Southern Cross Equine Vet

31/08/2025

🌱 Spring Grass: What Every Horse Owner Should Know 🌱

As the days get warmer and the pastures turn green, our horses are just as excited as we are to see fresh spring grass. While it looks healthy and natural, this lush growth can actually pose some risks if not managed carefully.

👉 Why is spring grass a concern?
Spring grass is especially high in sugars (fructans), which can be difficult for horses to digest. For horses prone to laminitis, insulin resistance, Cushing’s/PPID, or obesity, this sugar surge can trigger serious health problems. Even healthy horses may experience digestive upset or colic if they go from hay to rich pasture too quickly.

👉 When is the grass riskiest?
• Sunny days followed by cool nights cause sugar levels to spike.
• Early mornings after frosty nights are especially high-risk times.
• Short, stressed grass can actually be higher in sugar than tall, mature pasture.

👉 How to protect your horse this spring:
✅ Introduce turnout gradually — start with 20–30 minutes and build up slowly.
✅ Consider a grazing muzzle for good-doers or laminitis-prone horses.
✅ Keep track of body condition and weight changes weekly.
✅ Provide plenty of forage (hay) before turnout so horses don’t gorge.
✅ Work with your vet to assess individual risk and create a safe grazing plan.

Spring grass doesn’t have to be scary — it just needs to be managed. With the right precautions, your horse can enjoy the season safely. 🐴💚

If you’d like advice tailored to your horse’s needs, we’re only a message away! Southern Cross Equine Vet 0413 834 370

27/08/2025

📢 Quick heads up for everyone in and around Darkes Forest!
Southern Cross Equine Vet will be in town this Thursday 🐴✨.

If you’d like to book an appointment, please get in touch.

25/08/2025

🌍🐕 International Dog Day – 26 August 🐕🌍

The bond between a dog and their owner is something truly special.
I feel very fortunate to have shared my life with both horses and dogs – they’ve made me who I am today. 💛

Take a moment today to show your dog just how much they mean to you.

Although I am primarily an equine vet, there are times when it’s comforting to have a vet come to you for your dog’s needs too. If that time comes, please don’t hesitate to reach out.

📞 Southern Cross Equine (and All Creatures) Vet
0413 834 370

21/08/2025

Unlock exceptional equine care with our mobile veterinary services. Visit our website today to learn how we can help your horse thrive.

Providing top-notch health solutions for your horses.

20/08/2025

Hoof Abscesses – What You Need to Know 🐴 🌧️ 🌧️ 🌧️

With the wet weather we’ve been having (and more on the way), I’m seeing an increase in hoof abscesses.

👉 What is a hoof abscess?
A hoof abscess is an infection trapped inside the hoof. Dirt, bacteria, or debris can sneak in through tiny cracks, nail holes, or the sole, and when the infection builds up, it creates painful pressure inside the rigid hoof capsule.

👉 What are the signs?
• Sudden, often severe lameness (sometimes your horse looks like it has a broken leg overnight!)
• Strong digital pulse
• Sensitivity to hoof testers or pressure

👉 Why it’s important to seek treatment:
• Abscesses are extremely painful for horses, but once drained and treated, they usually improve quickly.
• Left untreated, the infection can spread deeper into the hoof, leading to serious complications.
• A vet can locate and drain the abscess safely, reducing pain and speeding up recovery.

Call Southern Cross Equine Vet 0413 834 370

01/08/2025

Happy Birthday from Southern Cross Equine Vet!
🎉🐴🌧️

It’s cold and wet, the skies are grey,
But we’re still shouting, “Hip Hooray!”
To every horse, both big and small—
Happy Birthday, love to all! 💙

16/07/2025

Hendra Virus – why vaccination matters

A recent case in South-East Queensland has sadly highlighted just how dangerous the Hendra virus can be—an unvaccinated horse lost its life to this preventable disease.

Hendra virus is spread by flying foxes and can be transmitted to horses—and to humans. Because early symptoms in horses can look like many other common illnesses, diagnosis without lab testing isn’t always possible right away.

⚠️ The reality?
If your horse isn’t vaccinated, urgent veterinary care can be delayed due to mandatory biosecurity testing. This can mean:
• Delayed treatment
• Restricted access to advanced care or referrals
• Increased risk of deterioration while waiting
• Temporary quarantine

💉 Vaccinated horses can receive immediate care—from diagnostics and treatment to surgery and hospital admission—with no delays or restrictions.

As vets, we’re here for all horses, but vaccination helps us act fast when every second counts. It also protects your horse, your family, and the broader community.

📞 If you’re unsure about your horse’s vaccination status or would like to make a booking, call Southern Cross Equine Vet 0413 834 370

02/07/2025

🌧️❄️ Winter = Mud, Wet Rugs & Foot Trouble ❄️🌧️

The cold and rain are here — and so are the usual suspects:
🐎 Pastern dermatitis
🐎 Rain scald
🐎 Foot abscesses
🐎 Weight loss in older horses

Quick tips:
✔️ Check under rugs regularly
✔️ Pick out hooves daily
✔️ Keep hay off the wet ground
✔️ Watch for sudden lameness or skin scabs

Stay dry (we can dream).

📞 0413 834 370

29/06/2025

How’s this for a bag of goodies?
Any one of these could be a potential hoof abscess or worse. A good reminder to make sure your horse is up to date for tetanus vaccination.

20/06/2025

On these frosty mornings, don’t forget to check your horse’s water! Buckets and troughs can freeze quickly overnight, so make sure they have access to fresh, unfrozen water to stay healthy and hydrated.

07/06/2025

❄️ 🥶 ⛄️ 🐴 ❄️ 🥶 ⛄️ 🐴 ❄️ 🥶 ⛄️ 🐴

18/05/2025

Great to see the riders at Jenko Pony Club today for another version of my First Aid for Horses talk -.this time bandaging kids rather than horses.
I’m always happy to do talks for Pony Clubs - I’m grateful for the fun Pony Club times I had growing up.