The facilities include a separate padded knockdown or iduction box.
Where the horses are given the initial anaesthetic injection, which renders them unconscious. They are then put on the gaseous anaesthetic before being moved into our operating theatre with the aid of a hoist, which places them on the hydraulic operating table.
Once they are correctly positioned on the operating table, which can be adjusted to the required height or tilted, they are connected to more anaesthetic monitoring equipment. This includes an electrocardiogram, to measures the heart rate, a pulsoximeter to measure the oxygen concentration in the blood as well as an arterial blood pressure monitor.
A dedicated veterinary anaesthetist monitors all our anaesthetics. The horses are usually given intravenous fluids during the operation via a catheter, which has already been placed in the jugular vein to anaesthetise the horse.
At the Minster Equine Veterinary Clinic we perform a lot of operations on a weekly basis. These include ‘Keyhole Surgery’ on joints, known as Arthroscopy, where chips may be removed and any damage within the joint rectified. We also operate on horse for wind defects such as ‘Hobday’ and ‘Tieback’ operations for those with paralysed larynx’s and various procedures for treating soft palate displacement including the relatively recent ‘Tie Forward’ operation. Other frequently performed operations include tooth removal, treatment of hernias and removal of retained testicles. Many of our emergency surgeries are colic operations where we correct various displacements and strangulations of the intestines.
We also regularly perform ‘keyhole’ surgery or arthroscopy on various joints in horses.
After the surgeon has finished the operation the horse is reconnected to the hoist where it is transported onwards to the padded recovery room.
This room is about the size of an average stable with corners taken out to prevent the horse getting trapped in a corner while the horse is recovering. They are given oxygen via a nasal tube in recovery and monitored on close circuit TV until they are standing.
When the horse is quite steady on its feet it is moved to an intensive care stable or normal stable depending on its health status.
