STUD MEDICINE & EQUINE ARTIFICIAL INSEMINATION
Living in the middle of the country, we are lucky enough to be involved with all sorts of horse and pony breeding and our patients range from children's and show ponies to top class thoroughbreds and competition horses.
Artificial methods of breeding horses are becoming increasingly popular with many sectors of the equine industry as they offer a wider choice of stallions, reduced spread of venereal disease and greater safety for handlers. Artificial insemination with fresh or chilled semen is a popular choice. Frozen semen AI is also gaining in popularity as it gives access to stallions living abroad.
At AVP we have been using these techniques for several years and have the expertise and equipment necessary for a good success rate. There are facilities for the storage of frozen semen on the premises.
Colleagues wishing to refer cases and clients considering
AI should contact the surgery at an early stage to discuss the procedure.
A pre-breeding examination of the mare is advisable and arrangements will
need to be made for the delivery of semen. Due to the number of examinations
required, the mare will probably need tobe housed in our stables at Ratley.This
is essential for mares booked for frozen AI. Andrew Higgins has a special
interest in artificial breeding techniques in horses.
We are a recognised centre for equine artificial insemination by Genus and by BEVA
For more information on artificial breeding techniques see our information sheet Artificial breeding techniques in the horse
Photo Sheila Gutteridge
Photo Sheila Gutteridge
We have excellent operating, anaesthetic and recovery facilities and take referred surgical cases for other veterinary surgeons as well as providing a service for our own clients. A wide range of operations is catered for including rig operations, colic surgery and orthopaedic surgery. The theatre is fully equipped for the latest fracture repair techniques and arthroscopy. A "C arm" image intensifier is used to display x-ray pictures on a television screen whilst operating for accuracy in orthopaedic procedures.
Our theatre at Ratley is much larger than average and has all the normal fitments such as adjustable operating table. There is thick cushion flooring across the whole area which makes the induction of anaesthesia as safe and comfortable as possible for the patient. Air conditioning is a further aid to patient comfort and to the comfort of the surgical team.
Avonvale Veterinary Practice Limited is on the BEVA list of centres approved for the referral of racecourse and competition casualties.
Abdominal Surgery.
AVP has a good success rate for emergency colic operations. Well over
75% of our patients return successfully to their previous levels of performance.
We are happy to admit potential surgical colic cases for monitoring as surgical success depends heavily on intervening at the right time. Vets with potential cases are advised to telephone us at an early stage to discuss cases or arrange admission for monitoring.
Photo Sheila Gutteridge
ORTHOPAEDIC SERVICES AND FACILITIES
150KV, 1250mAS output x-ray machine
This is a machine with enough power to penetrate the thickest parts of
most horses, including the spine and pelvis. With such a powerful machine
there is usually no need to anaesthetise the patient which is obviously
a great advantage, particularly when there is already impaired movement.
The practice also has a small portable x-ray machine.
We also have an x-ray reading service for veterinary surgeons. This service is run by Chris Colles.
Photo Sheila Gutteridge
Thermography
Over the last decade we have pioneered infra red thermographic scanning
in horses with back pain and have built up a lot of experience in this
field. A thermal camera is used to build a map of body surface temperatures.
This enables the vet to detect warm areas which can indicate underlying
areas of inflammation whilst cold areas will show up impaired blood flow
in the tissues below the skin. Impaired blood flow can be the result of
a dysfunction in the nervous supply leading to a contraction of blood
vessels. The cause can be as simple as a pinched nerve and is the reason
the technique is used to select cases for osteopathic treatment and to
monitor the response.
Ultrasound scanning
Ultrasound is another technique for finding abnormalities in soft tissue
structures for orthopaedic and many other examinations. We have ultrasound
scanners of several different types enabling us to carry out investigations
on various parts of the body. Ultrasound is commonly used to assess tendon
strains. In studwork, especially in artificial insemination procedures,
it is used to monitor the development of the ovarian follicle so that
mating takes place at the optimum moment
Nuclear Bone Scintigraphy
This is a procedure using radioactive markers for investigating bone problems,
such as hairline fractures, where conventional x-ray pictures are not
practicable. Areas of increased bone activity are detected using a large
dish like gamma camera. It has proved to be an invaluable aid for assessing
problem lameness cases. We are also increasingly using the technique in
cases of loss of performance.
Photo Phillippa Colles
Remedial Farriery
Inappropriate shoeing is a frequent cause of lameness and can often take
a long time and several visits to correct. There is a forge on site at
Ratley which makes it easier for vets and farriers to work together on
"foot" lameness cases. Referring vets and farriers are welcome
to come along with their patients.
Avonvale Veterinary Practice Limited also has close links with the training of farriers at the Warwickshire College of Agriculture. Chris Colles, our orthopaedic specialist is an honorary fellow of the Worshipful Company of Farriers, an award he was given for his contributions to help raise the standards of modern farriery.
Photo Sheila Gutteridge
Osteopathy
Regular osteopathy clinics are held in conjunction with Mr Tony Nevin,
a qualified and well respected osteopath. Cases are carefully selected
following a veterinary examination and usually involve thermography as
an aid to pin point problems and to monitor the response to treatment.
Tony specialises in the treatment of chronic, long standing mechanical
conditions affecting horses or ponies and Chris Colles and Tony work as
a team so all cases are under veterinary supervision. Building on the
work of Tony’s predecessor at Avonvale, the late Mr Anthony Pusey,
the team have managed to return many horses to full work which have been
'written off' by other organizations. We currently have patients travelling
to clinics from all parts of the UK including Cornwall and Norfolk.
Photo Phillippa Colles