Our intensive care unit was rebuilt in 2011 to provide state-of-the-art facilities and stabling for up to 10 critically ill patients and horses requiring intensive care following surgery (eg. after colic surgery).
Each stable is well-ventilated, has separate heating and facilities to allow easy administration of intravenous fluids. There are 2 foal boxes for the intensive nursing care of premature or sick neonatal foals. These allow the foal’s dam to be stabled separate alongside the sick foal yet still able to see it at all times or to be stabled in the same box as the foal. The intensive care unit also has a treatment area, nurse preparation room and nursing station. Unlike other equine hospitals in the UK, our intensive care unit is staffed day and night by 2 nurses who work closely with the hospital clinicians to ensure that optimal care is provided to our most seriously ill patients.
Biosecurity of critically ill patients is particularly important and therefore separate isolation stables are available for the stabling of horses with infectious, or suspected infectious, diseases.
