Vetlife can offer routine treatments and advice for horse owners.
At Vetlife, we understand that horse owners have a passion for their animals, and this is shared by our experienced equine veterinarians. We can offer selected equine services such as dentistry, annual health checks, vaccinations, faecal egg counts, emergency support (such as injuries, colic and aftercare as required), and bloodwork for horses (at certain clinics, including Banks Peninsula and Wanaka). If one of our clinics cannot provide the required treatment, they will assist in recommending another service provider nearby.
We provide routine and diagnostic blood work, including trace element testing.
Through blood tests, we can check the levels of important trace elements, such as selenium and magnesium, that are critical for many cellular functions, allowing horses to remain healthy. We can also run diagnostic blood tests on sick horses to get a better understanding of what is going on and which systems are affected. Blood tests for performance athletes ensure they are functioning to the best of their ability.
We offer routine dental examinations with power floats for thorough, low stress dentals.
Dentals done with power floats, under sedation, provide a more pleasant experience for the horse, making it less stressful for everyone. Sedated horses allow a more thorough dental examination and float to be performed. Regular dental work is important in horses as, unlike humans, their teeth continue to erupt for most of their lives. Regular dentals allow any abnormality in dental wear to be corrected before it becomes an issue that may compromise your horse’s welfare. A mouth that does not have any major issues can usually be well maintained with 12-monthly visits. More extensive dental issues may need to be corrected over several visits, 3-6 months apart. Well maintained teeth result in a comfortable mouth for the horse and more efficient feed utilisation. Signs that your horse may need a dental include losing or difficulty maintaining weight, dropping food, and packing feed in their cheeks.