INFORMATION
Clinical signs – When to call the vet!
CLINICAL SIGNS It is important to know the normal parameters for a healthy horse so that you can quickly gauge whether a veterinary visit is indicated. Rectal Temperature: 37*C - 38.5* C [...]
First Aid
In the event of an injury to your horse it is important to remain calm and be a settling influence on your horse and not allow your own emotions to escalate. Horses are a herd [...]
Vaccination
VACCINATE TO PREVENT DISEASE! Vaccination in horses can be commenced from 3 months of age. Tetanus (Clostridium tetani)-ESSENTIAL VACCINE Tetanus rapidly causes death by spasm of the muscles and respiratory paralysis Present in the [...]
Hendra Virus
HENDRA VIRUS CAN KILL YOUR HORSE AND HAS ALSO KILLED PEOPLE IN CONTACT WITH INFECTED HORSES. One of the great threats to your health as a horse owner and your horse’s health is the deadly [...]
Feeding Your Horse
EQUINE NUTRITION BASICS Balance the diet between ROUGHAGE (hay/grass) and CONCENTRATES (grains/pellets) remembering that horse’s natural diet is pasture and that roughage is therefore the most important part of a horse’s nutrition. Modify to suit [...]
Worming
As a horse owner it is essential that you understand the importance of a good worm control strategy. Three types of worms infest horses including ROUNDWORMS (small strongyles, large strongyles, ascarids and pin worms), TAPEWORM, [...]
Faecal Egg Counts
HOW TO PERFORM A FAECAL EGG COUNT Collect a small amount of fresh manure from your horse. One pellet or tablespoon is sufficient as we only require 2 grams to perform the faecal egg count. [...]
Dentistry
HORSES REQUIRE ANNUAL DENTISTRY CHECK-UPS. Regular dental examinations are a very important part of your horses’ management and should be carried out with sedation by your veterinary surgeon every 6-12 months for routine care and [...]
Gastric Ulcers
Ulcers are a common medical condition in horses and foals. Gastric ulcers can affect any horse at any age, but are especially prevalent in thoroughbreds and foals. Ulcers are a symptom of the conditions [...]
Cushings Disease
Cushings Disease (Pituitary Pars Intermedia Dysfunction - PPID) Cushings Disease (PPID) causes the horse’s pituitary gland to function abnormally and secrete hormones which control the horse’s metabolism at an abnormal level. Can occur in horses [...]
Joint Health Management
Performance horses are incredibly athletic animals that perform a variety of tasks for their owners. Musculoskeletal injury and, in particular, joint problems (osteoarthritis) can limit the ability of your horse to perform and in severe [...]
Controlled Exercise Program – Muscular Injuries
Muscular injuries rehabilitation 1 - 4 WEEKS Ride/lunge Commence 10 min walk warm up long and low, bending and stretching, changes of direction, serpentines 10 min trot incorporating trotting poles and as per above 10 [...]
Controlled Exercise Program – Post Surgery
POST- SURGICAL CONTROLLED EXERCISE PROGRAM 1 -4 WEEKS Box rest Reduce hard feed component of diet Bandages and anti-inflammatory medication as prescribed 5 - 6 WEEKS Box rest or small yard Hand walk 15 minutes [...]
Controlled Exercise Program – Tendon Injury – 6 months
1 -4 WEEKS Box rest/Confinement to small yard Bandaging Anti –Inflammatory medications (Bute/cortisone/topical treatments) Hand walking/out for pick for 10 minutes daily Cut out the hard feed and increase roughage component of diet 4 – [...]
Controlled Exercise Program – Tendon Injury – 12 months
12 Month Tendon Injury Controlled Exercise Program Weeks from Injury Exercise 1 - 2 Stable No Exercise 3 - 4 Stable Hand walk/Treadmill 10 minutes Ultrasound examination 5 - 6 [...]