Equine Services
At Penmellyn we offer the following services, click on the title to find out more, or scroll down for full descriptions:
Lameness Investigations
Equine Lameness's are one of the most common medical conditions seen by our veterinary surgeons and our modern, purpose built facilities allow us to work cases up in more detail than ever. The grounds provide soft and hard surfaces to investigate lameness in hand or under saddle, including a cambered concrete track and a sand covered lunging ring . This allows us to investigate even mild and sometimes inconsistent lameness.
From a simple but protracted foot abscess to complex back problems like spinal process impingement (kissing spine) we come across a wide range of conditions effecting the horses musculo-skeletal system.
It very much depends on the veterinary surgeons skill and experience to perform meaningful lameness investigations and a whole range of equipment to complete the task. Regional nerve and joint blocks by injecting local anaesthetic around nerves or into joints helps localize the source of pain first while radiography and ultrasonography aid in visualizing any potential defect. Treatment options can vary from rest and pain relief to arthroscopy or shock wave therapy.
135 kV X-Ray Machine
We are in the fortunate position to have one of the most powerful X-Ray machines in the South West installed at or facilities in St. Columb Major.
This allows us to take images of most structures that are normally hard to visualize like heads, chests, abdomens and backs next to all views of the lower limbs.
A brand new digital developer makes radiography so much quicker and easier to perform with much better images as a result . Images are now stored electronically and can be received or forwarded to insurances, potential purchasers or for a second opinion via e mail.
Ultrasonography
Penmellyn Veterinary Group currently uses three ultrasound machines, two of which are used on yard for fertility work and less detailed soft tissue assessments while all musculo skeletal ultrasonography is performed at St. Columb Major. There we have one of the best scanners available on the marked, producing images of outstanding quality with a frequency range between 3.5 to 7 MHZ so to be able to visualize depth and detail. Investigating tendon damage in the sports horse are one of traditional reasons for ultrasonography but cardio thoracic or abdominal ultrasonography form part of many more complex investigations. Ultrasonography literally puts eyes on our fingertips and knowledge combined with tools brings results.
Shock Wave Therapy
A non invasive treatment option for many musculo skeletal conditions that was first used in human top athletes with great success and has since found its way into equine medicine. Many acute and chronic soft or hard tissue conditions in the growing or adult horse respond well to treatment, starting from limb deformities in the foal to tendon injuries in the equine athlete.
We are in the fortunate position to provide this service to registered or referred patients, please do contact the surgery if you want to discuss this exciting treatment option for your horse or the horse of a client. For further information please email admin@penmellyn.co.uk
Arthroscopy
Penmellyn Veterinary Group is in the fortunate position to offer a range of minimum invasive investigative and therapeutic procedures.
Arthroscopy is used to investigate joints or synovial spaces and perform surgical procedures via "Key holes" with a minimum of damage to surrounding soft tissue.
Endoscopy
Penmellyn Veterinary Group has been using Endoscopy for many years with great success. This technique allows visual access to Mouth, Nose , Sinuses, Guttural Pouches, Throat, Windpipe, Lungs, Bladder, Womb and Colon. Abnormalities such as foreign bodies, ulcers, accumulation of unwanted fluids or tumours can be identified and treatment initiated under endoscopic guidance.
Gastroscopy
Gastroscopy specifically visualizes the stomach and beginning of the small intestine via the oesophagus.
Due to the position of the stomach in most hoses above the size of a Shetland Pony a gastroscope has to be of a certain length to reach its target. For technical reasons this mean an increased diameter of the instrument which makes it into a single use instrument. Practically we are looking at a very long, big endoscope that purely serves one purpose, is expensive to buy and of single use. For this reason the practice currently does not own a gastroscope but we can offer access by appointment through a visiting consultant.
We are fully aware that many horses and ponies suffer from varies degrees of Gastric Ulceration Syndrome (GUS) and many animals have been diagnosed by Penmellyn Veterinary Group and treated successfully. Please do contact the practice if you are a client or want to refer a horse at admin@penmellyn.co.uk
Intensive Foal Care
Penmellyn Veterinary Group due to its modern purpose built facilities is in the fortunate position to provide intensive care for the neonatal foal. Due to 24 Hour Emergency Horse care and 24 Hour nursing, all supervised by a dedicated veterinary surgeon, the chances of survival of a weak or injured foal have dramatically increased.
If you have a mare going through a problem pregnancy or want to refer a sick or injured foal please contact the surgery directly on 01637 880307
Stud Medicine - Artificial Insemination (AI)
Penmellyn Veterinary Group has long been involved in Stud Medicine and has years of experience in fresh, chilled or frozen insemination. We have been on the British Equine Veterinary Associations (BEVA) List of approved AI Centres for many years and have met or acceded the standard. We offer very competitive packages for mares for AI at the surgery or can put together a bespoke package to suit your and your mares individual needs. We recognize the fact that every mare is different and pride ourselves for a bespoke approach to stud medicine.
All our clients involved in breeding horses receive a price list for procedures, drugs and consumables at the beginning of each breeding season so that services can be built around the mares needs and the owners budget. Breeding horses can be very rewarding but also frustrating , for this reason we aim to work together with the mare/stud owner from the start so that all major decisions can be made based on consent and mutual trust.
At the Penmellyn Equine Department we appreciate the fact that every mare is unique and so our approach to fertility has to be tailored specifically for each individual case.
A young mare with proven fertility and an uncomplicated breeding history naturally will require less of an input than a mare in her late teens who has had several foals but remained barren inspite of reasonable efforts the previous year. Basis for any assessment of future fertility has to be based on breeding record and a thorough clinical examination of the mare. We are committed to a realistic approach to stud work where we work in partnership with mare owner and stud manager. Careful communications from the start are vital so that expectations can be met and disappointment avoided.
The reasons for putting a mare in foal are varied, be it a lifestyle or commercial decision, we are aware of the specific requirements and aim to cater for them. Whether to travel a mare to stud and have her served naturally or artificially inseminated there or to send her to our BEVA approved facilities is a matter of personal choice.
At our hospital we offer package deals for chilled and frozen artificial insemination but inspite of a fixed, hence predicable fee for our medical input each mare receives individual clinical attention to meet her specific fertility requirements. In case of any unforeseen complications, matters will be discussed with owner/stud manager to agree on extra procedures necessary.
We practice stud medicine at a higher than ever clinical level and almost every problem can be overcome. What all parties involved in putting a mare in foal need to appreciate is that we can help matters along and improve her chances significantly but we cannot force her into foal. Much of it boils down to hard work, realistic expectations and that little bit of luck.
Too often do I hear mare owners complain that they spent a fortune on vet's fees last season to get their mare in foal but got her home empty with little to no explanation. This deeply frustrating situation we try to avoid with our bespoke attitude to mare, owner and stud manager.
We are happy to work out solutions that fit within a budget and focus on essential requirements while still being able to provide the gold/platinum when a pregnancy is required at all cost.
In that it can be helpful to set yourself a financial framework and invest as much money as you are prepared to lose or put the value of a future foal as the limit of your budget.
To help you make your decisions the equine team at Penmellyn is always ready to help. Please do not hesitate to contact Sarah or Sam at our equine department who will put you in touch with one of our vets or you can contact me under admin@penmellyn.co.uk or ring 01637 880307. Wishing you every success with your breeding ventures.
Please click here to view the relevant consent forms
Dentistry
Progress in Equine Dentistry has been enormous in recent years and Penmellyn Veterinary Group is proud to provide a complete service to current and future clients and all horses referred to us. Our service starts from a routine oral examination followed by appropriate treatment with manual rasps or motorised equipment depending on degree of dental abnormalities. We recommend a dental examinations every six month as horses generally respond well to regular less invasive treatment if required and small abnormalities corrected in time will in most cases prevent the development of major dental disease. Penmellyn Veterinary Group pays special attention on dental care for the aging horse and pony where oral health and functional teeth often equate health and quality of live. Welfare and live expectancy can often greatly increased by gently but effective dental care. One big advantage of having equine dentistry provided by a veterinary surgeon with an interest in horses teeth is the fact that a vets we can use sedation and local anaesthesia if and when required.
In contrast, well qualified and experienced Equine Dental Technicians sometimes struggle to complete the task with a nervous horse or a horse with oral discomfort. Horses suffering from major dental abnormalities or dental disease can be investigated by radiography/endoscopy at our facilities in St. Columb Major and oral extraction or surgery under general anaesthetic performed if required. Regular visits by a specialist consultant who is an internationally recognized expert in the field of equine dentistry enable us to provide the most complete and extensive service.
If you do require more information or want to refer a horse ,pony or donkey for an investigative or therapeutic procedure please do not hesitate to contact me at admin@penmellyn.co.uk
Please click here to view the relevant consent forms
Remedial Farriery
Penmellyn Veterinary Group is proud to have a very good working relationship with most farriers in the County of Cornwall. We recognize the fact that not every farrier is interested in remedial farriery but put great emphasis on correct communications between the owner and his/he farrier and veterinary surgeon.
Only if the owners farrier is unwilling or unable to perform remedial farriery under guidance by a veterinary surgeon do we offer access to outside expertise. The remedial farrier introduced by us aims to work in partnership with the owners farrier to guarantee consistency and continuity in every case. Good communications between owner, farrier and veterinary surgeon are essential for a positive outcome . All parties involved often prefer an easy informal approach by meeting up or through telephone calls or digital photographs. Written instruction will be left with the horse owner for the farrier if the farrier is unavailable or unwilling to work with the practice or a remedial farrier through the practice.
Many progressive farriers are keen to base their remedial work on radiographs taken before shoeing a horse. Radiographs allow farriers to assess foot balance and horn growth so that the feet can be trimmed more correctly. Statistically 80 percent of lameness in the horse are foot related so your farrier does more than just shoe your horse, he/she by balancing the feet and trimming correctly makes your horse perform better and remain sound for longer.
Once age or wear and tear lead to lameness caused by Degenerative Joint Disease (DJD) in your horse, this does not necessarily mean the end of the road, DJD or osteoarthritis can be effectively managed in a variety of ways, all best done in partnership between horse owner, farrier and veterinary surgeon.
Farriers and Veterinary Surgeons
The key to good relations and effective treatment is direct communication between farrier and veterinary surgeon.
Both farriers and veterinary-surgeons are 'involved-in the treatment of horses' feet. While veterinary surgeons are exempt from the restrictions in the Farriers (Registration) Act 1975, as amended, farriers are not exempt from the restrictions in the Veterinary Surgeons Act 1966, and may not carry out procedures deemed to be acts of veterinary surgery.
There is no clear demarcation line between farriers and veterinary surgeons in the exercise of their respective professional responsibilities, so that much depends on individuals and the relationship between them. Decisions as to whether a particular procedure should be performed by one or the other are a matter for consultation and co-operation. Farriers should make every effort to discuss cases personally with veterinary surgeons.
Farriery includes trimming and balancing the equine hoof and the fitting of any shoes. Where a veterinary surgeon requires particular work from a farrier, this should be specified in personal contact between them, or in writing. Verbal messages passed via the client should be confirmed by direct contact.
Where the farriery work to be carried out goes beyond the basic trimming of the feet and the fitting of shoes, farriers should ensure that they have the necessary competence. If farriers are presented with conditions for which they do not have the training, experience or skill, they should seek advice or help from a suitably experienced farrier or veterinary surgeon.
A farrier must not normally penetrate sensitive structures, cause unreasonable stress to the animal, make a diagnosis or administer drugs. If he/she feels that either the veterinary surgeon is treating the animal incorrectly or a further condition is present requiring treatment, he/she should notify the veterinary surgeon or advise the owner to call in the veterinary surgeon. If a veterinary surgeon considers that a farrier's work is inadequate or should be modified he/she should contact the farrier directly. Neither should make detrimental comments about the work of the other unless in the course of a formal complaint to their regulatory bodies, the Farriers Registration Council or the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons.
Referrals
All farriers should recognise when a case is outside their own area of competence and be prepared to refer it to a colleague whom they are satisfied is competent to carry out the investigations or treatment involved. Asking for a second opinion is not a sign of weakness or inferiority. Properly arranged consultations will advance the reputation of both parties in the eyes of the public and the owner. Farriers should be aware that the client has a right to request a referral or second opinion. In such cases, the initial contact should be made by the primary farrier and the client then asked to arrange the appointment.
The distinction between a second opinion and a referral should be clearly understood by both farrier and client. A second opinion is for confirmation of the proposed course of action, whereas a referral to a referral practice will be for possible treatment, after which the case should be referred back to the original farrier. Neither a second opinion farrier nor a referral practice should ever seek to take over the client.
A case history and instructions as to the particular reason for referral should be supplied. Any further information which may be requested should be supplied promptly.
Farriers should not use a referral as an opportunity to pass on difficult clients, or known bad debtors.
The primary farrier should have the opportunity to correct or amend his/her work before referral to another farrier, if a problem has been highlighted by a third party.
Referrals to other farriers should not be made without the primary farrier's knowledge.
Taking Over Clients
Although both farrier and client have freedom of choice, as a matter of professional courtesy and in the interests of the welfare of the horse involved, a farrier should not knowingly take over a colleague's customer without informing the colleague in question.
Please click here to view the relevant consent forms
Acupuncture
Penmellyn Veterinary Group is committed to evidence based medicine but also has an open mind towards alternative or holistic treatment.
Pete Murrish, MRCVS, a partner in Penmellyn Veterinary Group has a specific interest in Equine Acupuncture and you can contact him at admin@penmellyn.co.uk
Pre-Purchase Examination - PPE or Vetting
Penmellyn Veterinary Group regularly performs pre purchase examinations following local or long distance requests. The aim of a vetting by definition is to assess a horse's suitability for a defined purpose and it is our task to give you an opinion on whether we find the horse in question suitable for your given purpose.
Communication between potential purchaser and veterinary surgeon are essential and follow a clearly defined path. There is some paperwork involved and details can be obtained from our office during day time ours.
Relevant forms can be printed off this website. Due to conflict of interest we are not in a position to perform PPE on horses belonging to current clients.
For more information please contact the office during daytime hours on 01637 880307
Please click here for a copy of the joint memorandum prepared by The Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons and the BVA
Joint Measurement
Penmellyn Veterinary Group are registered with the Joint Measurement Board , for any questions in regards to officially measuring horses or ponies please contact the surgery during office hours on 01637 880307
Please click here to view the relevant consent forms
Event Support
Penmellyn Veterinary Group has a long history of supporting local community events. We provide sponsorship to groups and provide veterinary cover free of charge for charitable events if possible. As a practice we actively support organisations like the RSPCA, ROTARY, the LIONS CLUB, the Royal Agricultural Benevolent Fund, the Royal Cornwall Agricultural Association and many more.
For any non charitable organisation we can provide veterinary cover if required subject to availability of veterinary surgeons for the event and level responsibility .
If you do require veterinary cover for an Equestrian Event, either for a vet on stand by for emergencies or veterinary presence on site , please do contact the surgery during daytime hours.
Charitable Events will be free of charge if cover can be found, all other events will be charged at mutually agreed rate depending on availability of veterinary surgeons.
Physiotherapy
Penmellyn Veterinary Group has a good working relationship with most local Equine Physiotherapists and we appreciate the benefit that their work can have for horses and ponies. We regularly receive referrals from Equine Physiotherapists who suspect a problem that needs veterinary investigation and we aim to work in partnership with the horses/ponies owner and the physiotherapist.
Many issues in horses that lead to poor performance, moderate intermittent lameness or stiffness have more than one reason and an open minded approach often is the key to success.
Physiotherapy after prolonged rest or after surgical procedures often proves highly beneficial to the recovering horse and we are happy to discuss your specific requirements. Ruth Varcoe ,MRCVS, a partner in Penmellyn Veterinary Group has a specific interest in Equine Physiotherapy and can be contacted at admin@penmellyn.co.uk