Practice Hours:

01653 618303

Emergency Hours:

01209 823717

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Practice Hours: 01653 618303

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Practice Hours:
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Testimonials

Testimonials

Launch of Station House Vets Wellness Plan

Today marks the launch of our Station House Vets Wellness Plan – a preventative veterinary healthcare plan for your dgos, cats and rabbits, which also offers you savings across the year.
Preventative healthcare works on ‘prevention is better than cure’, and makes sure that pets have as much protection as we can give them against a range of problems, including some nasty diseases, parasites, unwanted litters to name a few.

Preventative healthcare on offer on the Plan is ongoing and should be part of the normal routine for you and your pet – even if your pet lives indoors. This includes parasite protection and vaccination. Don’t forget parasite protection will help protect the rest of the family as well – sadly some worms and other parasites such as fleas can be nasty for humans too!

Ongoing preventative healthcare means that your pet will get the best protection for them throughout their life.

Our Station House Vets Wellness Plan helps take the stress out of preventative healthcare, meaning that together we keep your pet happy and healthy.

Visit our Wellness Plan page to find out more, read the terms & conditions and to sign up to start saving now!

⭐️ The Petplan UK Veterinary awards are now open for nomination. ⭐️

 
As an independent practice, we at Station House Vets pride ourselves on providing excellent care and treatment to your pets, as well as providing you, our lovely clients lots of friendly advice and support.
 
Our motto “Expect the best care every time” runs through everything we do, from the moment you register your pets with us, to every time you call, email or visit us at the practice. We offer a personal service and continuity of care so you and your pets have only positive experiences.
 
Our team continue to develop their knowledge and education ongoing to ensure we are providing you and your pets with the latest advice and best treatment plans available.
 
Our wonderful team are here for you and your pets 𝟐𝟒 𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐬 𝐚 𝐝𝐚𝐲, 𝟑𝟔𝟓 𝐝𝐚𝐲𝐬 𝐚 𝐲𝐞𝐚𝐫, and we are proud to offer our own out of hours, so you will always see one of our clinical team.
 
If you believe you do receive the best care every time – from the client care team, the nursing team and/or the support team, now is your opportunity to nominate. You can nominate individuals, or you can nominate the whole practice.
 
The categories are:
🍀 Vet Surgeon of the Year
🍀 Vet Nurse of the Year
🍀 Practice Support Staff of the Year
🍀 Practice of the Year
 
Use the link below to make your nomination(s):
 
The Station House Vets Team
🐕‍🦺🐈🐇🐴

Managing our horses change of routine

As we head into Autumn and Winter we need to be mindful of the change of routine that this change of season brings.

Winter worming

We would always strongly recommend a targeted worming program, meaning we wouldn’t recommend just to worm your horse/pony without the need to. Those of you already on our plan may still have one more worm egg count and a tapeworm test before the end of the year. We offer worm egg counts, tapeworm saliva tests and blood tests for redworms.  Find out more about our Worm Egg Count plans.

Mud fever

Another top topic for this time of year can be mud fever.  Those of you with horses who have it know how difficult/frustrating it is to treat and manage. There are many ways to treat it but most importantly we would recommend that you are checking the skin/legs of your animals at least once a day to look for sores/cuts/swelling so that any management or treatment required can begin as soon as possible.

Increased time in the stable

More time stabled can bring its own challenges. Any change in routine needs to be done as gradually as possible to help prevent episodes of colic. However, if your horse does have to stay in longer than usual then we recommend dampening your horse/pony’s feed more then usual and encourage drinking. This may include providing a plain bucket of water and a second bucket of water sweetened with apple juice or orange juice or sugar beet water. Signs of colic include inappetence, flank watching, kicking at the belly, lying down and rolling. If you are concerned that your horse/pony maybe colicing it is advised to ring the practice straight away.

Rugs

Below is a guideline of how and when to rug horses depending on if they are clipped or unclipped, and the outside overnight temperatures. Over rugging can be quite common, so we recommend using this as a guide.

Equine gastroscopy clinics

As change in routine can cause stress in our horses, particularly at this time of year, you may be interested in finding out more about our equine gastroscopy clinics. We run them all year round, and offer a reduced rate for a clinic.

If you’re concerned about any change in behaviour in your horses as we head into the winter season, don’t hesitate to call and have a chat to our equine team on 01653 618303

 

Avian influenza outbreak

From Monday 7th November until further notice, due to the avian influenza outbreak, all bird keepers must house their birds inside to keep them safe from avian influenza, and follow strict bio security measures. This follows an increase in the number of cases detected in wild birds and commercial premises.
 
You are requested to register your poultry even if only kept as pets; information on how to do so is on the gov.uk website. Registration of poultry is a legal requirement if you have more than 50 birds.
 
If you need to move a domestic bird you may need a licence if you are in a disease control zone. In case of emergency please call the practice for advice on 01653 618303.
 
Further information can be found on the DEFRA website : https://www.gov.uk/guidance/avian-influenza-bird-flu
 
If you suspect bird flu within your birds you must report it to DEFRA by calling 03000200301.
 
The symptoms to look out for can be subtle including diarrhoea, loss in egg production, and loss in appetite through to more severe respiratory symptoms, general malaise and sudden death.
 
If you find dead wild birds you should report these to the Defra helpline for avian influenza on 03459 335577. This includes one or more dead owl or bird of prey, three or more wild water fowl or gulls, or five wild birds of any species.

 

Joint Measuring Board Official Measurer

We are now an official measurer for the Joint Measuring Board.  
The Joint Measurement Board was established in 1934 to run a national scheme for the Measurement of the height of horses and ponies for the purpose of description and classification of horses and ponies for show and competition.
The JMB have a network of measurers around the country and we are delighted to say that Clare is now an official measurer.
To find out more about what’s involved in organising and booking a measurement, please visit our Joint Measuring Board page.
All measurement appointments take place at the practice in our indoor stable block and we have invested in a JMB pad.
To start the process for organising an appointment, visit the JMB website.
We encourage anyone looking to book an appointment to read the guide, the rules and the FAQ’s on the JMB website.
Or to book an appointment having registered and paid the JMB, give us a call on 01653 618303.

 

 

 

 

Tapeworm in horses

What are tapeworms?

Tapeworms in horses are the largest worms to affect horses in the UK. Three species of tapeworms are known to infect the horse in the UK : Anoplocephala perfoliata is the most common one and can grow up to 8cm long and 1.5m wide.  Tapeworms are short, white, and flat in appearance.

How do horses get tapeworm?
They use an intermediate host as part of their lifecycle.  This intermediate host is the ‘pasture mite’ which is readily found on grass, and can also be found in hay and straw. The pasture mite ingests the tapeworm eggs on the ground and then the mites infest the horse. The eggs develop over a few months in the mite.

What do tapeworms do to horses?
Tapeworms live in the horse’s intestinal tract and many horses tolerate them well. This is why it can be tricky to know if a horse has a tapeworm burden, as there aren’t always obvious signs. Tapeworms draw nutrients away from the horse and can cause severe damage to the horse’s intestinal tract. In large numbers tapeworm can cause loss of condition and an obstruction which can lead to increased risk of intestinal issues, impactions and spasmodic colic.

Tapeworms infect horse of all ages. Young horses who contact tapeworm infection are at more risk of developing ileocecal colic.

Why do I need to do a tapeworm saliva test?
Only 27% of horses actually need treating for tapeworm.  Tapeworms won’t show up in a standard faecal worm egg count.  This is because the tapeworm eggs are contained within the body segments of the tapeworm, which intermittently break off to be passed out in droppings.  It is sometimes possible to pick up some tapeworm eggs on a faecal egg count but because of the intermittent shedding and containment in body segments, absence of eggs seen does not rule out tapeworm infection.  Therefore, even if your horse has a negative faecal worm egg count it could still have a tapeworm burden.

What are the signs of tapeworms in horses?
In most cases there will be no signs as many horses tolerate them well. However, if your horse is displaying any of the following signs, investigations for tapeworms may be recommended by your vet:

  • Episodes of spasmodic colic
  • Reduced performance
  • Pain and discomfot
  • Increased flatulence
  • Pawing
  • Trying to lie down
  • Lethargy
  • Bloating
  • Refusal to eat
  • Dull coat

Speak to your vet – these are all signs that something is not right with your horse and you should investigate possible causes.

When should I do the tapeworm saliva test?
The test should always be done in Autumn as the colder mornings start.  If you’re on the Station House Vets Worm Egg Count Plans, we’ll be in touch to remind you to collect your test kit as part of your plan. Or you can contact us to organise collection, or we can post it out to you.  Email us on prescriptions@stationhousevets.co.uk to organise.

Read more about tapeworms and how to do the tapeworm saliva test

If you’re not on one of our Worm Egg Count Plans, you can buy a tapeworm saliva test from us and you can either collect it, or we can post it out to you.  Give the team a call on 01653 618303 or email us at prescriptions@stationhousevets.co.uk 

 

Welcome to our new vet – Beth

Introducing our new vet Beth Pritchard.
 
Beth is a small animal and equine vet and has already started meeting many of our small animal and equine clients.
 
Beth is pictured here with Lotte; in addition she has horses & ponies, dogs, cats and guinea pigs, and occasionally looks after a family members chickens for holiday breaks.
 
Beth looks forward to meeting the Station House Vets family of pets and horses in the coming weeks and months.

 

 

 

 

International dog day

International Dog Day is one of those annual celebrations on the pet calendar and it’s almost that time of year again. With this popular event approaching later this week, there’s never been a better time to learn about the many ways you can get involved in this important day.

Also known as National Dog Day, it involves spoiling our dogs with affection, but it also comes with a serious message too. This is day dedicated entirely to dogs looks to bring attention to the plight of animals around the globe and encourages adoption.

With thousands of dogs winding up in rescue centres across the country each year, choosing to adopt rather than shop has never been more important. If you’ve been considering welcoming a new dog into your home for the first time, be sure to do your research on suitable breeds for your lifestyle and family.

If you are thinking of getting a dog and would like advice our nurse team are always keen to talk you through choosing the right addition for you and your family. Just give us a call or drop us an email.

You can also read our article on different breeds here.

 

 

 

 

Station House Vets are now offering veterinary physiotherapy

We are pleased to announce that from 16th August we will be offering veterinary physiotherapy on site via Megan Creighton Veterinary Physiotherapy.

Megan will be visiting the practice every Tuesday to offer veterinary physiotherapy for your dogs, cats and horses.

Veterinary Physiotherapy is a science-based profession that takes a holistic approach to each dog, cat or horse based on their individual needs. It is used alongside veterinary medicine to help in the treatment of musculoskeletal and neurological conditions. Physiotherapy also assists in rehabilitation and aims to control and relieve pain, restore function and improve movement.
 
Find out more information here:
Dogs –
Cats –
Horses –
 
Initial consultations start at £10 and treatment prices vary for dogs, cats and horses. Check out the pricing and treatment regimes in the links above.
Call us now on 01653 618303 to book an initial consultation with Megan.