We hope you and your horse have a wonderful Easter break. Just a reminder that we are open for emergencies 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.
The out of hours emergency telephone number is 01428 723594.
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Iain graduated from the Royal Veterinary College in 2017 and has since been working in mixed practice whilst also doing charity work, in Namibia. He has a particular interest in equine internal medicine, and in his spare time he enjoys running, climbing and enjoying the great outdoors.
This means we have to say a sad farewell to Ellen Heddle, who leaves us this Friday. We wish Ellen the very best in her future position.
We currently employ 4 house vets who stay with us for 18 months. Their main responsibility is to look after the veterinary needs of all of our in-patients. Their prime duties are emergency assessment, anaesthesia, intensive care monitoring and the day to day management of the 50 hospitalised in-patients, including both diagnostic procedures and treatments.
Atypical myopathy (also known as seasonal pasture myopathy) is a highly fatal muscle disease in horses in the UK and Northern Europe. This distressing disease results in degradation of respiratory, cardiac (heart) and postural muscles. Affected horses show signs of weakness, muscle trembling and pain, and even with intensive veterinary and nursing treatment, the majority of affected horses will die. To make things worse, multiple horses from one field or yard can be affected. The best way to minimise your horse’s risk of atypical myopathy is to reduce the chance of them ingesting sycamore seeds. For further information click here.
Our Spring 2019 e-newsletter is out now and packed full of information.
What’s inside this issue:
– Suzy Hall wins our ‘Vet of the Year’
– Liphook wins ‘Best in the world’ for MRI
– A guide to Equine Artificial Insemination
– Spring Into Action – Spring health preparations
– The Equine Eye – A guide to the equine eye
– Equine Dental Check-Ups – Why prevention is better than cure
Plus much more….
To make sure you don’t miss out, sign up to our e-newsletter by emailing tasha.wilson@theleh.co.uk.
We are seeking to employ additional, hardworking and enthusiastic individuals to work within our state-of-the-art equine hospital based in Liphook, Hampshire. You will be responsible for providing first class care for horses, ponies and donkeys. Applicants must have a proven record of excellent horse handling, horse care and top-class stable management, plus experience of working in a professional yard. We require reliable, conscientious, self-motivated applicants with extremely high standards. Nursing skills are not required.
Hours are from 7am until 1pm, both Saturday’s and Sunday’s.
Please apply in writing to Amy Britcher – Yard Manager enclosing your CV and the names of at least two referees by post to Liphook Equine Hospital, Forest Mere, Liphook, GU30 7JG or by email to amy.britcher@theleh.co.uk.
WE ARE NOW FULLY BOOKED! Please email tasha.wilson@theleh.co.uk, if you would like to be added to the waitlist
Liphook Equine Hospital are pleased to announce the date of our first Equine Veterinary CPD of 2019. The event will take place on Tuesday 19thMarch at Liphook Equine Hospital, and is very kindly supported by Boehringer Ingelheim. To book your FREE place, please contact our hospital reception team on: 01428 727200, or via email to tasha.wilson@theleh.co.uk. Numbers are limited!
Please click on the following link for more information:
Everyone will no doubt be aware of the increasing number of ‘flu outbreaks in the UK this year and, more concerningly, reports from Newmarket involving infection in vaccinated horses. Given recent history it is assumed that the recent outbreaks involve Florida clade 1 virus.
In view of the evidence of infection in vaccinated horses, it is crucial that an accurate message is given to horse owners to avoid loss of confidence in vaccination which will make the situation even worse. In this respect it is important to realise that it is not simply a case of vaccine failure, and we should point out that:
1) vaccinated horses tend to be more susceptible towards the end of the vaccine interval (that is when the next booster is due), and,
2) vaccinated horses tend to have less severe clinical signs, if any all.
We should advise that any horse that has not received a vaccine containing a Florida Clade 1 strain within the last 3-6 months receives a booster ASAP. This is likely to offer good clinical protection.
There have been an increasing number of equine influenza outbreaks in the UK this year and recent reports from Newmarket have involved some vaccinated horses which has led to cancellation of race meetings. The H3N8 Florida clade 1 influenza virus strain appears to be the main current threat in the UK. Not all UK equine ‘flu vaccine brands contain this strain but we are happy to confirm that Liphook Equine Hospital has been using a vaccine brand containing this strain ever since it became available about 10 years ago (Proteq-flu).
It is crucial that the news of vaccinated horses becoming infected with ‘flu is not misinterpreted as evidence that the vaccine doesn’t work. There are 2 important points to remember in this respect:
1) Vaccinated horses tend to have very mild clinical signs, if any all,
and,
2) It is generally those horses where their last vaccine was given more than 6 months previously that might be susceptible to infection.
Therefore, it is our advice that any horse that has not received a booster within the last 3-6 months is given a booster as soon as possible.
Please feel free to speak to one of our vets for further clarification regarding your horse’s situation, or call reception to arrange a booster vaccination.
We are looking for an enthusiastic person to join our night nursing team based at our state- of-the-art specialist equine hospital in Liphook.
We are seeking a candidate with a proven record of excellent horse care and stable management, in a professional yard. We require a reliable, conscientious, self-motivated applicant. Nursing experience is desirable, although not essential, as full training will be provided. The position is full-time, working nights on a 4 on 4 off basis. Training will take place over several months on the day shift and you must therefore be available to work days for the initial part of your contract moving onto nights only when training is complete and you have demonstrated the required skills for night working. You will also periodically be required to do a minimum of one month on the day shift to provide respite from night working and so that training can be refreshed. The night shift will include weekends and bank holidays as required.
The role is based at the hospital in Liphook and due to the rural location access to your own transport is essential.
Please apply in writing to Amy Britcher – Yard Manager enclosing your CV and the names of at least two referees by post to Liphook Equine Hospital, Forest Mere, Liphook, GU30 7JG or by email to amy.britcher@theleh.co.uk, by 15th February 2019.
Equine Influenza is both extremely infectious and contagious and so the best way of stopping both your horse and other horses from becoming infected is to vaccinate.
As a disease the signs of flu can vary from a few days of running a high temperature accompanied by the classic snotty nose and harsh dry cough, to serious life-threatening infections.
“Why should I vaccinate?”
Firstly, your horse will feel exactly the same as we do when we have the flu – rotten. Also, in becoming infected your horse stands a real chance of infecting many others with the virus. Finally, as you are all probably aware, to compete your horse you will need an up to date passport demonstrating your horse’s up to date vaccination status.
We are often complacent about this disease because we expect horses to be vaccinated. However, the proportion of horses vaccinated in the UK falls well below that which is required to prevent a major disease outbreak. Should a major outbreak occur with a new virus strain then unvaccinated horses will suffer severe and potentially fatal diseases and vaccinated horses may also be affected. Multiple small outbreaks occur every year in the UK, and major outbreaks have occurred before and may well occur again.
In February, we will be running a vaccination amnesty campaign to help protect as many unvaccinated/overdue horses as possible.
During the month of February, all horses, ponies and donkeys starting their vaccination course will receive the 2nd vaccination FREE OF CHARGE!***
To book an appointment or for further information, please call our reception team on 01428 723594
***Vaccine cost only, visit fees still apply. The offer is only open to horses that are over 9 months of age and have not yet been vaccinated against equine influenza or are overdue an annual booster. First vaccination to take place in February.
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