On call
It can be difficult to know when your horse needs the vet, but Ollie Pynn shares his pointers and guidance on this tricky subject
Photos: Bob Atkins, Steve Bardens, Jon Stroud. With thanks to Rossdales Veterinary Surgeons for their help with this feature, rossdales.com
Our expert
Ollie Pynn BVSc CertEP MRCVS is a partner at veterinary practice Rossdales Veterinary Surgeons where he works as a stud vet. He also has a keen interest in eventing.
One unavoidable truth about horse ownership is that it’s an expensive lifestyle choice. With the cost of living increasing, it’s fair to say that many of us horse owners are looking for ways to cut down on costs. An area that’s important not to scrimp on? Necessary veterinary treatment.
We know that vet treatment is costly and that a vet’s time is valuable, so here comes the common dilemma. On the one hand, we all want to do the best we can for our horses but, on the other, we don’t want to waste the vet’s time.
Horses, of course, can’t tell us verbally how they feel but they’ll communicate through their behaviour and show visual signs that could indicate trouble. If we know what to look out for, we can more easily make the decision between picking up the phone or giving basic treatment ourselves.
Should I call the vet?