Referrals

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Welcome to Pool House Equine Hospital - Referral Services

Pool House Equine Hospital is a leading Equine referral hospital based in the heart of the Midlands, just off the A38 on the outskirts of Lichfield.

Our specialists are happy to accept elective and emergency referrals of horses and ponies from Veterinary Surgeons from all over the UK.

Pool House Equine Hospital offers an extensive range of surgical and medical facilities and diagnostics and as such, can accommodate a wide range of referrals. Our teams consist of Internationally recognised surgical and medicine equine specialists with extensive experience and expertise, having national and international reputations, written scientific papers and published in text books and scientific journals. Our specialists are all invited to speak regularly at national and international meetings and teach on continuing education courses for other members of our profession. 

All of our clinical and support staff are dedicated to providing your animal with the very best treatment and care.

Our hospital is staffed 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, so your horse will be supervised around the clock. There is always at least one veterinary surgeon on site throughout the night.

Referrals can be made by completing the referral form or with our Hospital Office by calling 01283 799700 during office hours (Monday - Friday 8.30am - 5.30pm)

Emergency referrals, out of hours, can be made by calling 01283 799700

Once the form has been received, we will liaise with the relevant specialist department and offer a suitable appointment option and estimate of treatment.

Horse owners who call us directly will be asked to discuss referral with their own veterinary surgeon.

Please see the below for information about our referral services and team.

  • Colic
  • Equine Dentistry Referral Service
  • Laparoscopy
  • MRI
  • Lameness Locator Service
  • Arthroscopy
  • Laser Surgery
  • Regenerative Sports Medicine (PRP, BMAC and IRAP)
  • Farrier Referral Service
  • Gastroscopy

Colic

Both medical and surgical cases are welcome. Cases in the past year have varied from resection of necrotic small intestine and ileocaecal anastomosis to correction of displaced colons. We have 24/7 veterinary cover in the clinic and all recovery boxes have closed circuit television monitoring to ensure a high level of aftercare for all our colic cases. We believe this is reflected in an extremely high success rate, currently exceeding 80% of horses going home after surgery.

Equine Dentistry Referral Service

Sam Hole obtained the European Diploma in Equine Dentistry last year and is now an RCVS recognised specialist. Sam is always delighted to receive challenging dental and sinus cases. We offer a wide range of dental and surgical options.

Meet our Vets

Dr Sam Hole
BSc(Hons) BVM&S Cert. AVP(ED) Cert. AVP(EP) Dipl. EVCD(Equine) BAEDT MRCVS

Laparoscopy

We can offer laparoscopic ovariectomy and rig surgery. Other laparoscopic treatments are available such as biopsy of the intestines in the investigation of weight loss.

MRI

Over the last 12 months we have performed 152 standing MRI studies. All MRI scans done at Pool House are read by an independent expert in MRI interpretation. Currently we use one of four readers ensuring a rapid turnaround with a written report emailed to the referring vet within 48 hours of the scan.

Find out more about our MRI Service

Lameness Locator Service

We have added an electronic lameness locator to our lameness investigation armoury. It is extremely helpful in investigating horses with multi limb lameness, particularly in giving a totally objective assessment of the response to nerve blocks. Jonathan Withers are happy to discuss which cases might benefit with referring vets. We can also offer a lameness locator test as an adjunct to pre-purchase examinations.

Meet our Vets

Dr Jonathan Withers
BVMS CertEP Dip.ECVS MRCVS

Arthroscopy

Investigation of OCD lesions, treatment of joint and tendon sheath sepsis.

Laser Surgery

We have had great success with laser surgery for the removal of sarcoids and performing ‘hobday’s surgery’ without the necessity of a laryngostomy incision.

Regenerative Sports Medicine (PRP, BMAC and IRAP)

We are able to manufacture autologous PRP, BMAC (from bone marrow aspiration) and IRAP.

Farrier Referral Service

Our remedial farriery service is led by Jonathan Nunn AWCF supported by Grant Moon FWCF. Jonathan spends every Wednesday at the clinic and liaises closely with the owner’s own farrier so that they feel fully involved and supported by the service.

Gastroscopy

Gastroscopy is one of the most popular services we offer.  Prospective patients must be starved 16 hours and deprived of water for two to three hours prior to the procedure. We are happy to stable them overnight at the clinic to ensure compliance if that is helpful to the client. 

Our Referral Teams

Surgical Team

Jonathan Withers

Jonathan Withers

Jonathan Withers BVMS CertEP Dip.ECVS MRCVS
Read Bio
Marco Marcatili

Marco Marcatili

Marco Marcatili Cert.AVP Dip.ECVS MRCVS
Read Bio
Andrea Giacchi

Andrea Giacchi

Andrea Giacchi Cert.AVP MRCVS
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Maria Hibner - Resident

Maria Hibner

Maria Hibner MRCVS Resident
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Roberta Rocchi - Resident

Roberta Rocchi

Roberta Rocchi MRCVS Resident
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Poor Performance and Lameness Team

Federica Cantatore

Federica Cantatore

Federica Cantatore DVM, Cert. AVP (ELDT), Dip. ACVSMR (Equine), MRCVS
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Federica Cantatore DVM, Cert. AVP (ELDT), Dip. ACVSMR (Equine),Certificate in Advanced Veterinary Practice - Equine Lameness Diagnosis and Therapeutics and a boarded diplomat of American College of Veterinary Sports Medicine and Rehabilitation (ACVSMR) - specialising in lameness, poor performance and rehabilitation.

Medicine Team

Regina Pereira - Resident

Regina Pereira

Regina Pereira CertAVP(EM) MRCVS Resident
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Giulia Rapezzano - Resident

Giulia Rapezzano

Giulia Rapezzano MRCVS Resident
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Marco Duz DipECEIM PhD MRCVS leads along with two residents Giulia Rapezzano and Regina Maria Sa Fernandes Barros Pereira.

Should you need any assistance with a case or need to make an emergency colic referral please call our office on 01283 799 700 (OOH 01543 262464). Our phones are manned 24/7 and our team of specialists and certificate holding veterinary surgeons are more than happy to talk to you prior to receiving cases. We will always send a written report after the case has been discharged.

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