Welcome

Norfolk Equine Veterinary Services is an ambulatory equine practice based in Hillington, King's Lynn, Norfolk. We are servicing north-west Norfolk, parts of south Lincolnshire and parts of Cambridgeshire. This will be approximately within a 30 miles radius from Hillington. Please contact us if you're not sure if your yard lies in our catchment area.

After having worked as an equine-veterinarian for a large-animal practice in Norfolk for almost 2 years and having worked for some time in one of the larger equine referal hospitals, I got the opportunity to set up my own practice in Norfolk together with my partner Lianne Barrett.

Our vision is to provide a high standard of equine medicine at very affordable and competitive prices and all this at your yard. For this, we have invested in some state-of-the-art equipment which we can bring with us. I am also a strong believer in continuous education to stay in touch with the newest developments/treatments and recent research.

I hope you will check-out the rest of our website so that you get a better idea of who we are and what we do. Don't hesitate to contact us with any questions or remarks.

Yours truly,

Hans

News:

 

West Nile Virus:

Because the likelihood of West Nile Virus coming to the UK is ever increasing, we have decided to stock a small amount of vaccine from now on.

West Nile Virus is transmitted by female mosquitoes. In Europe the principal vectors are mosquitoes of the genus Culex that are distributed widely across Europe.
Transported into Europe by migratory birds from Africa, the transmission cycle of WNV in Europe is typically maintained by passerine birds.
Incidence of WNV disease is seasonal: typical peak activity is from July through October.

Besides suffering from fever, general loss of appetite and depression, specific clinical symptoms in horses suffering from WNV are almost exclusively neurological: weakness of hind limbs ranging from incoordination to paralysis, impaired vision, ataxia, head pressing, aimless wandering, convulsions (seizures), dysphagia,
walking in circles, hyperexcitability, coma.
– 10% of horses infected with WNV develop neurological disorders associated with encephalitis.
– Mortality rate among clinically affected horses range from 20 to 57%.

If you would like to learn more, please visit our Equine Health page and look under medical conditions.

Happy New Year to all: Equine Influenza Back-On-Track initiative 2012.

After the success of last year’s Back-On-Track, we are again holding an equine influenza Vaccination Back on Track Initiative during January 2012, to help owners get their horses’ vaccinations up-to-date. Our practice would like to offer you a discounted primary vaccination course consisting of a free second vaccination (terms and conditions apply). If your horses’ vaccinations need to be brought up-to-date, please contact us to see if your horse qualifies for this initiative and arrange an appointment.

 Please don’t delay, as the Vaccination Back on Track Initiative only runs until the end of January 2012.

 

Our Newest Equipment: Thermal Camera

Equine thermal imaging is a non-invasive diagnostic tool that uses thermal imaging equipment and computer software to detect minute differences in the horse's thermal and neural condition: inflammation, muscle injury and nerve injuries can be diagnosed in a non-intrusive and speedier manner. It allows us to quickly and efficiently identify trauma in an injured animal. Thermal cameras not only help in the diagnosis, they are extremely useful in the after care and preventative areas also. For example, thermography can be used to assess the vasculature and blood flow to tissues before and after exercise. Other uses include pre-purchase examinations, saddle fit, a training aid to avoid injury, pre-race examinations, following tendon healing after injury etc.

 

 

Equine Health

Check-out our new page on Equine Health: new owner factsheets which can be printed out directly by you.

Recent CPD

Hans attended the Gastroscopy Training Forum in May this year.

Vet of the Year

Hans was nominated for Vet of the Year in the prestigious Petplan Veterinary Awards 2011. Known as the 'Oscars of the Veterinary World', these celebrated awards are highly regarded and to be nominated is a great achievement. Thank you to everyone who put Hans forward as a nominee.

 

 

 

 

 

Strangles vaccination

We are happy to announce that the Strangles vaccination is again available. We have already ordered some but we would like to get an idea of how many clients are interested in having their horses vaccinated against this very contagious disease.

Basic vaccination: Horses from 4 months of age onwards receive two vaccinations of one dose with a 4 week interval.
Revaccination: Revaccinate every 3 months in high risk horses and every 6 months in low risk horses.

The RRP will be £21.34/vaccine (VAT incl.). However, we are offering our clients the first 2 vaccinations (=basic vaccination) at a reduced price of £17.77 per vaccination per horse.

Please let us know if you’re interested in this vaccination and if so, how many horses you want vaccinated.

 

Sweet Itch

Fidavet Cavalesse (produced by Janssen Animal Health) is a natural food supplement containing the active ingredient Nicotinamide (a type of Vitamin B3), which is known to have a specific effect on the immune system within the skin. It is useful for all types of allergic skin disease in the horse, in particular sweet itch.
Cavalesse comes in both an oral form, for once a day administration, and a topical (cream) form. The products can be used separately or in conjunction with one another for maximum benefit. While Cavalesse can be used as a treatment for sweet itch and other allergies, it works best if given a month or so before the allergy season starts for your horse, and it should be continued throughout the risk period. Good midge avoidance and prevention techniques should also still be practised.

Let us know if you would like to order Cavalesse.

CPD

After attending the yearly AAEP Convention in Baltimore (US) in December, Hans followed a 3 day course on stallion sub-fertility in Newmarket last January.

We are lowering our vaccination prices

To celebrate the beginning of a new year, we have decided to lower the prices of all our horse vaccines. Our new prices from the 1st of January 2011 are:

• Flu vaccination: £16.79 + VAT.
• Flu/Tetanus vaccination: £21.75 + VAT.
• Tetanus vaccination: £6.44 + VAT.
• Equine Herpes (Rhinopneumonia) vaccination: £19.75 + VAT.
• EVA vaccination (stallions): £78.17 + VAT.
• Ringworm vaccination: £26.12 + VAT.

Please note that these prices are linked to our whole-saler prices and as such can change without prior notice.

Power tool

Our most recent investment is an HDE Power Tool with a Flexxidisk piece which is an extremely versatile and incredibly robust tool. The low profile head makes it easy to reduce overgrowths in the tightest of mouths and the well guarded diamond disc is extremely tissue friendly. We also have the Bowl Hand Piece which is used to reduce hooks and ramps on the first two premolars.

 

 

 

Gasterophilus (bots)

Recently, during a gastroscopy, we found Gasterophilus (bot) larvae in the stomach of a horse; bringing home the message that it's that time of the year again when you should administer a wormer with ivermectin or moxidectin as active ingredient to kill off these larvae.

Clinical signs of bot infection can range from ill-thrift, poor performance, to low grade colic.
The larvae attaching to the stomach cause inflammation which could result in gastritis, ulceration, perforation and even death.

The larvae can easily spend 9 months in the horse.

 

Pasture Management to Minimize the Risk of Equine Laminitis

The sugar, starch, and fructan content (collectively referred to as nonstructural carbohydrates [NSC]) of pasture plants is dependent on the environmental conditions under which they have grown. Pasture that is stressed by cold, drought, or lack of nutrients can be 2 to 3 times higher in NSC than pasture that grows quickly in warm weather and is adequately watered and fertilized. Horses at risk for laminitis should have access to pasture limited or be removed completely when environmental conditions are conducive to high levels of NSC accumulation.

 

Following the annual meeting between BEVA and the Equine Insurers Forum (EIF) in May 2010 an interesting point was raised that is of interest to our clients:

• Diagnosis of Equine Gastric Ulceration Syndrome (EGUS) and treatment with GastroGard™.  The EIF felt that, in order to support claims, it was essential for veterinary surgeons to make a definitive diagnosis of EGUS prior to prescribing GastroGard™.  The EIF felt that the long term costs associated with this treatment justified this level of claim verification.  In other words, confirming the presence of gastric ulcers by gastroscopy is necessary before the treatment with GastroGard will be covered by the insurance companies.

Volcanic ash: vets issue advice to pet owners

The BVA (British Veterinary Association) advice to pet owners is

• if you notice any symptoms or smell sulphur, rotten eggs or a strong acidic smell take reasonable action to protect your pets by limiting their time outdoors
• any pets with respiratory problems should be well protected from the atmosphere
• cover outdoor aviaries to protect birds
• find suitable shelter for any pets that usually live outdoors.

Commenting, Professor Bill Reilly, President of the British Veterinary Association, said:

“At this stage we don’t know for certain what the impact of the volcanic ash on human and animal health will be but we know that dusty particles can cause irritation to eyes and the respiratory system so it makes sense for everyone to take sensible precautions for themselves and their pets.

“Pet owners should limit the amount of time that they and their animals spend outside if they detect the ash and consult a vet if they have any concerns about the health of their pets.”

 

EDP Equestrian Directory:

In the latest EDP Equestrian Directory (Spring-Summer 2010) a full article has been dedicated to our practice. We have free copies of the directory available for our clients or you can pick-up a free copy from most tackshops.

Horse Scene magazine:

Hans was asked by the publishers of "Horse Scene" to start writting a monthly article for the magazine. The first article on breeding was published in the March issue followed in April by an article about foaling. In May, the subject will be Equine Grass Sickness. We always receive some copies of this free magazine to hand out to our clients, just ask for one.

CPD:

Hans has followed some very interesting practical courses in March:

• Distal Limb Ultrasonography Workshop at Cambridge University.
• Mare and Stallion Reproduction Course with Dr. Dickson Varner (USA).

Insol Dermatophyton:

For a few years now, Insol Dermatophyton (a ringworm vaccine) has been available in certain European countries. The product can be used as a preventive vaccination or as treatment of ringworm. By applying for a Special Import Certificate, we have been able to import some Insol to treat several horses with ringworm and we are very pleased with the results. Especially in these cold months when topical application of anti-fungal washes is often difficult and unpleasant, the use of Insol Dermatophyton has proved to be an excellent treatment.

Insol is injected twice with 14 days in between (a third injection is sometimes necessary when used as treatment) and this is repeated every 9 months if it's used as a preventive vaccination.

 

Dr. Hans Delaunois-Vanderperren as co-author:

In December, Hans was a co-author with Dr. Bob Wright of the article " Tumours and tumour like growths in horses-Part 1: Neoplastic masses" which was published in a Canadian magazine.

 

Atipical myopathy (Tying-up):

During October an unusually high number of cases of atypical myopathy has been observed in southern England and throughout northern Europe. This condition affects individual and groups of horses at pasture and has a high mortality rate. Young horses in poor to normal bodily condition are particularly prone to the condition and risk factors include cold, damp, frost-free weather and pastures with poor natural drainage and vegetation of low nutritional value. Affected horses have discoloured brown urine and are stiff and weak progressing to recumbency. In its early stages, the condition can be confused with colic or laminitis. Intensive supportive care is indicated.

Further studies:

In September, Lianne enrolled into the "Equine Nursing Technician level 3" course organized by the Open College of Equine Studies and Hans started the on-line "Masters in Equine Science" course from Edinburgh University.

Because both courses are distance-learning, there will be minimal disruption to our normal services.

Dr. Hans Delaunois-Vanderperren is awarded the Certificate in Equine Medicine (Stud Medicine):

On the 8th of August, Hans was succesful in the examination and was awarded the Certificate in Equine Medicine (Stud Medicine) by the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons. The certificate subject consisted of equine internal medicine and more specific all aspects of equine reproduction and new-born foal medicine. Currently, he's the only holder of this certificate in the whole of Norfolk.

To quote the RCVS: "Certificate level indicates a clinician who has proved by examination, his/her experience and competence in the subject examined".

First West Nile virus vaccine to be licensed in Europe:

West Nile virus is an insect transmitted viral disease. A disease that mainly affects birds: but can be transmitted to people, horse and other animals. Horses and people are the most susceptible to West Nile virus, where the disease can cause a potential fatal neurological disease. Death rates in horses that succumb to the neurological form of the disease range from 20 to 57%, whereas in people it is around 1%.

West Nile virus is obviously of concern if you are travelling with your horse to an area where West Nile virus is endemic, such as the United States. However, with West Nile virus now considered endemic in Italy, the risk to horses residing in Europe may also be increasing.

Birds migrating from Africa across Europe, infected with West Nile virus, are the source of any potential outbreak of West Nile virus in Europe. Surveillance work has found birds across Europe to be infected with West Nile virus. Climate changes that bring warmer, more humid weather, changes in mosquito populations with increase in mosquitoes that readily bite both birds and animals that also survive the rigours of northern winters, as well as human activities including air travel, are all factors that increase the potential threat of further outbreaks of West Nile virus across Europe.

Vaccination can greatly reduce the risk of horses suffering the consequences of West Nile virus. This effectiveness has been successfully shown in the United States where the number of reported equine cases has declined year-on-year since the height of the 2002 outbreak. To protect horses against West Nile virus, the animal needs to be vaccinated prior to the swarming season of the mosquito and so before the animal is at risk of being bitten. Read more. Owner factsheet.

Revised horse passport law, from 1 July 2009

From 1 July 2009 all foals and any older horses not previously identified must be microchipped when a passport is applied for. If the horse you own or look after does not
have a passport you could face a fine of up to £5,000. Your passport must accompany the horse at all times other than when stabled or out hacking. You must be
able to produce the passport without delay in the event of an inspection.

If the passport is not available when your vet comes to treat your horse he/she may not be able to use drugs banned from the food chain, e.g. phenylbutazone (“bute”), and must use an alternative product.

Compulsory microchipping provides a permanent link between the horse and its passport. Microchipping will also help recover and identify stolen and abandoned horses,
as well as assist with welfare cases.