Emergencies

Our Equine vets offer a 24-hour emergency service. We are fully ambulatory and available to attend to your needs at your facility or the place of the emergency. We have portable equipment not limited to but including x-ray, ultrasound, endoscope, portable crush, foaling equipment, minor surgical supplies for lacerations.

It is helpful to have a description of the problem including the horse’s critical status, the type of emergency and duration. Our customer services team will help guide you if there is anything helpful to do while you are awaiting our arrival.

Examples of some Common Emergencies that need an emergency call-out

Colic - Not eating feed, lethargic, laying down, rolling, kicking at belly. Many causes, can progress quickly.
Eyes - Swollen, tearing, squinting, cloudy.
Heat Exhaustion - Excessive sweating, rapid heart rate and respiration rate, elevated temperature (can get very high).
Toe-touching or non-weight-bearing lameness - Possibilities: hoof abscess, nail in hoof, fracture, laminitis. Call the vet first before moving horse if possible.
Grain overload - Risk of colic, toxaemia and laminitis.
Deep lacerations, puncture wounds
Tying Up - Horse has been worked hard and then doesn’t want to move, sweating, muscle quivers, tight muscles, possible red/brown urine.
Dermatological, Allergic Reaction - Hives (raised bumps all over body), major swelling of head – risk of anaphylactic shock, respiratory distress
Foaling Emergencies:
- Red bag presentation
- Delayed foaling
- Malposition
- Post foaling colicky mare
- Post foaling retained placenta.