Horse Surgery
Horse Surgery
Our team understand what a daunting prospect horse surgery can be. In order to help you understand the procedure and to answer any questions you may have beforehand, admission appointments are arranged with one of our vets. When booking in surgical procedures, full and transparent estimates are given as standard, so you know you know what to expect.
The majority of our horse surgery procedures are carried by our own veterinary team at our Plum Park site. Procedures such as enucleations (removal of the eye), castrations and laser sarcoid surgery are performed by numerous members of our veterinary team at both clinic locations. More specialist procedures including arthroscopic surgery, impinging dorsal spinous process resection (‘kissing spine’ surgery) and wind operations are performed at Plum Park by our surgeon Michele Greco PhD CertAVP(ESO) CertAVP(ESST) MRCVS, an Advanced Practitioner in Equine Orthopaedic and Soft Tissue Surgery. We also have great links with external surgeons, whom are specialists within their respective fields and can be called on for complex cases.
With the exception of horse colic surgeries, which are referred to a referral hospital, we are able to offer extensive surgical provision including emergency treatment of wounds and or traumatic injuries.
Pre-surgery appointment
During this appointment, a member of our nursing team will take details about your horse’s normal management to reassure you that your horse will receive gold-standard care during their stay at Towcester Equine Vets. Our equine nurses are incredibly accommodating and are happy to follow your instructions about how you would like your horse to be cared for, including feeding routine, rugging, and grooming.
Equine surgical procedures we offer
Extensive surgical procedures can be performed either by our own vets or visiting veterinary specialists at our Plum Park clinic. Procedures performed are listed below, albeit not an exhaustive list. Please talk to one of our vets if you would like to find out more about a surgical procedure. Horses requiring colic surgery are sent to a referral level hospital for exploratory laparotomies.
Endoscopy
This technique is used in minimally invasive surgery to examine joints (arthroscopy), tendon sheaths (tenoscopy) and bursae (bursoscopy). The technique is used as both a diagnostic aid, enabling visualisation of the inside of a joint and in the treatment of joint disease, such as joint infections and the removal of bone chips in osteochondrosis dissecans (OCD). Our arthroscopic camera can be used in a variety of cases. Learn more about endoscopy.
Laparoscopy
This technique allows the surgeon to visualise the abdominal cavity in the standing horse, thereby eliminating the risks that a general anaesthetic surgery carries. Procedures using laparoscopy include abdominal rig castration, ovariectomy and intestinal biopsy.
Spinal surgery
We can complete resection of impinging dorsal spinous processes of the lumbar vertebrae in the back (commonly known as ‘kissing spines’) carried out as a standing surgical procedure. Following diagnosis, our vets will be able to talk you through the different medical and surgical options available for horses who have ‘kissing spines’ including bone resection and transection of the interspinous ligament.
Laser sarcoid surgery
Sarcoids are the most common skin tumour of the horse and have many available treatment options. Any of our vets are happy to discuss the most suitable options for your horse or pony including laser removal, electrochemotherapy and topical treatments. Depending on the anatomical location of the sarcoids; laser removal can either be completed under standing sedation at either clinic or under general anaesthetic at our Paulerspury clinic.
Our surgical facilities & care
Towcester Equine Vets have a specifically designed theatre with a state-of-the-art operating table, ventilator and an arthroscopy tower to enable visualisation inside joints for both diagnosis and treatment of orthopaedic pathology.
Our experienced vets monitor your horse closely throughout, with multi-parameter anaesthetic monitoring. Whilst recovery from general anaesthesia can involve risk; every care is taken to reduce this through sedative drugs and padded induction/recovery boxes and the ability to assist your horse’s recovery where required.
We can perform elective horse surgery procedures under general anaesthesia (including arthroscopic investigation), utilising the skill, experience, and knowledge of our Advanced Practitioner in Equine Orthopaedic and Soft Tissue Surgery.
Learn more about our horse surgery facilities and post-op care
Visiting your horse
You are welcome to visit your horse during their stay, both during the week and by prior arrangement at weekends. Please be aware that visitation is not permitted on the day of your horse’s surgery. In order to ensure that the vet team in on hand to meet with you during your visit, please make the reception team aware of your estimated time of arrival. Weekend visits need to be pre-arranged with the on-call duty vet.
For further information on horse surgery please speak with a member of our team.
