As we enter into the New Year, many equine nurses don’t have time to think about booking winter holidays in the sun. Even before Christmas we are getting geared up for the equine breeding season. The first thoroughbred foals will be arriving from 1st January onward, when unfortunately, a few will be rushed to equine clinics across the country in need of neonatal intensive care. Neonatal maladjustment syndrome is one of the conditions we are faced with regularly and the article on the ‘Madigan foal squeeze method’ will give you guidance on how to encourage these foals to return to normal neonatal behaviours. We all know that anaesthetic risks for horses is high and the update on GA risks in horses discusses the fatality rate and how we can implement protocols to help reduce these risks.
For those of you not familiar with equine nursing, we hope you find these articles interesting and informative, especially the one describing the day in the life of an equine nurse in a university hospital. In these current times, vet nurses are acquiring more knowledge with regards to the nursing needs of an array of species and the skills obtained are often transferable. I found that to be the case during most of my 35+ years as a vet nurse.
We also conclude the brachycephalic anaesthesia series with a look at the post anaesthetic period with suggestions for reducing the risks with these popular breeds.
So, on this cold winter’s day, please sit down with this journal and a hot cuppa, and enjoy looking into the varied life of an equine vet nurse. You may find we are all more alike than you think!
Equine Vet Nurse
Past President – British Veterinary Nursing Association
Equine Editor – VNJ