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Stuck stallion gets rescued after gate mishap
The horse required pain relief after the incident, but should make a full recovery.
On a mission to visit his friends, the plucky horse encountered an unexpected obstacle.  

A horse got himself in a bit of a sticky situation last Tuesday (10 August) when he got stuck straddling a gate.

The stallion was attempting to visit his fellow-horse neighbours over the other side of the gate, but when he tried to clear the four foot high gate, he got stuck halfway over.

Walkers in Rochester, Kent, noticed the struggling stallion and called the RSPCA for assistance, where inspector Tina Nash attended the scene.

Tina commented: “The horse, a stallion, was trying to get to the mares on the other side of the gate and obviously thought he could clear the 4ft gate. But it seems this lovely lad isn’t the greatest showjumper and got himself stuck halfway!

“If he’d have spent a little more time looking and investigating, he’d have realised that he could have walked along the fenceline a little further, he could have just trotted around to see his lady friends!”

The poor embarrassed horse didn't have to wait too long for help though, as a crew from the Kent Fire and Rescue service joined the RSPCA at the scene, and used straps to gently lift the horse up and off the gate.

A spokesperson for the Kent Fire and Rescue Service commented: “Animal rescue emergencies are as important as any other for Kent Fire and Rescue Service. The Animal Rescue Unit is made up of specially trained firefighters, who have a passion for helping all creatures great and small.”

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Practices urged to audit neutering data

News Story 1
 RCVS Knowledge has called on vet practices to audit their post-operative neutering outcomes.

It follows the release of the 2024 NASAN benchmarking report, which collates data from neutering procedures performed on dogs, cats and rabbits.

The benchmarking report enables practices in the UK and Ireland to compare their post-operative outcomes to the national average. This includes the rate of patients lost to follow-up, which in 2024 increased to 23 per cent.

Anyone from the practice can submit the data using a free template. The deadline for next report is February 2026.

Visit the RCVS Knowledge website to complete an audit. 

Click here for more...
News Shorts
New guidance for antibiotic use in rabbits

New best practice guidance on the responsible use of antibiotics in rabbits has been published by the BSAVA in collaboration with the Rabbit Welfare Association & Fund (RWA&F).

The guidance is free and has been produced to help veterinary practitioners select the most appropriate antibiotic for rabbits. It covers active substance, dose and route of administration all of which are crucial factors when treating rabbits owing to the risk of enterotoxaemia.

For more information and to access the guide, visit the BSAVALibrary.