All of our four clinics provide emergency services 24 hours 7 days a week 365 days a year. If you have an emergency please call the usual number and you will be transfered to one of our on call veterinary surgeons.
If as a Willesley Client you have used 01223 849812 in the past, please now use the normal office number 01666 880501
What is an emergency?
If you are at all concerned about yours or any horse’s health please contact us at anytime. Our vets are more than happy to give advice over the phone. Better safe than sorry.
Colic
What to look for: horse looking at flanks, kicking belly, pawing ground, sweating, lying down, rolling.
First Aid: Remove food, encourage horse to stand but do not force it to walk if it does not want to. If possible, move to a stable with a deep bed
Choke
What to look for: Stretching neck, repeated attempts to swallow. Saliva and/or food coming for the nose, distress.
First Aid: Remove all food and water and try and keep the horse as calm as possible
Wounds/Injuries
What to look for: Wounds/injuries that may require emergency treatment include – any wound causing severe lameness – A deep wound over a joint – Wounds with arterial bleeding (pulsing).
First Aid: In the event of profuse bleeding, apply pressure to the area followed by a thick dressing if possible. Other wounds – clean thoroughly and apply a dressing to keep it clean
Foaling Difficulties
What to look for If the foal’s feet are visible but it has not been born within 7 minutes, or the mare is straining unproductively for more than 15 minutes please contact us without delay.
Breathing Difficulties
What to look for: increased rate or effort of breathing, wheezing, flaring of nostrils, distress. You may notice an obvious ‘heaves line’ or there may be a noise when the horse breathes in.
First Aid: Move the horse into an area that facilitates breathing easily, ie outside
Collapse
What to look for: Horse collapsing on exercise. Slips or falls down, found down in the stable or field.
First Aid: If the horse collapses during exercise, try to loosen tack if possible. If the horse has collapsed on a hard area and is unable to stand, try and support the horse with bedding/rugs
