Haven Veterinary GROUP

04/06/2026

Heat Stress in Horses – Advice from Your Veterinary Team

As temperatures rise in the UK, horses can quickly become vulnerable to heat stress, especially during exercise, travel, or turnout with limited shade.

Unlike humans, horses generate a lot of internal heat when working and rely heavily on sweating to cool down. When conditions are hot and/or humid, that cooling system can become less effective.

Remember: humidity, lack of breeze, travel stress and workload can make even “mild” UK temperatures dangerous.

5 Ways to Help Prevent Heat Stress in Horses

As temperatures rise, it's important to keep horses cool, comfortable and safe. Heat stress can develop quickly so close monitoring and good management is key.

Horses are less efficient at regulating their body temperature, particularly under exertion or stress. Prevention is always better than managing heat-related illness once it develops.

Keep a close eye on your horse during hot spells and act early if you notice any changes in behaviour, breathing, or energy levels.

Heat stress in horses: signs every owner should watch for

If you notice any of these signs, stop exercise immediately, move your horse to a shaded, cool area, and begin cooling with applications of copious quantities of water, while seeking veterinary advice.

Severe heat stress can escalate quickly and early action makes a significant difference.

02/06/2026

It’s that time of year where we need to be aware of
heat stress in our livestock. When temperatures hit
22°C livestock will start to exhibit signs of heat stress.
However, this is based on 60% humidity which is the
UK average. If we take into account different
humidity levels plus many other factors such as
bedding type, breed, system, wind speed etc. this
temperature threshold for heat stress can reduce
dramatically.
Keep an eye on your livestock and be prepared with
cooling systems.

02/06/2026

Get a good conditioned cow and ask a vet or trained tech to
explain the difference - what are they looking for?

✅ Body Condition Scoring
June is a great time to body condition score your herd
Not sure what to look for? We’re happy to help.

Contact Haven Veterinary Group 01482 898301

25/05/2026

☀️ Temperatures were record breaking g this Bank Holiday weekend, and while many of us have been enjoying the sunshine, the hot weather can pose serious risks to our pets.

Every year, our veterinary teams see cases of heatstroke and dehydration that can become life-threatening very quickly. Dogs, cats, rabbits and other small pets can all struggle in high temperatures, so it's important to take extra precautions to keep them safe.

🐾 Walk dogs during the cooler parts of the day
💧 Make sure pets always have access to fresh water
🌳 Provide plenty of shade and cool resting areas
🚗 Never leave pets in cars, conservatories or poorly ventilated spaces
🔥 Check pavements and artificial grass before walks to avoid burnt paws

Watch for signs of heatstroke, including excessive panting, drooling, lethargy, vomiting, wobbliness or collapse.

If you suspect your pet is suffering from heatstroke, move them somewhere cool, offer water and contact your veterinary practice immediately for advice.

Stay safe and enjoy the sunshine responsibly with your pets. ❤️

Read more here: https://www.vetpartners.co.uk/practice-news/vets-urge-pet-owners-to-protect-pets-during-bank-holiday-weekend-heatwave/

or here specifically for dogs: https://www.vetpartners.co.uk/pet-advice/dog-advice/seasonal-dog-advice/how-to-prevent-heatstroke-in-dogs/

It’s important to make sure that our canine friends stay safe in hot weather. Learn about heatstroke, the signs and how to prevent it.

22/05/2026

Little Crumble had a visit to the vets recently to have her tear ducts flushed.

Rabbits can sometimes get blocked tear ducts, which means their tears can’t drain properly. This can cause watery eyes, sticky fur, irritation, and even infections if left untreated. In many rabbits, the roots of their teeth sit very close to the tear ducts, so dental issues or inflammation can sometimes contribute to the blockage.

The procedure helps clear everything through so her eyes can stay comfortable and healthy again.
As you can see, Crumble was an absolute superstar through it all and is now back to being her adorable self.

22/05/2026

We have had an entire male cat brought into our Holderness Road branch, found around Portobello Street area, not microchipped, if you think he may belong to you please give the practice a call on 01482376477 🐈

19/05/2026

Early Prevention = Fewer Emergencies

The total lifespan of a fly is estimated to be 15-25 days.
By the 12th day, a fly will reach maturity and after this
point, females can lay over 500 eggs usually in
batches of 75 – 150. That’s a quick population increase
once those 500 eggs reach maturity, usually two weeks.

Simply tackling the adults may not decrease your
population on farm because the females might have
already laid their 500 eggs somewhere.

Prevention should focus on the adult fly as well as fly larvae, as these account for 85% of flies on farms.

Cleanliness is key to reduce your overall fly population. This involves displacing and removing their breeding ground and can be combined with other products such as pour-ons, fly curtains and fly predators to control all stages of the fly life-cycle.

For more information on fly control, Haven Veterinary Group 01482 898301

13/05/2026

🎉 Happy National Receptionist Day! 🎉

Today, we’re celebrating the friendly faces who keep our veterinary practice running smoothly—our amazing reception team! 🐾

The photo shows our superstar receptionist, Claire, getting a paw-sitively helpful hand from one of our furry visitors 🐶😂.
She’s the first to greet you and your pets, the one juggling appointments, phone calls, and last-minute emergencies, all with a smile. From comforting worried pet parents to keeping the clinic ticking like clockwork, Claire and our reception team are truly the heart of our practice. ❤️

So here’s to our incredible receptionists—thank you for your patience, organisation, and the warmth you bring to every visit. We literally couldn’t do it without you!

12/05/2026

Vincent the goat paid us a visit recently at our Hedon practice for a Cryptorchid castration - a slightly more complex procedure needed when one testicle hasn't been successfully removed during a castration or hasn't descended correctly! 🐐

Retained testicles can't be left in place as they can cause discomfort, behavioural issues, and increase the risk of certain health problems. Unlike normal castrates, these procedures can be a bit more involved as the testicles can be hidden in the abdomen or inguinal canal. It's important in these situations that we find and remove the remaining testicle to avoid any future problems.

Vincent was a star for his procedure. He was very brave throughout and deserving of all the fuss he got from the team! His procedure went smoothly and he's now back home recovering well with his herd ☀️

12/05/2026

🤔 The four questions of Nematodirus

If your lambs are grazing pasture that carried lambs last spring AND you answer yes to one or more of these questions, your lambs could be at risk:

🐑 Are the lambs spending time grazing and eating significant amounts of grass?
🐑 Do you have groups where there is also likely to be a challenge from coccidiosis? For example, mixed aged lambs are a higher risk
🐑 Has there been a sudden, cold snap recently followed by a period of warm weather?
🐑 Are there lambs under other stresses e.g. triplets, fostered, on young or older ewes?

If you are worried your lambs may be at risk, or want further advice, please speak to your vet who can advise on actions you can take to reduce the risk. You can also find more information, including the latest disease forecasts, on the SCOPS website. https://www.scops.org.uk/forecasts/nematodirus-forecast/