 Ambulatory Services
Our ambulatory veterinarians provide service from Te Kauwhata in the south to the Kaipara and Wellsford in the north. All aspects of equine health care are attended in the field including diagnosis, treatment and ongoing management of medical, minor surgical, lameness and reproductive conditions. All the services listed below are utilized, when possible, to provide the most complete care for our equine patients at the clients property. Involved or complicated medical, or surgical cases, can be admitted to our surgical and hospital facility located at the New Zealand Bloodstock Sales Centre, Karaka.
Surgical Services
We provide a full range of surgical procedures at our purpose built facility in Karaka, including orthopaedic (joint lavage, angular limb deformities, fracture internal fixation, sequestrums), abdominal (colic, exploratory laparotomy, caesarian section, bladder surgery), soft tissue (severe wounds, tendons and tendon sheath trauma, tumour removal , sinus and respiratory), reproductive (caesarian section, perineal laceration repair) and neonatal (hernias, ruptured bladders, angular limb deformities).
Our equine surgery is designed to provide the safest possible environment for general anaesthesia and surgery. During surgery we utilize the skills of experienced veterinary anaesthetists and vet nurses along with modern anesthesia and monitoring equipment to ensure a safe and smooth anaesthesia and recovery. The padded knockdown and recovery room, adjacent to the surgical suite with its hydraulic table, facilitates a speedy transition through to the completion of the surgery and return to post operative stabling in the adjacent horse boxes.
Our practice policy is to ensure our patients receive the best possible surgical option. To this end we are happy to refer to specialists, cases which require greater expertise than we can provide.
 Lameness Evaluations and Sports Medicine
Starting with a good physical exam, Equine Veterinary Services is ready to help diagnose your horse’s lameness or poor performance. Either at your own property or our Karaka clinical facility we utilize diagnostic nerve blocks, digital radiography, ultrasound, blood tests, and good old-fashioned horsemanship to help return your horse to full performance.
Reproductive Services
From routine breeding management to artificial insemination techniques with both cooled fresh and frozen semen, we are equipped to assist with all your reproductive needs. We are also prepared to care for your problem mare with the most up to date diagnostic and therapeutic techniques available, to maximize the likelihood of a successful breeding. Ultrasound allows us to pinpoint the exact time of ovulation allowing for precise insemination or service. In addition, ultrasound aids in evaluating your mare’s reproductive tract for inflammation, infection and other potential problems. It also allows close to 100% success rate with reduction of one twin 14 to 16 days after conception.
Foaling time is generally stressful for everyone involved, and our ambulatory service is on 24 hour standby, to assist or supervise as required. We endeavour to dispatch 2 veterinarians to all foalings in the event that a serious problem may occur. Our experience, and team approach to these situations, ensures the best result possible.
Once your foal is on the ground, we can assist with all your neonatal foal needs from newborn exams to more intensive management of sick or abnormal foals.
Digital Radiography
Equine veterinary services utilize a Sound digital system to capture digital radiographic images. This system allows us to capture and analyze images “horse-side” and chose appropriate treatment options immediately. Digital Imaging allows manipulation of the contrast of the image to allow more accurate diagnosis. We are able to magnify very specific areas of the image with no loss of quality. Digital images also allow us to quickly obtain consultation from Specialists should advanced evaluation methods or treatments be necessary. We are also able to readily copy the images to CD or DVD, which can be provided to owners.
 Laboratory Testing
A range of blood analyses can be carried out with our in house chemistry analysis equipment. Using our hand held Istat Analyser we are also able to do immediate tests on farm when necessary. This is particularly useful for evaluation of sick foals and horses, and for preoperative assessment for anaesthesia. Any tests not available can be carried out at a local veterinary laboratory, generally with results available the same day.
Dental Care
The key to a long happy life for your horse is good dental care. We start with a good oral exam using a bright light, manual examination and sedation. This allows for identification of even small problems. We then use high speed low tension comfortable equipment to care for your horse’s teeth with minimal vibration and trauma.
Endoscopy
Using our 1 meter Endoscope we are able to visualize the upper respiratory system including the sinuses, guttural pouches, larynx and upper airways ( trachea and bronchus). This allows for early recognition and treatment of many respiratory diseases.
Ultrasonography
Our Aloka and Honda Ultrasound machines have proven their use time and again for both reproduction and lameness evaluation. This valuable tool allows us to glimpse inside the soft tissue structures. Ligaments and tendons can be evaluated by sight and touch for heat and swelling. Ultrasound actually measures the damage to the fibers so that we are better able to provide a prognosis and treatment plan.
Evaluation of the abdomen through the body wall using ultrasound is also a valuable diagnostic aid in many conditions affecting foals e.g. diarrhoea, colic, umbilical problems etc.
 Ophthalmology
We routinely attend eye problems in horses. Assessment of the outer and inner eye is carried out using an ophthalmoscope. Outer eye surgeries are carried out in the field using local anaesthesia and sedation or in our surgery under general anaesthesia. Occasionally specialist veterinary ophthalmologist Dr Peter Collinson is called upon for complicated cases involving the eyes. He performs detailed examinations and surgical procedures as required.
Wellness Program
Can’t remember when those vaccines are due? Let us take care of all your horse’s health needs. Our exclusive Wellness Program includes all vaccinations, dental care, examinations and deworming necessary for the year for your horse. We call to schedule all appointments so you don’t have to remember!
Electrocardiography (E.C.G)
Our clinic is equipped with an E.C.G. machine, allowing detailed examination of the electrical conductivity of the heart. Cardiac evaluations, including E.C.G. and stethoscope examination pre and post exercise, are carried out routinely as a component of pre-purchase examinations, and poor performance evaluations.
 Pre-Purchase Examinations
Our senior veterinarians are certified to provide comprehensive examination of horses prior to purchase. We recommend this examination for all horse purchases irrespective of intended use or value.
The purpose of the examination is to ensure an informed decision can be made, not to pass or fail a horse. The aim is to alert the buyer to any pre-existing conditions determined during the examination.
Additional examinations, such as radiography, endoscopy, electrocardiography and a reproduction examination may also be required.
To complete a pre-purchase examination the following three statements are required:
- Buyers Statement
If the seller is an EVS client Download here
If the seller is not an EVS client Download here
- Owners Statement - Download now
- Veterinarians Report
The first 2 statements must be completed and in our hands prior to commencement of the examination.
All three statements combine together to provide the buyer with a lawful, thorough document that can be used as part of the decision process in purchasing the horse.
If there are any questions in regards to the pre-purchase examination please do not hesitate to contact us. To request a pre-purchase examination please contact the clinic by telephone and we can organize this for you.
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Ambulatory Services 
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