Emergencies like colic can occur at any time and Meadowbrook Equine Clinic has a 24 hour emergency service so we are always on hand to help you. In the event of an emergency please call the clinic on 0845 2966675 even if you are unsure of the urgency of the situation and just require advice our veterinary surgeons will be pleased to assist you.

We also organise client first aid courses to help allow you to prepare and plan ahead to minimise the impact of such a crisis.

Regular vaccinations against influenza, tetanus and herpes virus are recommended to protect your horse and these routine visits provide an excellent opportunity to perform health checks, dental examinations and routine dentistry, review of worming strategy, nutrition, foot care as well as providing the opportunity for you to discuss any issues relating to your horse’s care. For our more senior patients we have also developed a healthcare package which involves a full clinical examination and dental check, blood tests, worm egg counts and appropriate worming advice, and vaccination.

Endoscopy of a horse’s airways is a common, non-invasive procedure used to investigate many difference complaints including poor-performance, coughing and nasal discharge. The examination enables any abnormal anatomy, growths or discharges to be examined and sampled, if required. Samples can be taken from the guttural pouches, trachea and lung fields for cytological (cell) examination and bacterial culture. Endoscopy can also be used to investigate urinary bladder problems and examine the oesopagus, stomach and rectum.

X-rays (radiographs) can be taken of the limbs, head, neck and back to identify abnormalities of the bones such as osteoarthritis, infection and fracture.

At Meadowbrook Equine Clinic using our two digital x-ray systems we are able to take x-rays at any location providing that there is a power supply and a level piece of ground for the horse to stand on. These systems have been used by the US military in Iraq and Afghanistan and give hospital quality images on the move and are rapidly revolutionising equine practice. The images can be manipulated to alter contrast and magnification so abnormal changes can be identified earlier. Diagnoses and therefore treatment can be performed sooner than previously possible. Severely lame horses can be x-rayed immediately without the risk of transport.

Meadowbrook Equine Clinic performs a wide range of ultrasonographic examinations which allow us to evaluate the different soft tissues within the body and can provide information that x-rays cannot give. Ultrasound can be used to guide biopsies or injections into tendons or ligaments, such as stem cells or platelets. Ultrasound evaluation also enables the quality and rate of healing to be monitored allowing exercise regimes to be tailored accordingly and help minimise the risk of re-injury.

Ultrasound is also invaluable for stud work where the ovaries and uterus can be monitored to optimise time of covering and also to evaluate any possible problems in the non-pregnant mare (such as infection post covering). It is also vital for the early accurate detection of pregnancy as well as diagnosing the occurrence of twin pregnancies.

Whether you are buying an elite competition horse or a quiet hack our team can assist you in your important purchase decision. You may have found a horse that is good to ride, has a pleasant manner and fits with all your requirements but is this horse healthy and suitable for the type and amount of work you want to use it for? A pre-purchase examination (PPE) can help to identify and assess any risks associated with the physical wellbeing of the horse and allow you to make an informed decision as to whether or not to proceed with the purchase.

Our stud medicine services provide complete care for your mare from pre-pregnancy to post-foaling. If you are considering breeding from your mare, please contact the Clinic and one of the vets will be happy to discuss your individual mare’s requirements. New for this year are our AI packages (click here for more information). Click here to visit our Breeding information pages.

• Pre-breeding health checks, including swabs and blood tests
• Artificial insemination packages for chilled semen available
• Early pregnancy diagnosis and twin management
• Stabling and stocks available at our equine fertility unit
• Problem mare breeding investigations
• Barren mares
• Old maiden mare syndrome
• Behavioural abnormalities
• Mare and foal post-foaling examinations
• Neonatal foal medicine

Meadowbrook Equine Clinic is at the cutting edge of sarcoid therapy. An exciting new treatment called photodynamic therapy (PDT) is providing excellent results in our patients with less post treatment scarring than experienced with some of the topical creams based on 5 –Flurouracil or cisplatin, and is also safer to use around eyes or close to major blood vessels. Photodynamic therapy involves treating the sarcoid with a light sensitive agent which is absorbed by the sarcoid cells, after a period of time a laser light is applied to the sarcoid and the drug is activated destroying the tumour cells.

Our team at Meadowbrook Equine Clinic is able to carry out detailed lameness examinations supported by a full range of mobile diagnostic equipment, including portable digital x-rays and ultrasound, allowing most investigations to be carried out at your stable. Our expertise and resources help owners make informed decisions and create the best treatment plan and therapeutic options to rehabilitate your horse.

Eye diseases can be sudden in onset and progress rapidly making early diagnosis and treatment essential. From the use of bandage contact lenses to the treatment of acute uveitis the team at Meadowbrook Equine Clinic is committed to providing the best eye care to your horse.

In the past equine skin disease has been relatively neglected, despite its high frequency and importance. Although the majority of allergic skin disease is attributed to hypersensitivity to biting midges “Sweet Itch” actual diagnostic testing can reveal horses to be hypersensitive to other allergens. It is only by investigating these cases that we can advance our knowledge of equine dermatology and improve the quality of life for these horses through new treatments and preventive strategies. Our aim is to apply a logical approach to equine skin disease.

As well as providing treatment for horses with laminitis, infections, cracks and other foot problems, Meadowbrook Equine Clinic can assist your farrier in performing remedial farriery. Using X-rays and the deployment of a wide range of shoeing and podiatry technologies we can work with your farrier to improve your horse’s feet.

Horse passports were made compulsory in February 2005 and more recent legislation requires microchips must also be implanted into any horse for which a passport application (including replacements) was made for them after the 1st July 2009. Our team can assist and advise you in fulfilling these requirements.