Orrell Equine Veterinary Ltd

👁️ Eyelid emergencies!

A wound to the eye or surrounding structures is nearly always a reason to call for an emergency 🚨 examination. Horses being horses quite often sustain injuries in this area 🤦‍♂️

A client of ours recently found her Welsh pony ‘Ted’ with a fresh wound to his right lower eyelid, sustained in his stable, most likely from colliding with the stable wall! She called our vet, Matt out straight away to assess.

On the surface, the wound didn’t look too bad but following sedation and more in depth investigation, Matt realised the laceration extended through the ‘tarsal plate’ of the eyelid…. A BIG Problem! This structure is a thick layer of connective tissue at the eyelid margin that gives the eyelid structure and more importantly, spreads the tear film over the eye surface and prevents the eye becoming dry and potentially damaged.

This had to be stitched back together ASAP to ensure correct healing and return of normal function.

Matt placed a nerve block to numb and stop Ted being able to move the eyelid. The suture used was approximately the thickness of a human hair (0.1mm), certainly a fiddly job, but Ted was a perfect patient and the procedure went well.

Thanks to the rapid response of Ted’s owner and lack of further complications, his eyelid has healed almost perfectly and its function is completely normal now!

Eyes injuries should never be ignored or monitored, please call the office even just for advice!

Is your horse 🐎 ‘Not Quite Right’ or you’re experiencing ‘Poor Performance’?
⭐️ We're Here to Help! 🩺

At Orrell Equine Vets, we offer on-yard full lameness work-ups and ‘poor performance’ investigations:
Including digital radiographs, ultrasound scanning, Sleip gait analysis and gastric/respiratory endoscopy—all from the comfort of your own yard! 🚚💨

✅ No stressful transport needed!
✅ Modern cutting edge imaging equipment!
✅ Expert veterinary care where your horse is most comfortable!

We’ve recently been looking after ‘Gypsy’, a lovely mare who presented with an acute left hindlimb lameness. One of our superstar vets Fi carried out full investigations including diagnostic nerve and joint blocks, X-rays and treatment all on yard. As you can see, Gypsy took it all in her stride from the comfort of her own stable. She’s looking very smart with her freshly clipped legs! 😎

Whether it’s a subtle change in movement or an ongoing issue, our fully mobile team is fully equipped to diagnose and manage lameness issues quickly and efficiently.

📅 Book your visit today!📞 Call the office on 01942 733 989 or email us at [email protected]

🍼 Foaling Season 🍼

We just had to share with you some adorable photos of Shire baby Edgar born on Thursday at 1.03am! 🌙
Both mum and Edgar are doing really well and enjoying spending time together in the field!

If you have a mare that is due to foal this season, a useful rule to remember is the 1-2-3 Rule:

1. Standing within 1 hour
2. Nursing within 2 hours
3. Placenta passed by mare within 3 hours

Ensure that the mare and foal get a check over by a vet post-foaling. We will check that the foal has received enough colostrum🥛from the mare within the first 24 hours via a simple blood test 🩸 and check that they are fit and well! 💪🏼

Please also keep the placenta for our visit and we’ll check that no parts of the placenta have been retained 🔎. Any retained placenta can put the mare at risk of metritis, a potentially serious uterine infection post foaling!

We are so pleased that this foaling went “text-book” smoothly, and that our client now has a lovely new addition to the family 🐴 We are all very excited to watch him grow!

Next up on Meet the Team!!

Our final and newest vet, Daisy, who started at Orrell Equine this January! Daisy has equally fitted in perfectly, just like Charlotte; we’re thrilled with our current superstar 🌟 team of vets!

We know you’ll all make her feel very welcome too!

Dr Daisy Benn
Veterinary Surgeon

Daisy graduated with her Veterinary degree from the University of Liverpool in summer 2024. Her and Charlotte were actually in the same year! Daisy impressively also completed a research-focused masters degree (MRes) in Clinical Sciences during an intercalation year (additional year of study during her veterinary degree)!

We are very lucky to have Leahurst on our doorstep, it is renowned for producing some of the best equine vets in the UK and beyond (Matt and Steve may be a tad biased 😉). Being only one of the few UK Universities with a dedicated Equine Veterinary hospital (RVC included), it means graduating vets have a wealth of hands on experience and arguably excellent clinical skills!

Originally from Hull in East Yorkshire, following graduation, Daisy started her Veterinary career down in Suffolk at a mixed veterinary practice. Having worked for a few months, Daisy realised she enjoyed equine work most and made the decision to look for 💯 equine work back up north nearer to home! Lucky for us she applied to Orrell equine!

Daisy has settled with her partner Sandesh in Carrington and loves the hustle and bustle of life around Manchester! No pets currently…. but we’re working on her 😂!

Daisy is a quiet and calm person (great traits to have in this job!), she enjoys all aspects of ambulatory work currently and wants to be a great all rounder, she’s loves the variety of work that each new day brings!

Her favourite part of the job is joining an amazing team 💪🏼 (her own words btw, but we do agree!), meeting clients who are always so welcoming and making a difference to the care of all your horses! 🐴
Her most disliked part of the job (there’s a theme here 🧐)….. the traffic and getting lost 😂!

Outside of work Daisy is loving exploring Manchester, hunting for the best food spots, or having a pint 🍻 at the pub with friends. Any restaurant recommendations you have for her are very welcomed! 😃

So welcome Daisy!

We’re trying to do profiles on the fabulous office ladies next but they’re being somewhat shy 😅

Next up on Meet the Team!!

One of our new vets, Charlotte, who started at Orrell Equine last summer! Charlotte has fitted into the team perfectly and it honestly feels like she’s worked here for years! We know you’ll all make her feel very welcome!

Dr Charlotte Stephens

Veterinary Surgeon

Charlotte actually has two degrees! She first graduated from the prestigious Royal Veterinary College with a degree in Bioveterinary Science in 2019 before undertaking a Veterinary degree at the University of Liverpool, graduating in summer 2024.

Originally from West Sussex, she has now put down roots in Liverpool; we’ve converted her to a Northern girl clearly!
Charlotte very recently got engaged 💍, she lives with her fiancé Ben who she met at University and rescue cat Sally 🐈‍⬛!

Charlotte is a very positive person and she enjoys all aspects of ambulatory work, but like Matt, has a specific interest in internal medicine.
Her favourite part of the job is the reward of seeing patients get better and meeting new clients! Her most disliked part of the job….. the M62 at rush hour, particularly on a Tuesday 😂!

An interesting fact about Charlotte is that, Like Fi, she is another keen plane ✈️ enthusiast! Charlotte, however, can do the actual flying too 👩‍✈️, she gained her private pilots licence in 2022 and goes flying when she can and weather allows!

Charlotte is also a keen foodie, she loves trying out new cuisines and restaurants in Liverpool when she can, particularly any new Mexican restaurants 🇲🇽!

Stay tuned for the next profile!

Next up on Meet the Team!! 🐎
As anyone who knows Fi, you’ll understand she requested a more Fun and entertaining profile 😂

Fi Sneddon
Senior Veterinary Surgeon

Fi graduated from the prestigious Royal Veterinary College back in 2013.
Following graduation she spent two years vetting in West Yorkshire, and a year in North Manchester before returning to her home town of Knutsford and joining Orrell Equine in 2016. Originally joining as temporary maternity cover, we just couldn’t let her leave!

Fi is nearly always accompanied at work by her cheeky chocolate lab, Munchies. Although on OOH calls, much to clients’ disappointment, Fi’s backseat is often empty as Munchies’ prioritises sofa surfing 🛋️ and watching TV 📺 of an evening!

Fi’s favourite part of the job is catching up with clients old and new, spoiling her patients with a never ending (sugar-free) mint supply and taking a satisfyingly straight lateral radiograph 🩻 (If you know, you know!).
Her least favourite part is bad traffic and paperwork. Coincidentally, the office staff’s and primarily, Michelle’s often least favourite job is chasing Fi up to do said paperwork….

An interesting 🧐 fact about Fi, is that, as an avid plane spotter and big jet enthusiast, she can tell you what type of plane is taking off from the sound of the engines 🛫. A totally useless skill perfected at weekends walking around the flightpath viewing spots.

When not at work, most of her time is spent being walked by Munchies and generally attending to her every whim. A previously keen rider, she is also the owner of Flint, a 29yo TBx 🐎 who is very much enjoying his retirement.

As a big fan of a pair of unsuitable 👠, a cheeky dancefloor and posh cocktail 🍸, Fi is convinced that her true career calling in life is as a Cheshire housewife but will have to stick at the vet work until that dream is realised……

Stay tuned for the next Meet the Team profile!

We thought we would do a series of ‘Meet the team’ posts!
We’ve had two marvellous new vets join us over the past year and it’s only right to introduce them properly! But we’ll start with someone who’s more part of the furniture at this point and save the best till last! 😁

Dr Matthew Raven

Senior Veterinary Surgeon
Cert AVP

Most of you will no doubt have met Matt at some point over the years! He graduated from the University of Liverpool in 2015 and started working at Orrell Equine straight away! He’s been here ever since apart from undertaking an 18month internship back at Leahurst in 2018.

Matt has a specific interest in both lameness and equine medicine, particularly imaging! He completed his post-graduate qualification in advanced veterinary practice in 2023 after 4years of study alongside working.

Matt grew up in Cheshire, near Tatton park in a dairy farming family and now lives in the Northwich area with his wife Apryl who is a small animal vet and their two dogs Rae and Albie! (No doubt you’ve spotted them in his truck!)

Outside of work Matt is a keen lacrosse player, having played in his youth, at university, at county senior Level for Lancashire and most notable for England at U19 level. He’s also a keen traveler, with his next trip planned to Borneo in June!

We joke in the office that Matt is somewhat accident prone 😂. He’s actually currently recovering from a broken collarbone and surgical fix, but should be back with us in the next couple of weeks hopefully!

Watch this space for the next profile!

STRANGLES VACCINATION AMNESTY.

After a lot of calls we are now doing a Strangles Vaccination Amnesty. It will run from the 21st of March to the 21st of April. If you book in both vaccines you will get the 2nd vaccine free.

The Protocol:
-1st Vaccination administered.
-4 weeks later 2nd vaccination administered.
- Boosters are generally recommended every 6 months or sooner if there is an outbreak in your area.

Please feel free to contact the office with any questions or concerens.

🐎💉 Insol Vaccine for Sweet Itch💉🐎

It is getting to that time of year when itching is starting to begin again. Sweet itch is caused by a reaction to midges, which are starting to appear as the weather becomes more mild! 🪰

The Insol vaccine is licensed for use in horses with ringworm, however has been found to reduce sweet itch symptoms in some cases.

The vaccine course consists of one initial intramuscular vaccine followed by another approximately two weeks later. The vaccine works best when given before any symptoms begin.

If you have any questions or would like to book your horse or pony in for the vaccine course, please contact the office on 01942 733989/ [email protected], or speak to one of the vets!

The cars have been tinselled, Not-So-Secret Santa has been and the highly revered annual office Christmas Toilet is in full swing.

As our vets have (somehow) managed to make it onto Santa’s nice list; we will be on reduced hours over the next couple of weeks, however, as ever, there will be a vet on call 24/7 over the Christmas period if you do need us.
Our office opening hours are;

Monday 23rd December - Normal hours
Christmas Eve- 8am-2pm
Christmas Day - Emergencies only
Boxing Day - Emergencies only
Friday 27th - Normal hours

Monday 30th - Normal hours
New Years Eve- 8am- 2pm
New Years Day - Emergencies only
Thursday 2nd - Normal hours

So all is left to do is wish all our lovely clients and your wonderful four legged friends a very, very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

From all at Orrell Equine xx

Little P Margauxs pony looking all chrismassy.

Keratomas!! 🐴 🦶🧅

We seem to have had a surge in ‘Keratoma’ cases recently, so we thought we’d do a post!

We’ve seen several patients with recurrent foot abscesses which after further investigation were linked to underlying keratoma growths.

A keratoma is a benign locally invasive tumour (doesn't spread around the body) found in horses’ hooves. It grows in a cylindrical shape (like an onion 🧅) within the inner lining of the hoof wall, causing stretching of the white line and compression of the underlying pedal bone which is painful! Keratomas are *normally rare and their cause is generally unknown, although there is some suggestion that previous injury to the foot may play a part.

CLINICAL SIGNS:
- Lameness (of varying degrees).
- Alterations in the shape of the hoof wall (bulging).
- Deviation in the white line, seen on the solar surface.
- Non – healing, recurrent draining foot abscess.

DIAGNOSIS:
The diagnosis of a keratoma is almost always made on x-ray, with a definitive area of radiolucency (black area!!) overlying the pedal bone. Often a defect can be seen within the pedal bone structure, as the pressure from the growing keratoma causes osteolysis (bone breakdown).
In more subtle cases, an MRI scan may be needed to confirm the diagnosis.

TREATMENT:
Removal of the keratoma. This is done surgically, either standing or under general anaesthetic. A procedure called a Dorsal Wall Resection is performed, where the hoof wall is removed and the tumour visualised and removed (resected) from the underlying tissue. After the dorsal wall resection, horses are often fitted with a hospital plate and bar shoe, to give the foot support and keep the area clean.

RECOVERY & PROGNOSIS:
If the keratoma has been removed in its entirety then it should not return; the prognosis for return to soundness is very good. Recovery period depends on how quickly the hoof wall takes to grow down from the coronet band to fill in the defect. Some horses may be left with a cosmetic defect, such as a change in shape of the hoof wall (ridge forms); however, this does not usually cause any lameness or affect function.

For more information, feel free to contact the office on 01942 733989 / [email protected] or have a chat with one of the vets!