INFORMATION FOR OWNERS OF HORSES HAVING MRI
GUIDANCE NOTES FOR OWNERS OF HORSES HAVING MRI AT BELL EQUINE VETERINARY CLINIC
GUIDANCE NOTES FOR OWNERS OF HORSES HAVING SCINTIGRAPY (BONE SCAN) AT BELL EQUINE VETERINARY CLINIC
INFORMATION FOR NEW CLIENTS
WHEN TO CALL THE VET
PASSPORTS
PRESCRIPTIONS
COMPLAINTS PROCEDURE FOR CLIENTS
IMPORTANT INFORMATION REGARDING EUTHANASIA OF YOUR HORSE
INFORMATION FOR OWNERS OF HORSES HAVING MRI
MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) is a diagnostic imaging technique that involves placing the part of the body to be imaged inside a strong magnetic field. Pulses of radio waves are applied to the area, and a signal (also in the form of radio waves) is received by a computer which generates the image.
MRI is a relatively new technique in equine medicine. At Bell Equine Veterinary Clinic we have a MRI scanner that can be used to image the lower leg area (from foot to knee or hock) of standing horses. Our clinic was the first veterinary clinic in the world to use this technology (the first scanner was installed in 2002, and has since been upgraded). Prior to this, MRI could only be undertaken in horses at a few centres around the world using human MRI scanners. The standing equine MRI scanner has considerable advantages over more conventional human MRI scanners, which require the horse to be placed under general anaesthesia. Our clinic has played a central role in developing this technology for clinical use in horses, and we have acquired unrivalled expertise in this area.
The standing equine MRI scanner is a low field (0.27 Tesla) scanner. Horses are scanned standing under sedation. The front shoes need to be removed (or the hind shoes if the hind legs are being scanned). The entire scanning procedure may take between 1 to 3 hours, depending on the area being scanned and the temperament of the horse. As far as it is known, the procedure is safe and it does not involve exposure to any form of ionising radiation (unlike radiography, CT scanning and nuclear scintigraphy).
MRI allows evaluation of both bone and soft tissues at the same time. The technique has specific indications for the evaluation of certain types of lameness in horses, and the area being scanned must be localised (usually by means of nerve blocks) prior to having the MRI performed. One of the most useful indications for standing MRI is in the evaluation of horses with lameness originating inside the foot. Our experience has shown that many horses with chronic lameness affecting either one or both front feet have a variety of soft tissue injuries (such as damage to the deep digital flexor tendon or one of the many ligaments in the foot); these injuries cannot be accurately diagnosed using more conventional techniques. MRI is also very accurate in diagnosing bone diseases (including early navicular disease and pedal bone diseases) that are difficult to diagnose in any other way. MRI also has many applications in evaluating other diseases in the lower legs, and our knowledge concerning its value is expanding all the time.
GUIDANCE NOTES FOR OWNERS OF HORSES HAVING MRI AT BELL EQUINE VETERINARY CLINIC
If your horse is insured, you should inform the insurance company that we intend to undertake a MRI examination and, where appropriate, check that the insurers are prepared to cover the costs of this examination. This should be done well in advance of your appointment date.
Please bring details of your insurance policy (ie company name and policy number) with you.
Your horse will need to be sedated for the scan. If you know of any reason why this cannot be done safely or if you know of any problems that the horse has previously encountered when being sedated, please inform us prior to arrival
Please bring the horses passport (if available) with you.
The front shoes (for scanning front legs) or hind shoes (for scanning hind legs) will need to be removed. If your horse is coming specifically for a MRI scan, it will be helpful if the shoes can be removed before the horse arrives at the clinic.
Wherever possible, the horse should be admitted and remain at the clinic for at least one day. Although the scanning procedure only takes a few hours, having the horse at the clinic for this period allows time for repeat scans to be taken if deemed necessary. The MRI scanner is a highly technical piece of equipment, and as such is prone to faults and unpreventable problems. If the horse remains at the clinic for a whole day, this is usually long enough to allow faults and problems to be resolved before the horse is due to go home.
Owners will be telephoned as soon as we have performed the scan and checked to see that we have a good set of images. Arrangements to collect the horse can be made at this time.
The MRI scanning produces a large amount of data and many separate scans. Reading these scans and preparing a report is time consuming, and usually takes at least 2 to 3 hours. In most cases it will not be possible to prepare a full report or to give the owner the results of the scan before the horse has gone home (however, we will ensure that the images are checked to establish that we have enough information to produce an accurate report). In most cases, a report will be produced within 72 hours of the horse going home. All owners and their referring vets will receive a copy of the report.
In some cases, the MRI scans will identify a problem where we believe further imaging (such as radiography or ultrasonography) will be helpful in providing more information. In such cases, we may request permission to perform these added tests before the horse goes home.
In view of our interests in researching the applications of MRI to lameness diagnosis in horses, we are always interested in hearing how individual horses have faired after they have returned home from having a MRI scan. We may contact owners in the future to find out how the horse has got on.
Equine MRI is still in its infancy, and we are learning about many new conditions that it is discovering all the time. An important way of increasing our knowledge is by correlating the results of MRI with post-mortem examinations. If, for any reason, a horse that has had an MRI scan is destroyed, then we would welcome the opportunity to perform a post-mortem examination of the part that was scanned. In this way we can further increase our knowledge and expertise for the benefit of horses in the future.
GUIDANCE NOTES FOR OWNERS OF HORSES HAVING SCINTIGRAPY (BONE SCAN) AT BELL EQUINE VETERINARY CLINIC
1. Most routine bone scans are performed on Wednesdays, although scans can also be undertaken on other days if necessary, usually Mondays.
2. For a Wednesday scan, owners need to arrive with their horse on Tuesday (or by special arrangement at other times). Most horses will need to have a full examination before the bone scan is undertaken. There is no need to starve the horse prior to admission.
3. It is very helpful if the horse is exercised during the preceding 3 or 4 days prior to being admitted, unless your vet advises against this.
4. Owners need to bring with them the rugs that the horse would normally wear. We will supply hay/haylage and hard food.
5. Unless we are advised to the contrary, the horse will be lunged on the morning of the scan, and then stable bandages will be applied.
6. Horses are injected with the radioactive drug intravenously between 10.00 am and 1.00 pm on the day of the scan, and are ready to be scanned three hours later. Once injected the horse becomes radioactive. As a result of the radioactivity the horse is confined to a Controlled Area (stable) for 48 hours after the injection, and owners are not permitted to visit the horse during this period. Visiting is allowed from Friday mid-day (for a Wednesday scan).
7. For safety reasons, the horse will not be mucked out whilst the stable remains a Controlled Area.
8. For performing the scan, the horse is taken to the Scanning Room and sedated. Dependent on the regions to be scanned, the procedure can last anything up to one and a half hours. It is not possible for owners to be present for the scan.
9. Once scanned the horse is taken back to its stable and left for the radioactivity to decay.
10. Approximately two days after the scan, when the horse is no longer radioactive, then further work-up, such as X-rays or nerve blocks, may be performed to follow up any findings from the bone scan. Occasionally it is necessary for the horse to be kept in for more than the standard 3 to 4 days to allow more time for further diagnostic procedures.
11. It is not normally possible to inform the clients of the bone scan findings until the day after the scan. Clients will be advised when to come and collect their horse, subject to progress with further investigations.
12. The very strict procedures in place are to minimise the exposure of staff to radiation, and are a legal requirement. This is necessary as we perform approximately 200 bone scans per year. The single dose of radiation that the horse is exposed to during the procedure poses no known risk to its health.
INFORMATION FOR NEW CLIENTS
What to look out for to ensure that your horse is healthy
It is important to be familiar with the signs of good health, so that any illness or abnormality can be detected in the early stages. A healthy horse or pony should have:
A bright, alert attitude, with pricked ears taking an interest in their surroundings
A good appetite
A shiny coat with healthy skin that is loose and supple
Clear, bright eyes with no discharge
Clean nostrils (a small amount of watery discharge is normal)
Good condition without being fat
Droppings that are passed regularly and are not too loose or too firm
A body temperature of between 37 and 38.5Ί C (98.5-100.5Ί F)
A pulse rate of 28-42 beats per minute
A respiration rate of 8-16 breaths per minute. The horses breathing movements should be smooth and relaxed
Moist and salmon pink-coloured mucous membranes
Since every horse is unique, it is important to know what is normal for your own horse. For example, horses will often have an increased pulse and respiratory rate if they are excited. If you have any doubts about your horses health, the best person to consult is your vet.
How to contact your vet
Bell Equine Veterinary Clinic provides a 24 hour service for emergencies. You can contact us by telephoning 01622 813700 at any time.
At night our answer machine will give you an emergency number to ring (PLEASE, ONLY FOR EMERGENCIES), and the duty vet should ring back within 5 minutes. If you have not been called back within a few minutes, you should leave a second message Emergencies include choke, colic, problems with foalings, injuries and large wounds, severe lameness and any other condition when your horse is in acute pain (link to when to call vet). If you are unsure at the time, then please ask us.
Normal office hours are between 8.30am to 5pm Monday to Friday
REMINDERS: How to help the vet provide the best care for your horse
Please ensure that your horse is caught, clean and with its feet picked out, ready for when the vet arrives. A clean bucket of water, soap and towel is certainly appreciated by the vet!
Somebody who knows the horse and its history needs to be there to see the vet. We try to keep to time for our appointments, but emergencies have to be fitted in as well; if we are delayed we will endevour to ring and let you know what is happening, or we can ring when we are on the way to your yard to save you waiting. When making an appointment with the office, please make sure you leave a mobile number which you will have with you at the time of your appointment.
Passports
The passport and/or vaccination certificate should be available for every horse and ready for the vet. Different vaccinations need to be given every year, so it is important we check the paperwork before we treat the horse. This may save you money and unnecessary injections for your horse or pony. In most cases, injections against tetanus only need to be given every two or three years, but we need the vaccination records to check what is required before injecting the horse.
All horses, ponies and donkeys are required to possess a passport. Animals without a passport are not allowed to be sold, exported, slaughtered for human consumption, transported to attend a competition or show, or moved to new premises. We recommend that you sign the passport declaration that your horse IS NOT intended for human consumption. When we treat your horse we can then use all medical options that are available, and there is no need for them to be recorded in the passport which reduces the paperwork required. In the absence of a passport, it becomes your responsibility to record the medicines administered and the last date of administration. We will supply the treatment details on our invoices to assist you.
PASSPORTS
Payment
When you first register as a client at BELL EQUINE, you will be asked to pay at the time of treatment. Thereafter once your details are confirmed with our accounts department, then the office may agree that you can be invoiced, however, all invoices must be paid within 28 days of receipt. We provide a discount of 10% of the net total for payment at the time of the visit or 5% for payment within 14 days of receipt of the statement. We accept cash, cheques, debit and credit cards. If you have any questions regarding payment or insurance, speak to our accounts office on 01622 816033 between 8.30 and 4.30 on weekdays.
Preventive Medicine
Preventive medicine includes the procedures that should be routinely carried out to keep your horse in good health and protected from disease.
These procedures include:
1. Vaccination against equine influenza and tetanus. Depending on the risks of your particular situation, vaccination against EHV-1, EHV-4 (herpes virus) and strangles may also be worthwhile; ask the vet for advice.
2. A worming programme; we can provide further information specific to your yard.
3. Regular dental checks: we can perform dentistry at your horses yard and we also run clinics at our hospital.
In addition, every horse should:
1. Be checked regularly every day. Horses should be inspected at least twice daily.
2. Have regular hoof care from a farrier: If a horse has foot problems do consult the vet as well. We run a foot clinic regularly at the hospital.
Planning Ahead
Missing any of these important preventative procedures may result in a horse or pony being unable to work and may be an expensive oversight. If a vaccination is given late, the whole course may need to be started again. We will attempt to send vaccination reminders, but this is not a fool-proof system and it is your responsibility to ensure appointments are made before the next vaccination falls due. It is therefore advisable to plan your worming programme and book visits for vaccination, dentistry and shoeing well in advance.
Do not forget retired horses, brood mares and companion animals as they require the same consideration and veterinary care. They are at risk even if they rarely leave the field.
Booking a visit and sharing the cost
Whether you keep your horse at home or in a livery yard, it is more cost effective to arrange a shared visit from the vet. The travelling costs of the vet can then be shared between a number of owners. Although it will not always be feasible to provide a shared visit, we will do our best to arrange this if it is possible. MAKING BOOKINGS WELL IN ADVANCE CAN ASSIST US WITH THIS TOO. Another option is to bring your horse to the clinic, since you will not have to pay a call out fee, and if your horse is at our Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons approved equine hospital there will be more help and equipment to carry out any investigations or treatments required. We have expertise available in all fields of equine medicine, surgery and breeding, including artificial insemination.
Further help
If you have any queries, please do not hesitate to contact us, either on the main office number 01622 813700 or speak directly to the vet looking after your horse. If you have any specific
complaints or concerns, please feel free to contact any of the partners.
WHEN TO CALL THE VET
The vets and nurses in this practice provide 24 hour cover 365 days a year for the horses and ponies under their care. Unlike many family doctors, we do not use a deputising service outside normal working hours, so the vet you call in the middle of the night is the one of the same team that you see during the day.
To provide this degree of continuity of care means that the vet who gets called out at night will probably be working the following day, so we ask you to only call us out
IF YOU HAVE A GENUINE EMERGENCY THAT NEEDS URGENT AND IMMEDIATE TREATMENT. If you are unsure whether you have a genuine emergency you can contact the duty vet via our
pager service to discuss your concerns. Vets are trained to ask the right questions, but are dependent on you being able to provide accurate answers. It is very helpful if the horse owner or carer can make some basic assessments of their own before calling the vet.
The sort of things we need to know include:
How lame is the horse? Is it lame at rest (ie non-weight bearing)? Lame at walk? Lame at trot? Is there any heat or swelling in the leg?
How much pain is a horse in? What is the frequency and duration of any signs of pain? For example, in colic, signs of mild pain include lying down, turning to look at the flank, pawing the ground; signs of moderate pain include rolling, restlessness, getting up and down frequently; signs of severe pain include violent rolling and pawing, sweating
Can you take its temperature? Its pulse rate? What is its breathing like?
If there is a wound, specifically where on the horses body is it? Do the edges of the wound pull apart? Is it clean or dirty?
The answers to these questions can significantly assist the vet in deciding when an emergency visit is required.
What basic conditions constitute an emergency?
BLUE FLASHING LIGHT: Immediate call to BEVC required:
Fractured limb
A collapsed horse that is recumbent and unable to stand
Non-weight bearing lameness coupled with distress
Non-weight bearing lameness coupled with a wound
Multiple limb non-weight bearing lameness
Wounds that require stitching do the edges pull apart, is wound less than 12hrs old?
Colic pain that is moderate or violent and/or continuous
Diarrhoea that is continuous and/or painful
Choke where coupled with obvious distress
Sudden or severe inability to breathe normally
Punctured or ulcerated eye or sudden onset blindness
Continuous bleeding from mouth, nostrils, rectum, vagina, penis, or an arterial bleed (i.e. blood squirting out in a stream)
Sudden onset of severe neurological dysfunction, e.g. staggering, disorientation lack of coordination or profound behaviour change
Difficulties at foaling
RED LIGHT: Calls that are urgent and we recommend that you contact BEVC WITHIN A FEW HOURS
These conditions need prompt attention but can frequently be managed with prescribed first aid until a vet can see the horse:
Low grade fever
Sudden onset lameness that is weight bearing
Traumatic injuries and wounds that are superficial, away from vital structures and not compromising vital functions
Mild colic
Acute laminitis
Potential lymphangitis, i.e. increasingly filled leg and lameness
Signs of vague ill health such as poor appetite, dullness and reduced production of droppings. One exception to this may be donkeys who stop eating but show minimal other signs yet be suffering from the serious metabolic condition known as hyperlipidaemia (? Link to Donkey sanctuary or similar)
Flare ups of chronic laminitis
Flare ups of chronic inflammatory respiratory disease
AMBER: Routine calls to BEVC on a scheduled basis should include:
Intermittent and slight lameness
Persistent dermatitis (skin problems)
Intermittent and slight eye discharge with no sign of pain or reduced vision
Reduced appetite with no other clinical signs
Nasal discharge with no fever or difficulty breathing
Persistent coughing
Anything else out of the ordinary that concerns you regarding your horse, pony or donkey
REGULAR PREVENTATIVE CARE
We recommend you minimise the risk of emergency calls and ensure your horse remains in good health by adopting a proactive preventative health care approach including regular vaccination, parasite control, dental care, good nutrition and perfect management for your horse.
Even if you are not there yourself to see the vet, please make sure all essential information is available in case of an emergency. This should include:
Clear instructions about what to do and who is responsible if you are not available to consult about your horse
Your horses passport preferably signed, etc
Your horses vaccination card
Information regarding insurance cover
An agreed arrangement with the practice regarding payment for emergency treatment. If you do not have a clear account you may be asked to pay at the time either with cash or by credit card.
In addition to the basic emergency service commitments, our equine vets also provide emergency cover for cases referred to our specialist equine hospital by other vets so there are always several vets and one equine nurse on duty. In addition there is a vet on site to look after our inpatients at all times. Also, we are on call for point to points, events and other equestrian pursuits that often take place over a weekend, so we do not carry out routine visits outside normal office hours. Frequently more than one emergency may occur simultaneously and our staff to trained to prioritise calls they receive, so that the most serious cases can be dealt with first.
Finally on a lighter note, one thing that hasnt changed since the days of James Herriot: A vet on an out of hours callout will always appreciate the provision of half a bucket of warm water , soap and a clean towel as well as the offer of a cup of tea or coffee!
PASSPORTS
There is still an enormous amount of confusion concerning the Passport legislation which came into force in February last year. Under this legislation:
Every horse and pony MUST have a passport issued by an approved Passport Issuing Organisation. Vaccination cards are not acceptable.
This passport MUST contain the declaration concerning whether or not the horse is intended for human consumption. Many older passports do not contain these pages and must be returned to the issuing organisation to have them inserted.
If the declaration is signed to say that the horse is not intended for human consumption then that animal can be treated with any medicine necessary and nothing needs to be entered in the passport.
If the declaration is unsigned OR the horse is declared as intended for human consumption then there are many medicines that MUST NOT be given to that horse
including ACP and phenylbutazone.
A horse without a passport must be treated as though it is intended for human consumption.
The passport MUST be made available to the vet at the time of examination and treatment so that the declaration can be checked before medicines are administered.
We strongly recommend that all our clients sign the declaration that their horse or pony
IS NOT INTENDED FOR HUMAN CONSUMPTION YOU MUST SIGN THE DECLARATION IN EACH PASSPORT
We are seeing many passports which do not have the declaration signed even though the owners believe them to be in order. PLEASE CHECK AND SIGN THE NOT INTENDED DECLARATION IN ALL PASSPORTS. WE CANNOT LEGALLY SUPPLY OR ADMINISTER MANY MEDICINES IF THIS DECLARATION IS LEFT UNSIGNED.
PRESCRIPTIONS
Prescriptions are available from this practice.
You may obtain relevant veterinary medicinal products from your veterinary surgeon OR ask for a prescription and obtain these medicines from another veterinary surgeon or a pharmacy.
Your veterinary surgeon may prescribe relevant veterinary medicinal products only following a clinical assessment of an animal under his or her care.
A prescription may not be appropriate if your animal is an in-patient or immediate treatment is necessary.
You will be informed, on request, of the price of any medicine that may be prescribed for your animal.
The general policy of this practice is to re-assess an animal requiring repeat prescriptions for supplies of relevant veterinary medicinal products every 6 months, but this may vary with individual circumstances. The standard charge for a re-examination is £25.00, but again this may vary.
The current prices for the ten relevant veterinary medicinal products most commonly prescribed from 1st September to 30th November 2005 were:
Equip FT single dose £28.10
Crystapen injection 3g (5 Mega) £7.36
Norodine Granules 10 x 37.5g £33.00
Equipalazone Sachets 1 x 100 £55.30
Equip F single dose £22.10
Vetivex Isolec combi bag 5L £15.40
Sedivet per ml £3.91
Torbugesic per ml £9.75
Baytril oral 10% 100ml £62.28
Domosedan per ml £27.30
Further information on the prices of medicines is available on request.
COMPLAINTS PROCEDURE FOR CLIENTS
Bell Equine Veterinary Clinic is committed to using complaints from clients to continuously monitor and improve the services it provides. We welcome clients to speak up when standards of care and service fall below their expectations. We also welcome comments from clients where the standard of care and service has been considered good, so that this information can be forwarded to the appropriate staff. In this way, we can strive to continuously improve the quality of the service that we offer.
How to complain:
We hope that most problems can be sorted out easily and quickly, often at the time that they arise and with the person concerned. If your problem cannot be sorted out in this way and you wish to make a complaint, we would like you to let us know as quickly as possible ideally within a matter of days or at most a few weeks because this will enable us to establish what happened more easily.
Complaints concerning reception / office staff and procedures, and complaints concerning the treatment of your horse during a visit to your yard / home should be addressed to Julian Samuelson MRCVS (managing partner).
Complaints regarding an examination or treatment of your horse at the clinic should be addressed to Tim Mair MRCVS (Hospital partner).
Complaints regarding fees should be addressed to the appropriate partner (as above) as soon as possible after receipt of the invoice.
Alternatively, you may ask for an appointment with Julian Samuelson or Tim Mair in order to discuss your concerns.
What we shall do:
We shall endeavor to acknowledge your complaint within two working days, and aim to have looked into your complaint within ten working days of the date that you raised it with us. We will then be in a position to discuss it with you or arrange a meeting with the people involved. When we look into your complaint we will aim to:
Find out what happened and what went wrong
Make it possible for you to discuss the problem with those concerned (if you would like to do this)
Make sure that you receive an apology, where this is appropriate
Identify what we can do to make sure the problem doesnt happen again
IMPORTANT INFORMATION REGARDING EUTHANASIA OF YOUR HORSE
Euthanasia is a difficult subject to consider, but our aim is to provide a humane and painless death for your horse. Having any animal put down is a distressing experience, so it is a good idea to plan ahead in order to avoid rushed decisions under difficult circumstances. If you have any questions or worries, discuss it with your vet who will be accustomed to helping with such sad situations. There are several choices to be faced, which include:
HOW IS IT CARRIED OUT?
There are two methods of euthanasia commonly used:
1. Lethal injection
The horse is given an overdose of anaesthetic-type drugs by intravenous injection. A sedative may be given first. The horse looses consciousness and slowly collapses with death occurring shortly afterwards. If this method of euthanasia is used then the options for disposal are limited, as they will have to be either buried or cremated.
2. Shooting
This method of euthanasia results in instant death of the horse. Again a sedative may be given first. The muzzle of the gun is placed on the horses forehead. It will fall down instantly with its legs extended and blood may pour from the nose. With this method there are involuntary movements of the horses legs and occasional gasps for a short period of time after the horse is dead, which is normal. Not all vets carry a gun so this needs to be booked specifically.
HOW TO DISPOSE OF THE CARCASS?
The options for disposal of the carcass are limited and depend on the method of euthanasia and the health of the horse when it died.
Cremation: Cherry Tree Pet Crematorium is the company most commonly used by the practice to provide a collection and cremation service. Cremation is costly, but available regardless of the method of euthanasia. The ashes may be returned in a special casket if requested, either as a small amount of token ashes or as a separate individual cremation. If your horse is cremated you can choose to pay for an individual cremation and have the ashes returned to you in a box for burial usually a large wooden casket. It is important to think about what you will want to do with the ashes when they are returned to you, as many people who have paid for ashes to be returned, subsequently choose never to collect them.
Hunt kennels/disposal to the zoo: Provided the horse was not put down by lethal injection or was not suffering from a disease making it unsuitable for consumption, many hunts will use the carcass as food for the hounds or alternatively some equine carcases may be taken to the zoo.
Burial: You need to check with your local Trading Standards Office whether this is permitted. The European Union Regulations do not allow burial of pet horses as they consider the horse to be a food animal. At the time of writing, DEFRA does allow burial of pet horses at the discretion of the local authority. Each case is considered on an individual basis.
SHOULD I BE THERE?
Rest assured that everyone concerned will want your horses last minutes to be peaceful. The people involved are professionals who care about animals and are used to dealing with this sensitive task. If you are able to be calm and relaxed during the procedure, then your presence is likely to be reassuring for your horse. If you are visibly distressed, then it may be better to ask a trusted friend to do this for you. Your vet may require you or someone on your behalf to sign a consent form. In a yard of several horses it is obviously essential someone is there who knows which horse is to be put down.
NOTIFICATION OF THE INSURANCE COMPANY
If the horse is insured for loss of use and a claim is going to be made, the insurance company must be notified in advance. With the exception of an emergency situation, the permission of the insurers is needed otherwise the claim may be invalidated.
If a horse is destroyed on humane grounds, it must meet certain criteria to satisfy the requirements of a mortality insurance policy. The British Equine Veterinary Association guidelines state that euthanasia should be carried out if the insured horse sustains an injury or manifests an illness or disease that is so severe as to warrant immediate destruction to relieve incurable and excessive pain and that no other options of treatment are available to that horse at that time. The insurers should be notified as soon as possible. They will require a veterinary certificate confirming the identity of the horse and the reason why it was destroyed and may also ask for a post mortem.
COSTS
It is the horse owners responsibility to arrange for collection, cremation or disposal and to pay the company concerned. We normally use and recommend Mr David Funnell, Cherry Tree Pet Crematorium, High Halden, Kent. (Tel: 01233 850929).
The costs of disposal are:
To Cherry Tree Pet Crematorium for disposal to the zoo= £150 + VAT. Collections for zoo disposal out of hours or at the weekend may incur further charges
To Cherry Tree Pet Crematorium for cremation no ashes = £290 + VAT
To Cherry Tree Pet Crematorium for mass cremation token ashes = £340 + VAT
To Cherry Tree Pet Crematorium for individual cremation ashes = £520 + VAT
These fees will be payable directly to the Cherry Tree Pet Crematorium at the time of collection.
As well as this there is a fee charged for the actual euthanasia and visit (where required). Currently Bell Equine charges £55.00 (+VAT) for using a gun, plus sedation (usually £20-30 + VAT) and euthanasia by injection costs £55.00 (+ VAT), plus the injection itself (usually £42.92 + VAT for Thoroughbred sized horse, more for a heavier horse) plus sedation (again usually £20-30 + VAT). The other additional cost would be for a post mortem, which may be required by your insurance company (but rarely covered by insurance) and the costs for this would vary depending on the time taken. Occasionally we will ask you, if we can perform a post mortem to help all of us to know more about the diseases affecting the horses under our care. In such cases we would not charge. If you do not want a post mortem performed, please tell us and we will respect your wishes.
FURTHER HELP
If you have any queries, please do not hesitate to contact us, either on the main office number
01622 813700 or speak directly to the vet looking after your horse. If you have any specific or concerns or complaints, please feel free to contact any of the partners.
Scintigrapgy Protocol - client info sheet
