The Queen's Veterinary School Hospital

Information for Equine Clients

Welcome to the Queen's Veterinary School Hospital.

We hope that the following information will help make your visit to our equine hospital a pleasant and straightforward experience.

Please arrive at the Equine Reception in good time to allow our reception staff to book your horse in. We will endeavour to see you on time, although emergency admissions may mean that this is not always possible. If you are unable to keep your appointment, please let us know as soon as you are able.

The hospital is a teaching hospital and students may be involved in the consultation.

It is important that we receive a referral letter from your veterinary surgeon, together with any recent radiographs, if relevant, which you may be asked to bring with you. Please also bring any medication that your horse is currently taking and a completed information form (pdf file, also available on request from the contact number below).

Full settlement of your account is required on presentation of our invoice for treatment.

We accept cash, cheques, Switch/Delta and most major credit cards, except American Express.

If your animal is insured for Veterinary Fees then please ensure that your Insurance Company is informed beforehand of your visit. Please bring a signed claim form with you at the time of your appointment and hand it to Reception.

We will return the completed claim form to you with our invoice for you to forward to your insurance company. We recommend that payment is made to us direct and that you ask your insurance company to reimburse you. Certain companies have the facility for the settlement of claims to be made direct to the veterinary practice. You may choose to take this option but you must also be aware that it is your responsibility to ensure that our account is paid before the debt exceeds 60 days, when court action may be considered to recover any monies due to us.

We prefer that owners do not leave any rugs, blankets or head collars with us. No feed is normally required, although you may wish to bring any additional supplementation that your animal receives. If your horse is coming in for a lameness examination then it is preferable that the horse is properly shod. Please make sure that the appropriate tack is available as it is possible that the horse may need to be ridden as part of the examination.

If you have any questions regarding your appointment please feel free to telephone the Reception Office on: 01223 746571.

Information for owners of in-patients

You are always welcome to visit your horse during working hours. However a time will need to be arranged and this can be done by contacting the Equine Hospital on 01223 746571 - this is to ensure that your visit does not interfere with ward rounds, feeding, medication or any other diagnostic procedures.

If you are not able to visit, please feel free to telephone to enquire about your horse's condition. It would be more convenient if you could ring after mid-morning by which time any daily checks and dressings will have been carried out.

Please do not feed or walk you horse out without checking with a member of the nursing staff. Do not enter any stable which has a radioactive sign on the door.

Your horse's medical details are confidential. Please respect the confidentiality of the other owners and their horses.

On the day of discharge, please collect your horse before 16.30 and please tell us in advance of your expected arrival time, so that we may prepare your horse. Written discharge instructions will tell you what medicines, dressings and re-examinations are required.

Most importantly, we all hope that your horse's stay at the Hospital is successful.

Information on foaling and care of the newborn foal

An Owner's Guide to Foaling and Care of the Newborn Foal, by Dr Nicky Holdstock, is designed for the horse owner, to help them prepare and manage a normal foaling and care for the newborn foal.

Further information

Equine Hospital

Equine information form (pdf)