Tweedie & Associates Equine Veterinary Services

05/09/2025

🚑 Colic Care at Our Facility 🐴

When a horse shows signs of colic, referral doesn’t always mean surgery. More often, it’s about being in the right place for close monitoring, pain relief, and advanced care.

We’re excited to share that we can now provide this level of support right here at our facility for medical colics. That means your horse can benefit from:
✨ 24/7 monitoring
✨ Rapid diagnostics
✨ Tailored treatment in a safe, supportive environment

We can not offer surgical fixes but we can help in situations where surgery is not an option for you.

Most colic cases can be managed medically, but having the right setup ensures your horse gets the best chance for recovery — and peace of mind for you. ❤️

👉 Watch our video to learn how referral works, and what our new facility can offer.

29/08/2025

💡 We’re often asked about supplements to prevent laminitis – but the truth is, there’s no supplement proven to stop it. ❌ We don’t recommend feeding Founderguard, as it’s an antibiotic (not ideal for long-term use) and the evidence for its effectiveness is weak.

✅ The best prevention is good management – careful grazing, weight control, and regular veterinary check-ups.

📹 Watch our video to learn more about keeping your horse safe from laminitis.

27/08/2025

🌱🚨 Laminitis Alert – Be Aware This Season 🚨🌱

We’re starting to see cases of laminitis popping up already here on the Mornington Peninsula. This is a timely reminder to all horse owners to be extra cautious, especially with the stressed spring/winter grasses that can trigger problems.

Horses and ponies with insulin resistance or Cushing’s disease (PPID) are at particularly high risk, so it’s important to keep a close eye on them.

✅ Monitor your horse’s weight and body condition
✅ Restrict grazing if needed, especially during frosty mornings or rapid grass growth
✅ Look out for early signs – shifting weight, reluctance to move, or a change in stance

If you’re worried about your horse, or want to check for underlying issues such as insulin resistance or Cushing’s, give us a call. Early diagnosis and management can make all the difference.

👉 Let’s keep our horses safe and sound this spring

19/08/2025

✨ Gastric Impaction Case Update – A Happy Outcome! ✨

We’re pleased to share that our gastric impaction patient is doing well after treatment 🙌. The next important step is a carefully managed refeeding plan.

🪱 After an impaction, the stomach and gut need time to recover. This means:
✅ Small, frequent meals of easily digestible feed
✅ Close monitoring of manure output – any decrease could be a warning sign
✅ Ensuring plenty of fresh water intake to support gut motility

Refeeding is just as critical as the initial treatment. With the right management and monitoring, this horse is on track for a smooth recovery.

💡 If your horse has ever had a colic or digestive issue, it’s vital to work with your vet on a tailored feeding and hydration plan. Prevention and careful aftercare make all the difference.

We’re so glad to see this horse feeling brighter and more comfortable – and grateful to their owner for acting quickly! 🐴💙

18/08/2025

🚨 Gastric Impaction in Horses – What Every Owner Should Know 🚨

In this video, we take you inside a real case of gastric impaction – a condition where the horse’s stomach becomes blocked, preventing food and fluid from passing through normally.

👉 Signs can be subtle at first:
• Reduced appetite
• Mild, recurrent colic
• Dullness or discomfort after eating

If left untreated, gastric impactions can become life-threatening. Early diagnosis and veterinary care are essential for the best outcome.

Our goal in sharing this case is to raise awareness so horse owners can spot the signs early and know when to call their vet.

💡 Remember: Horses are designed to graze continuously – sudden diet changes, poor dental health, or reduced water intake can all increase the risk.

📞 If you ever suspect your horse may be uncomfortable or “just not quite right,” don’t wait. Call your vet.

👉 Watch the video below to learn more about this case and how we managed it.

13/08/2025

We’re excited to introduce Dr. Kaile Vuyk (Pronounced Kylie Vike), an experienced and compassionate equine veterinarian now serving horses and their owners across the Mornington Peninsula, Victoria. Some of you have already had the pleasure of meeting her in the last two weeks.

Originally from the United States, Kaile completed a Bachelor of Science in Biology before graduating from the prestigious Royal Veterinary College in London in 2024. She then gained extensive practical experience through a 12-month rotating internship at Scone Equine Hospital, working across all areas of equine medicine, surgery, and performance horse care.

As a lifelong horse owner and rider, Kaile has first-hand insight into the needs of sport and pleasure horses alike. She grew up competing in hunter/jumper events, later expanding into foxhunting and eventing, which has given her a strong understanding of horse health, performance, and injury prevention.

Outside of her veterinary work, Kaile enjoys exploring the outdoors with her dog, Mochi, along with running, surfing, and diving. She is excited to be part of the Mornington Peninsula community and looks forward to helping local horse owners keep their horses healthy, sound, and performing at their best.

If you’re looking for a knowledgeable and approachable equine vet in the Mornington Peninsula, Dr. Kaile is here to provide exceptional care for your horse. Please make her feel welcome to the great horse community we have here and if you see here out and about introduce yourself.

13/08/2025

🌱 Spring grass is here – but so is the risk for your horse’s health! 🌱

As paddocks green up across the Mornington Peninsula, some horses are at higher risk of elevated insulin levels – and that can lead to painful, even life-threatening laminitis.

In our latest video, we explain:
✅ Why spring grass can cause dangerous insulin spikes
✅ Which horses are most at risk
✅ Simple steps you can take now to protect your horse

💡 Don’t wait for warning signs – early testing and management can make all the difference.

🎥 Watch now and give your horse a safer, sounder spring: [Insert video link]

24/07/2025

Winter colic

We are seeing three types of winter colic at present. Have a short read of our latest newsletter about this and some simple management strategies you can do to help

This winter has been a challenge for many of us balancing the lack of feed in paddocks with feeding out a lot of hay to horses. This has brought some challenges for many horses. The older horse has found this particularly challenging. While the previously good doer is now just doing fine. Body weigh...

08/07/2025

📹🐴 Is Your Horse Telling You Something? 🐴📹

Not all lameness shows up as a limp. Sometimes, the earliest signs are so subtle they’re easy to miss — a head toss, a reluctance to bend, a change in stride, or just “not feeling quite right” under saddle.

In this video, we share how to spot those early red flags and explain why acting before it becomes obvious can make all the difference to your horse’s performance and comfort.

🧠 Trust your gut – if something feels off, it probably is.
👩‍⚕️ Our team is here to help with lameness evaluations, gait assessments, and diagnostic tools like flexion tests and ultrasound.

🎯 Early detection = faster recovery + better long-term outcomes.

📍Based on the Mornington Peninsula? Contact us to book a lameness consultation or regular performance check-up.

01/07/2025

Join the Team at Granwick Park – Afternoon Stable Staff Position (Moorooduc, Mon–Fri, 3:00–5:00pm.)

We’re looking for a dedicated and experienced team member to join us in an afternoon stable staff role at Granwick Park – home to Lara Tweedie Equestrian, Tweedie & Associates Veterinary Services, and our much-loved crew of Tweedie family performance horses.

This is a casual, non-nursing position, ideally suited to someone who loves caring for horses and takes pride in maintaining a performance stable to the highest standard. You’ll play a key role in both caring for our horses and supporting the veterinary clinic by keeping our stables and clinical work-up areas spotless and well-organised.

Hours:
Monday to Friday
3:00pm – 5:00pm
Job share considered for the right applicants. Additional hours available on a Friday.

Location: Moorooduc

About the Role:
The position involves hands-on care of high-level performance horses. Applicants must be confident, calm, and competent with a range of horses and have a sharp eye for detail. Experience in a similar setting is essential.

Key Responsibilities:
• Feeding paddock-based horses
• Bringing horses in and changing rugs
• Feeding stabled horses
• Grooming inpatients
• Hand-walking horses
• Skipping out boxes and yards
• Operating a UTV safely and efficiently
• Cleaning tack to a high standard

What We’re Looking For:
• Previous experience with performance horses is a must
• A genuine love for horses and horse care
• High standards of horse management
• Reliability and a strong work ethic
• Ability to follow instructions and work independently
• Ability to maintain strict confidentiality

To Apply:
Please email your CV to Lara Tweedie at [email protected]

26/06/2025

🔍 Early Detection of Lameness Leads to Better Outcomes — and Lower Costs 💼🐎
Subtle signs of lameness can be easy to miss, but early recognition is key to effective treatment and long-term soundness. One common example is proximal suspensory desmitis in performance horses—a condition that, when caught early, can often be managed conservatively with rest and targeted therapy.
However, when left undiagnosed, this injury can progress, requiring more invasive treatments such as shockwave therapy or even surgery, significantly increasing both downtime and costs.
💡 By identifying lameness at its earliest stages:�✔️ We improve the prognosis�✔️ Reduce the intensity and duration of treatment�✔️ Help avoid chronic, performance-limiting complications
If you’ve noticed even subtle changes in your horse’s gait, behaviour, or performance, don’t delay. Early diagnostic evaluation—including nerve blocks and ultrasound—can make all the difference.
📍 Serving the Mornington Peninsula, our experienced veterinary team is here to support your horse’s soundness and success. Contact us today to schedule a lameness assessment.

23/06/2025

🚨 New Video Series: Foundation First – Why Prevention is Better Than Cure 🐎💡

Performance horses give us their all — but are we doing enough to protect them before problems arise?

In Part 1 of our new series, we dive into the real value of preventative horse health. Discover how working closely with your equine vet on the Mornington Peninsula can help you avoid the high costs, downtime, and heartbreak that come with injury.

🔍 We cover:
✔️ The hidden cost of reactive care
✔️ Why your vet should be your performance partner
✔️ How common injuries develop — and how to stop them early
✔️ The importance of building your horse’s health baseline

If you want the best for your performance horse, this one’s for you.

🎥 Watch now and take the first step toward smarter, safer performance horse care!