Bainbridge Vets offer a first opinion service for our horse clients. Animals that are ill, have colic, are lame or just require general preventative care can all be dealt with. We also keep various horse health products in stock, including effective fly repellents and wormers.
We do a number of castrations every year and can do these standing or knocked down in the field/stable. Please note that we need to avoid fly season and the horse must be fully vaccinated for tetanus before surgery.
General Visits
For none urgent matters we would appreciate you booking a visit the day before. If you want a visit the same day, but it is not a major emergency then please try to ring between 9.00-10.00am. Visits for vaccinations booked in advance are at half price (if owner flexible and can be booked around vets other calls).
Vaccinations
We can offer the standard flu and tetanus vaccinations either at the yard or you can bring the animal to the surgery and save a visit (well behaved horses only).
We endeavour to send you a vaccine reminder in advance of the booster becoming due, but due to the unreliability of computers and the postal service reminders cannot be guaranteed. It remains the owner’s responsibility to get boosters done on time.
Microchipping
Legally all horses now require a microchip inserting before they are issued a passport. If you also require a markings sketch done for a breed society we can do them, you must get the paperwork in advance (IF POSSIBLE GET A SPARE COPY). Please note that only a veterinary surgeon can microchip a horse.
Dental Care
Routine Floating (rasping)
We have all the usual equipment that you would expect for a thorough inspection of the horse’s mouth and a comprehensive selection of rasps. Many horses require sedation for an accurate dental examination and rasping to be carried out.
Wolf Teeth
We are fully equipped to remove wolf teeth if required and will complete a complete dental chart on request. Most horses require a light sedation and we administer local anaesthetic in all cases. It is illegal for anyone other than a veterinary surgeon to remove wolf teeth using instruments.
Do note that a horse MUST be fully vaccinated for tetanus before we can remove wolf teeth.
Sedation for clipping or other paraprofessionals
The British Equine Veterinary Association (BEVA) maintains a list of approved Equine Dental Technicians (EDTs) and we will only sedate horses for treatment by ourselves or approved EDTs. A list of approved equine dental technicians can be found here
If you require a horse sedating for clipping this can be arranged. Please note that extreme care must be taken with sedated horses as even when apparently very sleepy a sudden stimulation can cause them to suddenly react and kick.
Vettings
As horse work only occupies a small part of our time we do not vet horses for purchase. If you want a horse ‘vetted’ then please contact the office and we can arrange this service by an independent experienced equine vet.
