Services

Routine healthcare such as vaccinations, routine dental rasping and blood tests can be done under the Area Visit Scheme, this means you will be charged a reduced £13.50 visit fee as opposed to a full call out charge. In order to qualify for the Area Visit Scheme, the following criteria must be met:

1. Account balance must be at zero or be in credit
2. The client will be advised of a time slot the day before the visit
3. Visits must be booked at least 48 hours in advance

Visits are allocated to the vet working that “Zone Day” and are ordered geographically. If you wish to have a specific vet or time, this then becomes a chargeable visit.  

We do offer a complimentary reminder service however it is the responsibility of owners to make sure vaccinations are up to date. The Kingston Veterinary Group cannot be held responsible for overdue vaccinations that result in a restart course. 

Many organisations also require horses to be vaccinated for Influenza. If you are actively competing, please check with FEI rules as to whether you should be vaccinating on a 6 monthly basis. 

Lameness diagnosis usually starts with lunging and trotting then with a clinical examination and nerve blocks, followed by digital radiographs and ultrasound to image the affected area. Joints may require medication in conjunction with assessment of foot balance and remedial shoeing. We aim to work with your own Farrier. Medication of spinal and pelvic inflammation is routinely performed when needed.

Some cases of lameness require surgical intervention. This may be achieved standing in cases such as upward fixation of the patella, or may require a general anaesthetic in cases of joint chips and fractures. Laminitis should be treated as an emergency so that prompt medical treatment can help to give the best long term prognosis for your horse. Our mobile Digital X-ray unit is a great asset for at home or on the yard diagnosis of acute fractures.

An annual appraisal of your horse's mouth is essential to its wellbeing. A dentistry visit can be performed on a free visit day along with the annual vaccination. Horses teeth erupt throughout its life and they can suffer from a variety of over growths malalignment and disease.

Equine dentistry has evolved over the past 20 years to become a specialist subject. We were one of the first practises in the UK to routinely use motorised dental equipment. We regularly attend B.E.V.A. Dentistry Courses. All our Equine Vets are experienced in the routine care of teeth and have the most up to date dremel equipment.

At Kingston Equine Vets we are well equipped and experienced in the treatment of tooth root infection including extraction of infected molars and associated sinus infections. Our Practice is dedicated to keeping up to date with new procedures in equine dental care to deliver the best treatment to your horse's mouth.

We attend several Studs in the area and achieve excellent results both for mares covered by local stallions and for mares walked in to Studs throughout the UK. We are BEVA approved for Al frozen and chilled so only suitably experienced Vets will attend your mare.  

At Kingston Equine Vets we have accommodation for a mare and foal with access to small secure paddocks. This allows us to maximise the opportunity to closely monitor mares and achieve maximum results for frozen Al. We always assess semen quality used for insemination and can store frozen semen so it is available for immediate use. Infertility in mares and stallions can be investigated and treated. An experienced Stud Vet is available to care for your mare and foal throughout the foaling season. We provide an A.I. package at a very competitive price. 

Kingston Equine Vets has a purpose built induction, recovery theatre suite. Anaesthesia is intensively monitored utilising readings such as ECG and direct blood pressure.

Routine castrations and minor operations such as sarcoid removal can be performed at your yard. Surgeries performed at Kingston Equine Vets include arthroscopy of the joints, wound repair and abdominal surgeries including cryptorchid (retained testicle).

A range of Medical conditions are investigated and treated. Cases admitted to the Clinic have 24-hour supervision by an experienced veterinary surgeon.

Video endoscopy is available for diagnosis of wind and lung disorders. A Digital scanner is utilised for imaging soft tissues including the thorax in respiratory disease and abdominal cases of weight loss, diarrhoea and colic.

Liver biopsy and gastroscopy are performed when indicated. Gastroscopy can be arranged for horses showing signs of stomach ulceration. We also offer x-ray and ultrasound facilities that can be used at our practice or from the comfort of your own yard.

We have in-house laboratory facilities that can be used for a variety of initial sample testing such as worm egg counts. We also have the ability to send samples to the lab facilities at Axiom in Exeter for further or specific testing.

Acupuncture can be a useful adjunctive therapy to aid in the process of healing - particularly to assist in pain relief.

We can assess whether acupuncture may be of any benefit to your horse and then tailor an acupuncture programme specifically to your horse’s needs.

Pre Purchase Examinations (Vettings) are strongly recommended when considering purchasing a horse, whatever the cost of the horse. Pre Purchase Examinations take into account the work that the horse is intended to do enabling the purchaser to make an informed decision as to whether the horse is suitable for purchase.

Many insurance companies will now insist upon a full examination before agreeing to provide insurance cover for a horse and if any abnormalities are noted these are unlikely to be covered. If you intend to insure your horse we would recommend contacting the insurance company before booking a vetting to see if they have any requirements (usually based on the value of the horse). In a few cases you may be refused insurance even if a horse has passed a vetting so we recommend contacting the insurance company to make sure they will insure the horse before actually handing over the money.

We would always advise a full 5 stage vetting for any horse you are looking to purchase.

In ‘Part’ or ‘Two Stage’ Vettings certain elements of the examination are omitted (such as ridden work) which makes it harder to determine whether the horse is indeed suitable. It involves a preliminary examination of the horse at rest (including an ocular examination and assessment of the heart and lungs) as well as a walk and trot, in hand.

Vets and horse owners are becoming increasingly aware of the importance of physiotherapy aid in the prevention and treatment of many musculoskeletal injuries.

Our vets work closely with chartered physiotherapists to ensure that an optimal treatment or rehabilitation programs can be provided to horses under our care.

Further information about the Association of Chartered Physiotherapists in Animal Therapy (ACPAT) is available on their website.