Nicola has just returned from a dentistry update course full of enthusiasm! Its a good thing too, as we have had a few horses with interesting dental problems recently.

Don’t forget to look at our dentistry page and see if you qualify for a free dental check.

Horse Passports from Horse Passport Agency for £15!

The Horse Passport Agency are doing a deal this month where their price for a new passport application is £15 until the end of February.

So if your horse has no passport now’s the time to get one. Combined with our usual competitive prices for microchip only passports, you can grab yourself a bargain.

Please ring 07702948840 for details of prices for passports and visits.

Due to the recent news about ‘bute’ getting into the human food chain we are asking our clients to provide us with their passports for inspection when we see their horses.

The (section IX) Medicinal Treatment - can be signed by yourself to prevent the horse entering the food chain.  Some passports will have already been signed by a previous owner or the passport issuing authority if the horse has not been passported in the first 6 months of life.

If the horse has not been signed out of the human food chain then all medicines given should be recorded in the passport by whoever is administering them, be that yourself or your vet.

We are planning to have a look at your horse’s passport when we are doing your annual vaccinations. We can then record that we have seen section IX and whether the horse is signed out of the food chain. This means that if we need to see your horse in an emergency and you do not have the passport we can treat him with any drugs required without futher paperwork. If your horse is not signed out of the human food chain, he can be signed out of the food chain at the time of treatment, although without the passport further forms will need to be filled out.

Don’t forget that it is illegal to buy, sell or transport a horse without a passport.

DEFRA Passport Question and Answers

DEFRA Equine Information

Now is the time for horse owners to start thinking about their worming strategy for the year.

Because there is ongoing veterinary research into worming and drug resistance it is best to keep up to date with the latest thinking about how best to protect our equine friends.

So have a look at our worming advice page. Please get in touch if you have any questions, or need to worm a horse which may have a high worm burden.

This week Rachael meets us in Sunderland to perform Gastroscopy.

This is the only way to determine if your horse has gastric ulcers. A 3metre long endoscope is required to view your horse’s stomach. This is fairly specialised equipment.

Luckily Rachael is able to visit your yard with her equipment so you do not need to travel long distances to have this done, and your horse can stay in the comfort of his own home. A few weeks ago she performed another gastroscopy in Stockton-on-Tees.

Rachael can also help us with many other medical cases. Recently she scanned the abdomen of a youngster at Bishop Auckland for us to investigate weight loss. www.equimedreferrals.com

At Durham Equine we aim to provide top quality ambulatory care and we can also choose the most appropriate, convenient and cost effective referral care for you and your horse.

Through October, November and December we are offering a free introductory visit for new clients.

Our regular clients can also benefit – If you introduce a new client to us you can benefit from a free visit at the same time or a Free Dental check and rasp this winter.

Please note that as a new client you will be asked to register with us which will involve informing your previous vet that you are changing vets.

Free visit does not include work done – just the visit charge - all work will be charged for.

Free dental check and rasp includes only standard rasping with hand rasps and oral examination. Any other work required such as power rasping, tooth removal or sedation will be charged for.

7.00 pm At Tudhoe Community Centre,

St Davids Close, Tudhoe, Co. Durham, DL16 6TA

15th November   – Equine Emergencies, First Aid, Modern Dentistry

6th December

17th January

 If you would like to come to one of our client evenings please ring us on 07702948840  or e-mail equinevet@hotmail.co.uk to let us know how many people are coming.

Gail Chapman has returned to the North East to aid Nicola in providing compassionate experienced, and  professional care for your horse, on a personal basis.

Bob, her ex-racehorse has travelled with her, and dogs Boomer and Sasha will be joining shortly.