Laboratory
Our in house laboratory offers a range of services and gives rapid results to help ensure your horse receives gold standard care.
- Same day routine haematology and biochemistry blood screens
- Performance profiling
- Bacteriology, culture and sensitivity
- Synovial and peritoneal fluid analysis
- Uterine swab analysis
- Cytology; reading of tracheal wash samples
- Faecal worm egg counts
- IRAP processing
- Stem cell and PRP processing
Haematology and biochemistry
We use our in house equipment to provide rapid, accurate results.
All haematology blood smears are also read by one of our experienced nurses to ensure the accuracy of white blood cell differential counts.
Samples for all routine analysis do not need to be sent away so we can have blood results reported to you within hours of the blood being taken. This means treatment or further diagnostic tests can be undertaken quickly and in a targeted manner.
Performance profiling
Knowing an individual horse’s normal haematology values is very useful when investigating subtle performance problems. Often horses may still show values within the ‘normal’ range, however values may be high or low for that individual horse.
Ideally, horses should have a blood screen every 4-6 months to allow a ‘normal’ for that individual to be established.
This also allows comparisons between previous results to highlight any subclinical performance limiting problems, to assess fitness and the suitability of training levels.
A report containing a copy of current and previous results as well as a written comment from your vet is produced for each performance profile. Your vet will also discuss results with you.
We offer a “performance” screen at a heavily subsidised rate as we feel it is a very useful tool in the management of any horse.
Bacteriology
We carry out in house microbiology to test for bacteria and fungus.
This means the causal agents can be identified quickly and the appropriate treatment selected.
Synovial and peritoneal fluid analysis
The ability to perform an accurate white blood cell count on synovial or peritoneal fluid is very important in equine practice. We most commonly need to quickly assess joint fluid to determine if surgery is required in potentially infected joints. Peritonitis is also an important condition in which cell counts help to diagnose and monitor treatment response.
Uterine swab analysis
We routinely swab mares proir to insemination to ensure no inflamatory process or bacterial growth is present in the uterus.
Uterine swabs are also very useful in the investigation of fertility problems as they allow identification of uterine infections and selection of the appropriate antibiotic treatment.
Cytology
Cytological analyis is looking at cells under the microscope.
We most commonly do this with tracheal wash samples taken via an endoscope. The aim is to indentify lower airway inflammation common in infections or ROA cases. We also routinely carry out culture and sensitivity on these samples.
Faecal Worm Egg Counts (WEC)
These are essential in any strategic worming programme. Our nurses can perform WEC on an individual basis or as part of one of our worming packages.
All count results are discussed with a vet and the appropriate action can be advised on an individual basis.
IRAP processing
IRAP is a modern technique for producing high concentrations of a horse’s own anti-inflammatory cells which can then be injected into their joints to promote healing. We offer IRAP to our clients and other vets in areas.
Stem cell and Platelet Rich Plasma processing (PRP)
This exciting area of the veterinary medicine is developing fast. As well as tendon injuries these technologies are being used to successfully treat problems with joints and ligaments, such as proximal suspensory desmitis. In the future it may be used in laminitis cases.
We have vets trained in the harvesting and processing of both stem cells and PRP.