A new ‘Vet Champions’ scheme is being launched by the University of Nottingham and the British Horse Society after research revealed that one in three emergency vet call outs were due to equine colic and that 90% of horse owners struggle to spot early signs this life-threatening condition.
The new scheme will support the REACT Now to Beat Colic campaign which has successfully raised awareness of colic in horses over the past few years.
The initiative will see veterinary practices across the United Kingdom boost awareness of colic further by providing their clients with advice, presentations and resources on all issues related to colic in horses. The scheme is supported by 62 veterinary practices and will enable horse owners to create a vital plan of action, should their horse develop colic and require referral to an equine hospital. It is hoped that hundreds more owners will receive the latest expert advice on colic.
Emmeline Hannelly, Welfare Education Manager at the BHS said: “It’s fantastic that so many vets are supporting our ‘Vet REACT Colic Champions’ scheme - we are delighted to be working with them! We hope that it will help even more owners to make informed decisions related to colic and in turn, improve equine welfare.”
Sarah Freeman , Professor of Veterinary Surgery at the School of Veterinary Science and Medicine, University of Nottingham said: “We are delighted to be working with vet practices on the ‘Vet REACT Colic Champions’ scheme. Their support and guidance have been a huge help in reaching such a wide population and we hope we can reach even more people in the future.”
Alex Kingdon, BVM BVS MRCVS from Avonvale Equine Practice said: “Being part of the ‘Vet REACT Colic Champions’ scheme is incredibly important to our practice. Colic is by far one of the most common emergency conditions we see, and the scheme has already had a huge impact on many horse owners.”
Further details on the ‘Vet REACT Colic Champions’ scheme and ‘React Now to Beat Colic’ campaign are available via these web links.
Vet champions scheme launched to help horse owners detect early signs of colic
