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THE ED I TOR
Welcome to the ‘Autumn 2015’
edition of
Equine Matters...
...produced by XLEquine practices.
In this issue we focus on ‘kissing spines‘
including real life surgical case examples.
We look at diseases affecting horses as we
approach the winter months such as mud
fever, dehydration and lymphangitis and
provide an insight into nursing the sick donkey.
We have chosen to discuss a potential
emerging viral disease in West Nile Virus
as well as continue to provide an insight
into XLEquine with three more featured
veterinary surgeons.
On behalf of XLEquine I would like to wish
you all a great autumn and winter season.
Autumn Feature
09
Kissing spines in horses:
Colin Mitchell, Scott Mitchell Associates
provides us with information on kissing
spines and back pain in horses.
11
Case study: interspinous ligament
desmotomy surgery:
Fiona Elliott, Hook Norton Veterinary Group.
12
Case study: dorsal spinous process
resection surgery:
Lee Pritchard, Calweton Equine.
13
Equine insurance:
Jane King, Westmorland Veterinary Group
discusses insuring your horse including
how to make a claim.
Lee Pritchard
BVSc CertAVP PGCertVPS MRCVS
Calweton Veterinary Group
XLEquine member
practices
608 Farm & Equine Veterinary Surgeons
Ardene House Vet Practice Limited
Ashbrook Equine Hospital
Belmont Farm and Equine Vets Ltd
Bishopton Veterinary Group
Calweton Veterinary Group
Capontree Veterinary Centre
Chapelfield Veterinary Partnership
Cliffe Veterinary Group
Clyde Veterinary Group
Donald S McGregor & Partners
Endell Veterinary Group
Fellowes Farm Equine Clinic
Fenwold Veterinary Practice
Glenthorne Veterinary Group
Hook Norton Veterinary Group
Larkmead Veterinary Group
Midshire Veterinary Group Limited
Millcroft Veterinary Group
Northvet Veterinary Group
Paragon Veterinary Group
Parklands Veterinary Group
Penbode Equine Vets
Rosevean Veterinary Practice
Scarsdale Veterinary Group
Scott Mitchell Associates
Severn Edge Veterinary Group
St Boniface Veterinary Clinic
Torch Farm and Equine Vets
Wensum Valley Veterinary Surgeons
Westmorland Veterinary Group
Wright & Morten Veterinary Surgeons
XLEquine
is a novel and exciting initiative
conceived from within the veterinary profession.
We are all independently owned, progressive
veterinary practices located throughout the
United Kingdom committed to working together
for the benefit of our clients.
AUTUMN EDITION
C O N T E N T S
Equine Matters
is published by:
XLVet UK Ltd, Carlisle House
Townhead Road, Dalston
Carlisle CA5 7JF
Tel: (01228) 711788
*This publication is supplied free of charge to
equine clients of XLVets member practices.
© XLVet UK Ltd
No part of this publication may be reproduced
without prior permission of the publisher.
Disclaimer:
XLVets does not necessarily share the views of
contributors. No responsibility can be accepted
for opinions expressed by contributors, or claims
made by advertisers within this publication.
CONTENTS
03
Mud fever:
Laura Ruby, Calweton Equine runs us
through treatment and prevention of
mud fever.
05
Practical equine worming:
Liz Bennett, Larkmead Vets looks at the
latest management of worms.
07
Nursing the sick donkey:
Louise Pailor, Wright & Morten
Veterinary Surgeons provides us
with an insight into the problems
surrounding nursing and care of the
donkey.
15
Understanding blood and plasma
transfusions:
Paul May, Paragon Veterinary Group
discusses these life-saving procedures.
16
Lymphangitis in horses:
Andrew Illing, Chapelfield Veterinary
Partnership looks at the topic of
lymphangitis.
17
West Nile Virus:
Andrea Kilduff-Taylor, 608 Farm &
Equine provides information on this
emerging viral disease.
18
Vet viewpoint:
We view the opinions of our vets on the
topic of West Nile Virus.
19
Dehydration in horses:
Heather Urquhart, Scarsdale Veterinary
Group discusses the treatment and prevention
of dehydration in horses.