We are fortunate to have BioTe Veterinary Laboratories on site at the practice. The laboratory has been developed to enable the team at Pinkham Equine and other veterinary practices to provide the best possible service to their clients.
The lab is a hospital level lab offering specialist expertise in microbiology and infectious disease testing. The laboratory processes equine samples quickly and efficiently which can in some cases be critical for obtaining a diagnosis and implementing the right treatment.
The lab conducts:
Routine blood haematology and biochemistry testing
These tests can help us to understand the severity of any disease and which organs are affected. We can diagnose kidney and liver disease and use inflammatory markers such as fibrinogen and serum amyloid A to inform our treatments. We can also perform a number of hormone tests such as ACTH for Cushing’s.
Screening upper airway samples such as tracheal washes and bronchoalveolar lavage samples
These samples can be examined cytologically, allowing us to differentiate allergic airway disease from infectious airway conditions, as well as monitoring the effects of treatments. We can also perform bacterial and fungal cultures to identify any significant pathogens, and provide antibiotic sensitivity results to guide the choice of treatment.
A full range of tests that are required before and during breeding
These include testing for Equine Viral Arteritis (EVA) and Equine Infectious Anaemia (EIA). The lab is accredited by the British Equine Veterinary Association (BEVA) for the screening of Mares and Stallions for Contagious Equine Metritis (CEM) and two other key venereal diseases. This testing is mandatory in the thoroughbred industry, but is also recommended when breeding non-Thoroughbred competition mares. Samples can also be processed for the investigation of subfertility in mares.
Microbiology services
Microbiological services are available for samples such as wound swabs, nasal swabs and faecal specimens, and we can utilise a variety of different atmospheric and incubation conditions to successfully identify a range of disease-causing bacteria.
PCR and Testing for a range of viruses and bacteria
Faecal worm egg count testing and faecal egg count reduction tests
Resistance to anthelmintics (de-wormers) is becoming a worldwide problem, largely caused by the overuse of the worming products that we currently have available. We offer faecal worm egg counts, which when carried out regularly can dramatically reduce over-worming and therefore limit resistance, as well as ensuring your horse only gets dosed with appropriate de-wormers when necessary.
Routine blood haematology and biochemistry testing
These tests can help us to understand the severity of any disease and which organs are affected. We can diagnose kidney and liver disease and use inflammatory markers such as fibrinogen and serum amyloid A to inform our treatments. We can also perform a number of hormone tests such as ACTH for Cushing’s.
Screening upper airway samples such as tracheal washes and bronchoalveolar lavage samples
These samples can be examined cytologically, allowing us to differentiate allergic airway disease from infectious airway conditions, as well as monitoring the effects of treatments. We can also perform bacterial and fungal cultures to identify any significant pathogens, and provide antibiotic sensitivity results to guide the choice of treatment.
A full range of tests that are required before and during breeding
These include i testing for Equine Viral Arteritis (EVA) and Equine Infectious Anaemia (EIA). The lab is accredited by the British Equine Veterinary Association (BEVA) for the screening of Mares and Stallions for Contagious Equine Metritis (CEM) and two other key venereal diseases. This testing is mandatory in the thoroughbred industry, but is also recommended when breeding non-Thoroughbred competition mares. Samples can also be processed for the investigation of subfertility in mares.
Microbiological services
Microbiological services are available for samples such as wound swabs, nasal swabs and faecal specimens, and we can utilise a variety of different atmospheric and incubation conditions to successfully identify a range of disease-causing bacteria.
PCR Testing for a range of viruses and bacteria
These include Equine Influenza, Equine Herpes Virus (EHV), rotavirus, Lawsonia, and CEM.
Faecal egg count testing and faecal egg count reduction tests
Resistance to anthelmintics (de-wormers) is becoming a worldwide problem, largely caused by the overuse of the drugs we currently have available. We offer faecal egg counts, which when carried out regularly can dramatically reduce over-worming and therefore limit resistance, as well as ensuring your horse only gets dosed with appropriate de-wormers when necessary.