Precision Equine Veterinary Services

20/03/2025

𝙈𝙐𝘿 𝙁𝙀𝙑𝙀𝙍/𝙂𝙍𝙀𝘼𝙎𝙔 𝙃𝙀𝙀𝙇/𝙋𝘼𝙎𝙏𝙀𝙍𝙉 𝘿𝙀𝙍𝙈𝘼𝙏𝙄𝙏𝙄𝙎

The condition typically presents as crusting/scabbing of the lower legs, often flarring up after prolonged periods of wet weather. It is caused by a bacteria called Dermatophilus congolensis.

Typical clinical signs:
🔷 Redness
🔷 Swelling
🔷 Scabs/crusting on lower legs
🔷Thickening of the skin
🔷 Sensitivity/pain when touched or washed
🔷 Lameness in severe cases

Treatment typically involves antiseptic washes, prescription antibiotic ointments and trying to keep the legs clean, free from mud and as dry as possible while the skin heels. If your horse has developed similar lesions, contact one of our veterinarians today to discuss how we can help.

17/03/2025

𝙰𝚃𝚃𝙴𝙽𝚃𝙸𝙾𝙽 𝙱𝚁𝙾𝙾𝙳𝙼𝙰𝚁𝙴 & 𝚈𝙾𝚄𝙽𝙶 𝚂𝚃𝙾𝙲𝙺 𝙾𝚆𝙽𝙴𝚁𝚂...

Is your mare expecting & would you like to reduce her risk of mid-late term abortion? Don't forget her herpes virus vaccinations. The Duvaxyn vaccine helps protect against Equine Herpes Virus (EHV) 1 associated abortions in mid-late term mares. Vaccinations are given at 5, 7 & 9 months of gestation. They can also be used in young horses to aid in prevention of respiratory disease associated with EHV 1 & 4 which is a common cause of 'cold' like symptoms in horses. Send us a message today to book your horse in.

04/03/2025

04/03/2025

☔️ 🌀🐴CYCLONE PREPERATION 🐴🌀☔️

Things to consider for horses:

1. NO RUGS** provided the horse has shelter, HALTERS OR FLY VEILS - remove all items from your horse, they can get caught up and result in injury.
2. Move your horse to higher ground if possible - ideally open paddocks with fewer trees. Horses in cyclones will naturally seek to stand out in the open with their bums in the wind.
3. Feed & water - consider how you will feed your horse while access to pasture may be impossible & power may be out (no water pumps). 500kg horses require 1.5-2% of their body weight in dry matter daily = 7.5-10kg of feed daily. This is approx 1/2 standard square bale per horse per day. They will drink between 20-50L water per day.
4. Emergency first aid - have some bandaging, wound cream, torch, head light, lead rope, wire cutters ready for if required.
5. SALT - if you do manage to access your horse to feed hard feed we recommend adding 10g salt/100kg into their feed. Wet, cold, miserable horses are less inclined to drink water and salt is the main driver of their thirst reflex. Especially when you may be feeding more hay than usual it is vital to keep horses hydrated to prevent colic.
6. Tetanus vaccination - your horse should be up to date - injuries sustained in natural disasters are often highly contaminated and a potential source of tetanus bacteria.

Keep your vets mobile saved in your phone & stay safe!

ATTENTION HORSE OWNERS:

SOUTHEAST QUEENSLAND

NORTHERN NSW

Please, take notice that Cyclone Alfred will be upon us within 2 days.

NOW IS THE TIME TO MOVE YOUR HORSES TO HIGHER GROUND.

If your horse paddocks are on the banks of creeks and rivers, move them immediately.

If your horses are in low lying areas, move them immediately.

There is no excuse to be caught out in floods, we have had plenty of warnings.

Remember to move your horses into paddocks with the least amount of trees, as cyclonic winds will bring trees and branches down.

All weather reports are warning of rainfall between 300mm all the way up to 1,000mm !!

These rainfall amounts are catastrophic to horses and they cannot escape flood waters when we have them locked in paddocks.

Act now.....no excuses !

We get sick of seeing members of the public risking their lives trying to rescue horses from raging waters.

Please stay safe everyone.

17/02/2025

🐴🩺Squamous Cell Carcinoma🩺🐴

Squamous Cell Carcinoma (SCC) in horses refers to a type of cancer that affects the skin and mucous membranes, often seen in areas with less pigmentation, like the eyes, ge***al region, or even the ears. It’s one of the more common types of cancer found in horses.

Pictured here was a case we had where one of our vets noticed an irregularity to the 3rd eyelid in this horse. On further examination it appears there is a SCC lesion that requires biopsy to confirm and removal of the third eyelid which we can do in the field.

If your horse has unpigmented skin, be sure to check them regularly for abnormal growths.

13/02/2025

🚑 EYES = EMERGENCIES 🚑

Please remember if your horse has any of the following symptoms, contact a veterinarian ASAP, eye injuries warrant after-hours visits as 12hrs can make the difference between successful treatment or loosing the eye.

Call you vet if the eye exhibits any of the following:
1. Swelling
2. Squinting (often this can be subtle - look at your horse from front on, are their eyelashes on the same angle on both sides? If no, there are holding one eye more closed than the other = abnormal)
3. Excess tear production
4. Blood in or around the eye
5. Shade seeking behaviour
6. ANYTHING else that you notice is abnormal for your horse.

10/02/2025

🐴BEFORE & AFTER - Horse vs fence 🐴
This was a satisfying stitch-up, luckily one of our vets was able to attend to the horse within 15 minutes of the accident which gave less time for the wound to be exposed to possible infection and had better tissue viability. The horse was lucky in missing any tendons or synovial structures however, it did lacerate right down to its canon bone. The wound is healing well thankfully so far. We will update you with a final healed photo soon!

06/02/2025

🐴 Equine Cushing's Disease 🐴
Autumn is fast approaching and although you can test year-round, autumn is the most accurate time to test horses for Cushing's disease.

Equine Cushing's Disease, also known as Pars Pituitary Intermedia Dysfunction (PPID), is a common hormonal disorder in horses, particularly in horses over 16yo. It occurs when there’s a malfunction in the pituitary gland, which results in an overproduction of certain hormones, including ACTH. This hormonal imbalance can lead to a variety of symptoms, including:

🔷Excessive thirst and urination
🔷Laminitis (inflammation of the hooves)
🔷A thick, curly coat that doesn't shed properly
🔷Weight loss or muscle wasting
🔷Increased appetite
🔷Sweating abnormalities
🔷Fat deposits on the body, particularly around the eyes, tailhead, and abdomen

The condition tends to develop gradually, and while there is no cure, it can be managed with medication to control the symptoms and improve the quality of life for affected horses. Regular monitoring and care are also important for managing associated complications, such as laminitis. If you’re concerned your horse might have PPID, contact us to book in for a blood test today.

04/02/2025

🐴 QLD ITCH 🐴

Does your horse suffer with QLD itch? There are new medicinal products available to help treat the symptoms and cause as well as other methods we can employ. We recommend contacting us to book a skin consult if your horse is suffering. There are treatment options available and improvement is possible!

23/01/2025

𝑩𝒆𝒇𝒐𝒓𝒆 & 𝑨𝒇𝒕𝒆𝒓 𝑫𝒆𝒏𝒕𝒂𝒍 𝑻𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒕𝒎𝒆𝒏𝒕

This horse was suffering with severe sharp enamel points (shown in the upper image). The lower image shows what the arcade of teeth looks like after floating.

Make sure your horse is receiving regular dental examinations and treatment to ensure their comfort & optimal feed efficiency! No use spending lots of money on feed when you horse may not be chewing to its fullest capacity - without proper chewing your horse will be unable to entirely absorb the required nutrients from their feed!

20/01/2025

🚨👀 EYES = EMERGENCIES 🚨👀

If you notice any of the following symptoms, consult one of our vets immediately!
1. Swelling of the eye or eyelid
2. Squinting
3. Weeping/abnormal discharge
4. Avoiding light/sun

Pictured below is a small corneal ulcer (green with tissue stain uptake) - luckily for this horse the owner noticed the horse was holding the eye slightly shut and had some tear staining down the face. Diagnosing and treating eye ulcers early leads to much better outcomes. Often, untreated, eye ulcers become catastrophic very quickly.

16/01/2025

💉🐴🩺 𝑬𝒒𝒖𝒊𝒏𝒆 𝑽𝒂𝒄𝒄𝒊𝒏𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏𝒔🩺🐴💉

We have had a run of clients who have forgotten their horses annual tetanus vaccination!

Don't forget horses require annual vaccinations and depending on their stage of life these may include:
1. Tetanus/Strangles
2. Hendra Virus (required to access emergency veterinary care with our veterinarians)
3. Equine Herpes Virus

To discuss your horse's vaccination needs & have an annual health check, book a consult with one of our vets today.

13/01/2025

🦷🩺 𝑬𝒒𝒖𝒊𝒏𝒆 𝑫𝒆𝒏𝒕𝒂𝒍 𝑪𝒂𝒓𝒆 🩺🦷
One of our handsome patients having his annual dental examination & maintenance. Make sure you know the stage of life your horse is at and what important dental changes there are occurring - prevention is key!

16/12/2024

🩺🐴 Welcome to our newest team member! 🐴🩺

Dr. Shanya Sommers grew up in Victoria and completed a Bachelor of Science at the University of Melbourne before making the move to Far North Queensland. She then graduated from James Cook University in 2022 after completing a Bachelor of Veterinary Science and moved to the Northern Rivers region with her wife. Since then Dr. Shanya has worked in first opinion equine general practice roles.

She has experience working with racing thoroughbreds, performance horses and pleasure horses alike. Her areas of interest include: dentistry, reproduction, dermatology, laminitis & geriatric equine management.

Shanya has always had a love for horses and grew up riding throughout her childhood. She now has a Quarter Horse – Goose, who she loves taking to the beach for a ride & over the last few years has had the pleasure of retraining two retired racing thoroughbreds.