Town & Country Vet Care

22/10/2025

The AVA is urging veterinarians and horse owners to remain vigilant following reports of the highly contagious respiratory disease, Strangles, being detected in animals across New South Wales and Victoria.

Strangles can affect horses, donkeys and mules of all ages. Recent outbreaks have been reported in the Central Coast region of New South Wales and in parts of Victoria. The disease spreads readily through direct contact with infected horses, or indirectly via contaminated equipment, feed, water sources, or handlers’ clothing and hands.

Equine Veterinarians Australia (EVA) President, Dr Albert Sole Guitart, said veterinarians and horse owners should be alert to early signs of infection.

“Clinical signs to watch for include a fever between 39.0 – 40.5 °C, nasal discharge or runny nose, a cough, painful and swollen lymph nodes (especially under the jaw), difficulty swallowing or breathing, or signs of depression and dullness,” Dr Sole said.

“If your horse shows any of these signs, isolate it away from other horses immediately and contact your veterinarian.”

Read more: https://bit.ly/4qnQXta

| Equine Veterinarians Australia

22/10/2025

Applications are now open for the Queensland Feral Pest Initiative Exclusion Fencing Grants Scheme!

✔️ Are you grazing cattle, goats or sheep?
✔️ Is your property in a rural or remote area with a history of wild dog predation?

If you tick these boxes, you could be eligible to apply.

With $3 million in funding, we’re helping eligible landholders build exclusion fencing to protect their livestock, reduce losses and keep pests at bay.

Applications close on Friday 31 October 2025.

📲 Learn more and check eligibility 👉 https://brnw.ch/21wWCLx.

🖥 Apply now via QRIDA 👉 https://brnw.ch/21wWCLw.

11/10/2025

08/10/2025

🛑 Tick Season Alert – Protect Your Pets! 🛑

Tick season is here, and it's hitting hard. In the past 30 days, our team at Queensland Veterinary Specialists (QVS) has treated 98 pets for tick paralysis.

Due to the high volume of emergency cases, our Pet Emergency teams are experiencing longer than usual wait times. We appreciate your patience and understanding during this busy time.

✅ Is your pet up to date with their tick prevention?
Tick prevention only works if it's active before a tick bites. If your pet shows any signs of tick paralysis, they’ll need urgent hospital care—including antiserum treatment. Sadly, even with intervention, some pets don’t survive. That’s why prevention is always better than cure.

⚠️ If you suspect your pet may be affected by a paralysis tick, please contact your nearest vet immediately. Early treatment can save lives.

13/08/2025

06/08/2025

** Hendra Vaccination Promotion***
As you all know I am a strong advocate for Hendra Vaccination. It allows for proper treatment of your horse when showing signs of illness. There is No wait time for exclusion tests. For new or lapsed horses, we’re running a special promotion from 1 August to 31 August 2025 where your second hendra vaccination is free. Travel costs still apply. Call or text to make an appointment.

06/08/2025

Lots of Equine Pinworm eggs!! 🥚 I am now doing Faecal Eggs Counts and other testing for parasites. Ask me next time I visit.

01/08/2025

Mums and bubs day

01/08/2025

Joey was just hanging on the fence watching me do dentals today 😍

28/07/2025

Why This August Masterclass Matters
Equine medicine is always evolving. These sessions aren’t just lectures - they’re designed to help you think differently and apply real-world strategies that improve patient outcomes and clinical efficiency.
✔ Clinical Approach to Uveitis with Caryn E. Plummer, DVM, DACVO
✔ Clinical Approach to a Horse With a Heart Murmur with Dr. Katharyn Mitchell BVSc, DVCS, DVM-PhD, Dip ACVIM-LAIM
✔ Radiology of the Fetlock and Pastern with Dr. Bri Henderson BVMS MRCVS DACVSMR
👉 Reserve Your FREE Spot Before It’s Too Late https://www.theequinepracticecompany.com/pp-signup-2025/
If you’re committed to advancing your equine veterinary skills or want the confidence to expand your services, join us today and let us support your growth.
See you in the masterclass,
Dr. Olivia James
Founder, The Equine Practice Company
✅ Share the masterclass with your colleagues! - Learning is more valuable when done together.
✅ ✅ Tag a fellow equine vet who should join! 🐎

28/07/2025

Moving your horse? Don't forget the movement record! 🐎📝

The recent Hendra virus case is a timely reminder of the importance of movement records.

We need to be able to quickly trace where infected horses have been and other horses that may be at risk of exposure.

📍In Queensland, a movement record must be created every time a horse moves off a property and kept for 2 years. All Queensland horse owners must be registered with us and complete the movement record before the animal is moved.

Check out the movement record template 👉 https://brnw.ch/21wUsVu

For more information visit 👉 https://brnw.ch/21wUsVv.

28/07/2025

While it’s a common equine emergency, esophageal obstruction (“choke”) can look alarming, especially if you've never seen it before. Unlike in human medicine, where choking refers to a tracheal (or windpipe) obstruction, choke in horses refers to an obstruction of the esophagus (the muscular tube that carries food from the mouth to the stomach).

Most commonly, choking occurs when horses eat concentrated feed too quickly without chewing appropriately, which results in a firm bolus lodged in the animal's esophagus. However, esophageal obstruction can also occur with hay or straw, hard treats, carrots, or nonfood objects. Poor dentition, which leads to inadequate chewing, is also a frequent cause of choke.

While common, choke can have serious consequences. So, be sure to call your veterinarian as soon as you notice signs of choke. A bad choke is fairly obvious to both veterinarians and horse owners, but a mild choke could be confused with an upper respiratory tract infection or colic.