an eternity, but the average gestation length for most mares is 335 to 340 days (range 320 to 350 days). Use this time to make sure you are prepared for your foal’s arrival and have a healthcare plan in place.

St Boniface Vets has recently been invited to write an article for Horse & Rider Magazine.  The article discusses Thrush and how to prevent it.

Thrush is a very common destructive infection that affects the frog, particularly the central sulci (or cleft) in the middle of the base of the frog and the grooves between the frog and sole.  The condition is characterised by a really unpleasant smell with a thick, black, gungy discharge, which is actually dead keratin tissue.

Horse Health Week 2016 will continue to promote the 7 pillars of preventative healthcare.

The 7 Pillars are:-

1. Infectious Disease & Vaccination
2. Parasite Control
3. Getting the Right Nutrition
4. Caring for your Horse's Teeth
5. General Well-being
6. Caring for your Horse's Feet
7. Taking on a New Horse

Each pillar is supported by a Responsible Horse Owners Booklet, that can be downloaded by clicking the links below.

Make a big difference

As part of Horse Health Week we are encouraging horse owners to notice the small changes in their horse that could make a big difference to early detection of problems or disease.

Download the information sheet, directly from our website for a full range of frequently asked questions and more importantly, the answers to help you monitor and care for your horse.

Please contact us if you have any further questions or would like any advice - 01363 772860.