Caring Equine Specialist Veterinary Services Throughout The Harrogate And Ripon Areas

Could your horse have ulcers?
Possible signs include:
1. Poor performance.
2. Dull appearance.
3. Picky appetite.
4. Grumpy temperament.
5. Resistance to riding aids.
6. Resistance to girthing.
7. Colic.
Signs of gastric ulceration can be vague, and many horses will display few symptoms.
Gastroscopy involves passing a camera through the nose and into the stomach and is the only way to diagnose ulceration reliably.
Horses produce gastric acid constantly, whether they are eating or not. Saliva and roughage will help to protect against this acid, so periods without eating will increase the risk of high acid and gastric ulceration.

We understand that, for many of you, your horse is part of the family, and that having to consider euthanasia as an option can be stressful and upsetting.
The two methods for euthanasia of horses are by injection or by shooting. Both are humane methods and minimise any suffering for your horse. Due to the difficulty and logistics of owning or carrying a firearm we are only able to offer the lethal injection. Please contact us if you need further information

Diagnosing Lameness
Some cases of lameness can be diagnosed on clinical examination, without any further testing. In other cases, we may recommend further diagnostic tests such as nerve blocks to localise the source of the problem.
We are well equipped with a fully portable X-Ray equipment, allowing us to see the images out on the visit, with no need to transport your horse. Our machine can even be used without the need for a power supply.
Our portable ultrasound scanner can be used to image soft tissue structures such as ligaments and tendons.