When is colic an emergency in horses?

Colic is abdominal pain in horses. Call your vet immediately if your horse is rolling, pawing, looking at the flank, not passing droppings, or showing signs of distress. Do not wait — colic can be life-threatening.

How often do horses need vaccinations in the UK?

Most UK horses receive tetanus and influenza vaccines on a schedule set by your vet, often annually or every 6 months for influenza depending on competition and yard requirements.

UK horses

Horse & Donkey Health

Colic, laminitis, vaccinations and worming — when UK horse and donkey owners should call a vet.

Quick answer

PETHEALTH+ publishes 15 plain-English horse and donkey health guides for UK owners covering colic, laminitis, vaccinations, worming and seasonal care. Every guide opens with a direct answer and is reviewed against UK veterinary guidance from the PDSA, RSPCA and BVA — information only, not a substitute for seeing your vet.

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What preventive care do UK horses need?

Regular farriery, dental checks, worm egg counts and targeted worming, vaccination, body condition monitoring, and daily health checks. Register with an equine vet before emergencies arise.

All 15 horse and donkey guides

Horse Health

UK reference sources

We check our guides against publicly available advice from these organisations. Links are for further reading — they do not mean these bodies endorse PETHEALTH+.

Worried about your horse?

Our free symptom checker gives plain-English triage guidance based on UK veterinary rules — it does not replace a vet.

Check your horse's symptoms

Frequently Asked Questions

When is colic an emergency in horses?: Colic is abdominal pain in horses. Call your vet immediately if your horse is rolling, pawing, looking at the flank, not passing droppings, or showing signs of distress. Do not wait — colic can be life-threatening.
How often do horses need vaccinations in the UK?: Most UK horses receive tetanus and influenza vaccines on a schedule set by your vet, often annually or every 6 months for influenza depending on competition and yard requirements.