Town & Country Vet Care

21/10/2024

17/10/2024

Check your older kids and pregnant does weekly for pale mucous membranes. Warm wet weather is ideal for barbers pole worms now in Australia

14/10/2024

Last minute call out for interest in a scoping day tomorrow at Glasshouse. Please call me tonight
if interested
0418 194 842.

28/07/2024

This is why Australian & New Zealander goat farmers should be vaccinating with Glanvac. These cheesy gland abscesses can occur in any lymph node- even internal ones.

12/06/2024

11/06/2024

- have you switched to a new hay recently? Here is some information about hay types, and some important things to be aware of with each ⬇️⬇️⬇️

Teff Hay
➡️Teff is a warm season grass species that can be fed as hay for horses.
⚠️The starch and sugar analysis of Teff can vary, so while it can be considered low in sugar and starch, it isn't always below a safe level for laminitis/metabolic condition prone horses and ponies.
⚠️Teff (being a C4 species) does contain moderate to high levels of oxalates, so you will need to supplement to reduce the risk of bighead disease.
⚠️ Teff has caused some behavioural changes in horses, linked to alkalosis (showing a high pH result in manure).

Barley Hay
Barley hay or straw can be fed to horses but should be an awn-less variety. The 'awns' are the stiff bristles that can grow on the barley head. It does have a similar nutrient profile to Oaten Hay, with NSC often over 16%.
⚠️Both the hay and straw are not suitable for horses prone to laminitis or metabolic conditions.
⚠️Being a cereal it can provide more energy, so be aware of re-balancing energy levels if you notice behavioural changes in your horse or pony.
⚠️ Watch out for hay that has seed heads that still contain the grain.

Oaten or Wheaten Hay
Oaten and wheaten hay are cereal hays, and a good source of fibre but both the hay and straws are quite high in NSC.
⚠️ WA's Oaten hay consistently tests between 30-38% but has been recorded as high as 42.63% in Southwest WA.
⚠️ Wheaten has an NSC of around 28.8%
⚠️ They are not suitable for horses prone to laminitis or metabolic conditions
⚠️ If feeding Oaten, make sure you balance your horse's concentrates, so they are not getting too much energy

Rhodes Grass
Rhodes grass is a good quality, low sugar and starch hay, that is low enough in oxalates not to pose a bighead risk. It is more consistent and reliable than teff when it comes to the sugar and starch levels.
⚠️ Rhodes can be high in calcium, iron and potassium, but low in phosphorus and magnesium, so make sure you re-balance your horse's diet in case they need supplementation.
⚠️ If some horses and ponies don't like eating the Rhodes hay, you can spray it with a stevia solution to it to make it more palatable.

Straw
Straw can be used to replace a portion of the hay in your horse’s diet to help extend hay supply. You can use straw for up to 20% of their daily fibre/forage intake.
⚠️Straw is not laminitis friendly. The average straw NSC is over 17%, as most straws come from cereal crops.
⚠️Make sure straw has been ARGT tested.
⚠️Straw must not be fed to foals, weanlings or yearlings as their digestive system is not mature enough to digest it properly.
⚠️If you need to feed higher than 20% straw, consult with your vet first to make sure that your horse is a candidate for this level of straw.

If you are unsure about changing hays and what your horse needs, feel free to reach out to our nutrition team or contact an equine nutritionist to rebalance your horse's diet.

Thanks to your steed equine nutrition for providing this great information.

06/06/2024

05/06/2024

05/06/2024

UPDATES GUIDELINES AVAILABLE 📢

The AAEP has issued revised Internal Parasite Control Guidelines to help minimize the risk of parasitic disease and maintain the effectiveness of current drugs for as long as possible by delaying further development of anthelmintic resistance.

The updated guidelines account for recent advances in knowledge concerning increased anthelmintic resistance and optimization of parasite control management practices. They also address common misconceptions and offer parasite control program recommendations for senior horses (over 15 years old), mature horses (between 5 and 15 years old), and young horses (under 5 years old).

Read more at: https://aaep.org/post/aaep-publishes-updated-internal-parasite-control-guidelines/

The guidelines were reviewed and updated by the AAEP Internal Parasite Control Guidelines Task Force, chaired by Dr. Nielsen and comprised of 10 AAEP members predominantly board certified in veterinary internal medicine, veterinary parasitology and/or veterinary microbiology. We thank them for their incredibly important work!

08/05/2024

Roundworms are the most important group of internal parasites affecting sheep and goats in Australia. 🐑🐐

Learn about the top 4 factors contributing to paddock contamination with worms 👉 https://wormboss.com.au/roundworms-2/worms-on-pasture/

Australian Wool Innovation Meat & Livestock Australia Animal Health Australia

07/05/2024

When can you stop feeding BioWorma?
You don't need to feed BioWorma if it is too cold for the worm eggs to hatch, so no worm larvae for the fungus to eat. However the definition of too cold varies with the species of worms you have on your farm. If you have barbers pole worms (Haemonchus) then eggs stop hatching if the daily maximums drop below 18 C . If you have Trichostrongulus (black scour worms) it is when daily maximums drop below 15 C or 12C depending on the species. If you have Teladorsagia (brown stomach worms) then daily maximums must drop below 8 C before the eggs stop hatching. See https://wormboss.com.au/roundworms-2/worms-on-pasture/

12/02/2024

What a great idea

28/01/2024

Equine vets are implementing new policies for emergency care. A recent survey revealed that newer policies now include charging higher fees for emergencies, limiting emergency services to established clients & requiring payment at the time of service, and more. These changes aim to improve compensation for vets, reduce the number of emergency calls, and enhance safety & efficiency. As the need to see emergencies is one of the important factors that drives vets to leave equine practice, it seems the equine veterinary industry is evolving to ensure continued access to care for horses.”

Read article👇
https://ow.ly/Fzgn50Qv58z

20/12/2023

A '𝗖𝗵𝗿𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗺𝗮𝘀 𝗙𝗼𝗼𝗱𝘀 𝗗𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗲𝗿𝗼𝘂𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝗗𝗼𝗴𝘀' reminder as we're about to stock our fridges!
We'll admit we had no idea re. grapes / sultanas / raisins / currants for years so it's likely many first time dog owners don't either... Share with your family or friends coming to visit or who have a brand new puppy!
🚨🍗🥓 Add 𝗧𝘂𝗿𝗸𝗲𝘆 𝘀𝗸𝗶𝗻 / 𝗛𝗮𝗺 to that list: they're very fatty & can trigger . If just one pet is spared an emergency vet visit this festive season, it's worth it! 🙏