Clinic Facilities
Examination and Treatment Rooms
The clinic has four large, purpose-built examination/treatment rooms. They are used for carrying out diagnostic procedures from endoscopy to nerve blocks, as well as for treatments such as medicating joints and radial shock-wave therapy. One of the rooms is equipped with specialist stocks that can be used for restraining horses to perform standing surgical procedures ranging from molar extractions to laparoscopy.
Imaging
Our on site radiologist and lead author of Clinical Radiology of the Horse, Jan Butler, runs our digital radiography facility incorporated. The facility combines an high power Siemens Radiography tube capable of imaging the entire axial and appendicular skeleton, thorax, head and abdomen, with an AGFA computed radiography system. Adjacent to radiography, is ultrasound with 2 GE Medical Ultrasound colour scanners capable of high resolution musculoskeletal, cardiac, abdominal, thoracic and ophthalmic imaging. All images are captured digitally. Both units are fully portable and can be used away from the clinic. Digital capture is also used with our arthroscopy, laparoscopy, and endoscopy equipment, allowing us to provide owners and referring vets with high quality images.
Endoscopy
Willesley has an extensive set of fibre-optic and video-endoscopes, ranging in size from 1 to 3.5m. This enables examination of the entire respiratory system, stomach and small intestine, bladder and uterus in horses, ponies and foals. All the systems are fully portable, so examinations can take place at the clinic or the yard. The laser is compatible with all the endoscopes and so it can go everywhere the scope goes, allowing laser hobdays, removal of endometrial cysts etc to be easily performed. Gastroscopy is one of Willesley's specialities, with over 250 procedures performed yearly. Richard Hepburn MRCVS did his Master's thesis work on gastric ulceration and has been providing gastroscopy support to TeamGB for the last 3 years.
All-Weather School and Trot-Up Area
A large gravel trot-up and lunging area allows lameness investigations to be carried out on a firm, non-slip surface. This is complimented by an all-weather school with a waxed polytrack surface ideal for soft-surface examinations and for horses to be seen working under saddle. A separate quiet gravel trot up lane is also available for easily distracted horses!
Operating Theatre
The Clinic has a fully equipped operating theatre and recovery suite. Up to date arthroscopy, fracture repair, respiratory, colic and general surgery equipment is always available. General anaesthesia is administered by an experienced veterinary surgeon using comprehensive monitoring equipment (ECG, direct and indirect blood pressure, capnography, agent monitors, pulse oximeter) and a pressure-cycled ventilator.
Hospital Stabling
The Clinic presently has hospitalisation facilities for over twenty horses cared for by onsite vets and nurses. Six stables are specially equipped with facilities to allow intravenous fluid therapy and if necessary cross-tie horses. Automated fluid pumps are available for administering infusions for pain relief, to promote intestinal motility or to allow intravenous feeding. A separate 4 stall isolation facility is available for infectious cases such as diarrhoea.
Neo-Natal ICU
The two-stable Willesley NICU is located next to our main nursing station and on-site laboratory. Each stable is equipped with radiant heating, a convective blanket warming/drying system, infusion pumps and piped humidified oxygen. Monitoring of direct and indirect arterial blood pressure, central venous pressure and ECG is available. Level 3 neonatal intensive care is available. Level 3 is the highest level and provides total nursing care, environmental control, continuous IV fluid therapy and nutrition as well as positive pressure ventilation, if required. Dedicated and experienced staff provide constant 24 hour care to sick foals. The unit is the only one of its kind in the South West of England, the next closest are The Royal Veterinary College, London, or Rossdales in Newmarket. Critically ill foals are nursed on specially designed mattresses and can be separated from the mare using a removable barrier. As the foal improves and begins to nurse, this barrier is taken out. Available treatments include intravenous fluids, antibiotics, anti-inflammatories, plasma and blood transfusion, pressor and ionotrope therapy, parenteral nutrition and respiratory support. With prompt identification and appropriate therapy sick foals can have a 75% success rate and go on to have the same athletic future as normal foals!
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