Vets gallop ahead in equine surgery field

Dec 11 2008 by George Topp, Lanark & Carluke

THE Lanark-based Clyde Vet Group have been recognised for delivering the highest standard of veterinary care in the country.

They have been granted Equine Hospital Status by the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons, becoming the only private equine hospital in Scotland.

The group’s practice covers Lanarkshire, West Lothian, Glasgow and Falkirk areas.

The practice is an approved member of the RCVS Practice Standards Scheme, which is an initiative that assures clients the provision of the highest quality of care and facilities in the parts of the practice that can and can’t be seen.

The practice will be inspected every four years and will be subject to spot-check at any time.

As an accredited equine hospital, Clyde Veterinary Group have passed a thorough, voluntary, inspection by an experienced veterinary surgeon from the RCVS who scrutinized areas such as health and safety, the provision of continual nursing and veterinary care for in-patients 24 hours a day, facilities and range of specialist equipment provided, rigorous hygiene standards maintained at the premises, and the continual process of monitoring and updating of clinical standards.

The hospital facilities include a fully-equipped operating suite, a bone scanning suite, digital x-ray imaging and horse boxes which provide full hospitalisation care for up to 10 in-patients at any time.

They are cared for by six equine veterinary surgeons and their highly trained and experienced nurses.

Andrew McDiarmid, an RCVS certificate holder in orthopaedics, is head of the equine team.

He is assisted by Louise Cornish, an RCVS certificate holder in Equine Practice, and Dr David Sutton, a specialist in European Internal Equine Medicine.

Together with the three other solely equine vets, they provide the 24-hour emergency veterinary and nursing care both in the hospital and on clients’ premises.

The equine team have also been awarded The Scottish Farmers Equine Service Provider of the Year in 2007 for their “continued effort and dedication to equine welfare.”

Andrew McDiarmid told the Advertiser: “We have been very fortunate to build a team of dedicated equine professionals who all aspire to provide a high level of care for our clients.”

The hospital undertakes most areas of equine work including lameness diagnosis, anaesthesia, medicine referrals, ultrasound scanning, video endoscopy/gastroscopy, cardiology, digital x-ray imaging, reproduction (including artificial insemination), extracorporeal shock wave therapy, remedial farriery, dental work and physiotherapy.

They also carry out most types of surgery, including orthopaedic, arthroscopy (keyhole) and respiratory surgeries. The hospital has received referrals from over 60 veterinary practices, in Scotland and the north of England, who send their patients to be treated

PRE-OP: far left, a horse in theatre being prepared for surgery. Middle photo, a Lanark surgeon carries out arthroscopy, which is key hole surgery on the joints. Above, up and about soon afterwards. The patient is pictured with one of the equine nurses being led walking at the hospital which receives referrals from all over the country.