Offering a comprehensive range of mobile veterinary care, including portable diagnostics and innovative and regenerative treatments that can be tailored to meet your horse or pony's needs. Feel free to get in touch for more information today.
PulseVet Shockwave Therapy
We are very excited to be the third equine practice in the UK and the only practice in East Anglia to offer the revolutionary PulseVet Shockwave Treatment. Please make no mistake: This is a NOT the old-style radial shockwave but the most innovative & progressive machines on the market and is the only shockwave treatment that is backed by peer-reviews and published clinical research. This non-invasive treatment can accurately penetrate deep into tissue to reach the point of concern. It can not only shorten the healing period by around fifty per cent but also has an analgesic effect, which helps with pain management.
PulseVet’s shockwave technology can be used to treat a variety of injuries, including:
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Back pain, including relief from Kissing spine
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Tendon and ligament injuries
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OA/Joint inflammation and pain
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Foot Injuries (Desmitis/Navicular syndrome/Ringbone/Chronic Heel Pain)
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Wounds
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Bone Fractures (stress fractures/splints)
It is the perfect tool to assist with healing or can be used for maintenance to optimise movement and manage areas of chronic concern, keeping your horse happy and ready to perform.
Portable Gastroscopy
At Fuller Equine Ltd, we offer our clients a portable gastroscopy service in the comfort of their horses' homes. Your horse will be sedated, and bypassing our 3.35 m long digital endoscope down into the horse's stomach, we can view the digestive tract from the mouth, down the oesophagus, into the stomach and even the proximal duodenum. We can identify immediately if your horse is suffering from ulcers. The treatment can be started the same day to ensure your horse is on the road to recovery. We can record and take images in order to gauge lesion improvements after a period of treatment.
So, if your horse is showing signs of abdominal discomfort, equine colic, dull coat, weight loss, equine poor appetite or depression, they could be suffering from gastric ulcers. For more information or advice, please give us a call today.
Diagnosing Pain And Equine Lameness Investigation
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A lameness or performance examination can be carried out in the comfort of your horse or pony's home.
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Their gait will be assessed when walking and trotting in a straight line/on the lunge and, if required, ridden under saddle.
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Nerve blocks may be used as part of the lameness assessment to isolate pain. A small amount of short-acting local anaesthetic will be injected around a joint or soft tissue structure.
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An X-ray may be required and can show bony changes or lesions in the limb.
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Ultrasound may be used to examine soft tissue structures.
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In some instances, more advanced imaging, such as an MRI or bone scan, is required for further diagnosis, and our receptionist will be happy to refer you to one of the hospitals in our area.
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Our vets can collaborate with your farrier and physio to provide your horse with the chance to return to work.
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We believe that you know your horse best, so if you have any concerns about their performance or behaviour, don't hesitate to get in touch.
Joint Medications
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Once a diagnosis has been reached, we will discuss your horse's individual needs with you. A variety of medications are available to aid your horse's comfort and performance.
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Corticosteroids are anti-inflammatories injected into the joint. They cause a rapid and significant reduction in pain, but you would need to discuss with the vet if this is a suitable treatment for your horse.
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Aquamid is a silicone-based substance injected into the joint capsule, where it acts as a supportive, cushioning lining. It has been shown to have a positive effect up to 2 years after administration.
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Stem Cells: Arti-Cell Forte is a synthetically produced stem cell that is ready to medicate the joint or soft tissue structure. Mesenchymal stem cells can mature and differentiate to become bone, tendon, and cartilaginous cells and are used via injection to promote, repair, and regenerate tissue following injury.
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Pentosan Polysulphate (CartrophenTM) reduces cartilage damage and has anti-inflammatory properties. It can be injected into joints but is more commonly used as intramuscular injections.
Dental Work
We have invested in the latest dental power tools, including a motorised equine dental burr and oral video endoscopy.
We recommend a light sedative to perform a relaxed and thorough examination. Your horse's head will rest on an adjustable, purpose-built padded headstand, allowing any treatment to be carried out quickly and efficiently, which is less stressful for the horse. Should your horse need any further treatment, this will be discussed with you at your appointment.
Emergency Out of Hours Cover
Fuller Equine Ltd have a dedicated, experienced, equine vet available to care for your horse or pony in the event of an emergency and should the need arise for surgery, we can quickly refer to the equine hospital of your choice.
Contact us today for more information.
Equine Vaccinations
We recommend that all horses and ponies are vaccinated against Equine Influenza and Tetanus.
Tetanus
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1st and 2nd vaccinations are 28 days apart, and the 3rd vaccination is due no later than 17 months after the primary course. Thereafter a maximum of 2 years is recommended for the booster.
Flu & Tetanus
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1st and 2nd vaccinations are 28 days apart and the 3rd vaccination is due 5 months after the primary course. Thereafter a maximum of 1 year is recommended for the booster.
NB: Competition horse owners should ensure that their equines are vaccinated in accordance with the relevant sporting governing body.
Other vaccinations including Insol, EHV and Strangles vaccines can be administered upon request.
Please see our fact sheet for more information.
What the Equinois Q can do for your horse:
The Equinosis Q with Lameness Locator is a real-time, handheld, field-based system that enables us to objectively measure lameness in horses with non-invasive inertial sensors.
Movement data is collected through sensors that are placed at the horse’s pole, centre of pelvis and right forelimb ankle. The Equinosis Q allows the veterinarian to use objective data combined with the veterinarian’s visual evaluation when working up your horse’s lameness. This data is critically valuable when evaluating subtle lameness or lameness in multiple limbs.
It can also measure rider effectiveness on lameness, quantify the effectiveness of diagnostic nerve and joint blocks, monitor rehabilitation progress, and assess asymmetry in pre-purchase evaluations.
Pre-purchase Examinations (PPE)
We provide pre-purchase examinations (PPE) for potential equine purchasers. The process is essential to ensure that the horse is healthy and in good condition before purchase. A standard PPE process for horses involves:
The examination is according to the BEVA guidelines.
The standard examination is conducted in five stages, although the exact sequence of the examination may vary.
The stages are:
Stage 1: Preliminary examination
This is a thorough external examination of the animal at rest using visual observation, palpation and manipulation to detect clinically apparent signs of injury, disease or physical abnormality. It includes an examination of the incisor teeth, a thorough examination of the horse’s eyes in a darkened area and auscultation of the horse’s heart and lungs at rest. Examination of the eyes does not include dilating the pupil but should include examination of internal and external structures. The examination does not include an examination of the inside of the prepuce (sheath), a detailed mouth examination with a speculum, a height measurement or any examination for pregnancy.
Stage 2: Walk and trot, in hand
The animal is walked and then trotted in hand to detect abnormalities of gait and action. Ideally, this is carried out on firm, level ground. The horse is turned sharply each way and is backed for a few paces. Flexion tests of all four limbs and trotting in a circle on a firm surface may be carried out if the examining veterinary surgeon considers it safe and appropriate to do so.
Stage 4: Period of rest and re-examination
The horse is allowed to stand quietly for a period. During this time, the respiratory and cardiovascular systems may be monitored as they return to their resting levels.
Stage 5: Second trot up
The animal is trotted in hand again to look for any signs of strains or injuries made evident by the exercise and rest stages. Flexion tests and trotting in a circle. Flexion tests and trotting in a circle on a firm surface are not mandatory parts of the standard procedure, but they can sometimes provide useful additional information about a horse. There may be circumstances when the examining veterinary surgeon concludes that it is unsafe or inappropriate to perform such tests.
Stage 3: Exercise phase
The horse is given sufficient exercise to: 1. Allow assessment of the horse when it has an increased breathing effort and an increased heart rate. 2. Allow assessment of the horse’s gait at walk, trot, canter and, if appropriate, gallop. 3. Allow assessment of the horse for the purpose of stage five. If ridden exercise is not undertaken, this stage may be conducted by exercising the horse on a lunge. The certificate should clearly state what form of exercise was undertaken.
Blood Sample
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The certificate and opinion
The certificate should report the examination findings, including all significant signs of disease, injury, or physical abnormality. It should also include the equine first opinion vets as to whether, on the balance of probabilities, those findings prejudice the horse’s suitability for purchase for its intended use.
This opinion of the examining veterinary surgeon is given in the following format:
“In my opinion, on the balance of probabilities, the conditions reported above do/do not prejudice this horse’s suitability for purchase to be used for …”
This wording reflects the fact that there may be other reasonable interpretations of the findings, but it in no way reduces the responsibility of examining veterinary surgeons to examine and observe the horse carefully and to apply their professional knowledge and experience.
Suppose the examining veterinary surgeon considers that the clinical history represents a greater than normal risk of the horse developing future problems (i.e. recurrence or delayed consequences of a prior condition) or that it may do so. In that case, this should be indicated on the certificate along with an explanatory note. Despite such observations, the horse may nevertheless be suitable for purchase based on a risk/benefit analysis.
Incomplete examinations
If any parts of the five stages are omitted for any reason, the opinion given is based purely upon those parts of the examination that were completed. The incomplete examination will not have identified any clinical signs of disease, injury or abnormality that could only have been revealed by a part of the standard procedure that was omitted. If the purchaser requests a limited (two-stage) examination, the examination will be limited in its scope and may not detect important clinical factors that could otherwise influence their decision to purchase the horse.
Ownership
The certificate identifies the horse examined, but it is not the responsibility of the examining veterinary surgeon to ascertain that the declared seller has legal title to the horse. It is the responsibility of the purchaser to satisfy themselves as to the ownership of the horse before purchase and to verify the records of any microchip with the relevant database.
Vices
Vices are objectionable habits but are not necessarily detectable during the examination. However, suppose vices, or evidence of vices, are observed during the examination. In that case, they should be reported to the purchaser, recorded on the certificate, and taken into account in the concluding opinion.
Height
The height of a horse or pony is not the concern of the examining veterinary surgeon for the purposes of this examination.
Previous treatments
The horse may have received previous or concurrent veterinary treatment unknown to the examining veterinary surgeon. This may be so even where the examining veterinary surgeon is the seller’s regular veterinary surgeon and has access to clinical records for the horse. At the time of the examination, the horse may have been subject to some previously administered drug or medicament that had the effect of masking or concealing some disease, injury, or physical abnormality that might otherwise have been clinically discoverable. A blood sample taken at the time of the examination may be used later to seek to determine this.
Age
Without appropriate paper records from foalhood, it is not possible to accurately confirm a horse's age. Estimates of age based on a dental examination are imprecise and unreliable, and exact ageing using dentition alone should be avoided. In the absence of documentary evidence, the term ‘aged’ may be used to refer to a horse considered to be over 15 years of age after examination.
Seller’s warranty
The opinion provides no assurances with respect to matters that can only be established by a seller’s representations to the purchaser. A seller’s warranty is a matter between the seller and the purchaser and is not the responsibility of the examining veterinary surgeon. The purchaser should consider obtaining a written warranty from the seller covering, for example, matters such as medical or surgical history, height, freedom from vices, temperament, non-administration of drugs prior to the examination and the horse’s previous or existing uses and performance levels.
Insurance
Where possible and if required, the prospective purchaser is advised to confirm that they are able to obtain suitable insurance cover before purchasing the horse. NB. Pre-purchase examination certificates are suitable for submission to insurance companies with a proposal for the insurance of the horse. Insurance examinations carried out for an existing owner of a horse may follow the same format as the five-stage pre-purchase examination, but they will not include an opinion and should not be interpreted as a pre-purchase examination. Insurance examinations should be recorded using the “Certificate of Examination of a Horse for Insurance Purposes”. Based on the findings of the vetting, further examination may be suggested at this stage. Fuller Equine Ltd vets are equipped with digital X-rays, equine ultrasounds, and endoscopes, so this exam can usually be made immediately.
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