Oldbury Equine Clinic

01/11/2024

Team work definitely makes the dream work. We love working with other colleagues to ensure the best results for the 4 legged friends we are all dedicated to keeping healthy

A huge thank you to Dr Denis Verwilghen who came came over to WA to help with some tricky cases and for shifting some cases around so we could fit in this lovely little man while Denis was here. We are very fortunate to have one of the few specialists in the world that are double boarded- registered specialist in equine dentistry and equine surgery here in Australia. So wonderful when we all work together to help our patients.

29/10/2024

At Oldbury Equine Clinic all our clinicians are continually working hard behind the scenes to ensure they are up to date with the latest skills, research and treatments available.

If you have ever wondered what all those letters after their names mean - in essence they are a reflection of the amount of additional work they do outside their normal working hours to gain further qualifications to help your horses.

In 2014 Dr Mike enrolled in his Certificate in Advanced Equine Practice (Equine Surgery- Orthopaedics) and 10 years later our wonderful Dr James is now complementing his Australian Equine Veterinary Dentistry Membership qualifications with his Certificate in Advanced Equine Practice (Equine Dentistry) .

We would like to thank A/Prof Dr Denis Verwilghen for taking time from his very busy life as specialist in surgery and dentistry and director of Goulburn Valley Equine Hospital to fly over and work with James on a number of cases which James requires to complete the qualification.

Team work always makes the dream work and it is only through these collegiate efforts and the amazing comradery of our profession that we all advance in our skills to treat your animals .

Well done James and Denis - amazing work 👏

Dr James will update our clients in the next few days on some of the interesting cases they worked on together .

27/10/2024

Dr James is at the Swan River Horse Trials this weekend providing treating veterinarian services. A lovely finish to the season, good luck to all the riders 🍀

23/10/2024

Did you guess the answer to our brainteaser?! Blind wolf teeth!

🐴 All horses have should have a minimum of 36 teeth - 12 incisors and 24 cheek teeth (premolars & molars). Some horses (males usually) can have 4 canine teeth. And some horses can have up to 4 wolf teeth.

🐺 Wolf teeth are vestigial premolars, meaning once upon a time horses had 28 cheek teeth, but evolution decided that was too many. Now they can get these small throwback teeth.

💣 Not all wolf teeth need to be extracted. If they're located correctly in front of the first cheek tooth & stable, or in a non-ridden horse, they can stay. But if they are mobile or abnormally located, they can cause gum disease or bitting pain, and need to be removed.

🥳 These were noted at a routine dental examination and removed under sedation and local anaesthesia prior to the horse heading to the breakers - he's going to have a much more pleasant experience without them!

📞 If you're interested in having your horses' mouth examined by our experienced & knowledgable practioners, then call us on 1300 61 21 21.

22/10/2024

GUESS THE ANOMALY?! 🤔

We love a brainteaser here, and cool dental abnormalities are our jam! Can you see the abnormal anatomy on this horse? Stay tuned tomorrow for the answer!

18/10/2024

🐎The first of this months 2 equine performance days in conjunction with Randlab was a great success.

🐴Multiple horses were assessed for gastric ulcers, dental issues and lameness. With some very interesting cases.

🩺 Some great results with rescopes also booked in on the same day having significant resolution of issues after change in management and treatment

🗓️ Our second performance day is on Wednesday 30th offering the same packages of gastroscopy and oral examinations as well as lameness assessments with the clinics lameness locator . Don’t miss out on this fantastic opportunity to assess your poorly performing horse .

Thank you to the wonderful Rebecca Puvanendran from Randlab for her and her companies support of these days.

Once again we will be offering 10% off all Randlab products to clients attending the day .

09/10/2024

We’re excited to announce our next Performance Clinic this Wednesday 16th October in conjunction with Randlab!

We appreciate the subtle ways that pain can influence the health & performance of your horse. Gut pain – from the mouth all the way to the intestines – can negatively impact your horse, while musculoskeletal pain can be subtle and non-specific. To help, we’ve packaged a range of services:

Stomach gastroscopy and oral examination - $340

For horses with clear gastroscopes & oral exams:

Lameness evaluation including Lameness Locator – for the price of a standard lameness exam - $230

We’re also offering Randlab products (such as the wonderful Arthropen & Zycan) at 10% off – on the day only!

Call today on 1300 61 21 21 to book your horse in with our experienced clinicians to investigate if they have pain affecting their performance.

04/10/2024

We are continuing to see so many hoof abscesses due to the recent rains. Here is a great factual article from the AAEP. If your horse has a sudden onset severe lameness then a foot abscess would be high up on our differential list.
If you think you horse may have an abscess please ring us on 1300 61 21 21 so one of our experienced clinicians can assist you .

WHAT CAUSES HOOF ABSCESSES?

Sooner or later, nearly all horse owners will deal with a hoof abscess. But what does "hoof abscess" actually mean?

Although most commonly seen during the wet winter and spring months, hoof abscesses can plague horses year-round and usually occur when debris and bacteria enter the foot through hoof cracks and wounds, even horseshoeing holes. The bacteria then get trapped between the sensitive laminae (the tissue layer that bonds the hoof capsule to the coffin bone) and the hoof wall or sole and create pus; the pus builds up over time and puts pressure behind the hoof wall or sole, until it causes the sudden onset of acute lameness when the pain finally becomes too great. (The diagram shows a simplified view of the equine hoof to help visualize the structures involved in this process.)

Hoof abscesses can mimic other more serious diseases or injuries, so involving your veterinarian early on in the diagnosis and prompt treatment of this condition is always a good idea. Some abscesses will be uncomplicated and rupture on their own like a large pimple at the coronary band or heel bulbs; other abscesses, however, could require radiographs and will need to be surgically drained.

04/10/2024

😁 MOUTH INJURIES and ORAL TRAUMA 🦷

The oral cavity of the horse is a frequent location for injury and at Oldbury Equine Clinic, we have seen a run of mouth injuries over the last fortnight.

👄 Most injuries come from when there is an object in the mouth (through riding or due to a horses' curious nature) and a sudden scare causes them to pull back. Laceration to the lips, tongue, cheek and teeth often results and even when minor they can look alarming once the blood mixes with saliva. Other injuries from a kick etc may be more severe and involve fracture of the teeth or mandible, with significant visual abnormalities along with hindering normal function of the mouth.

😲 The horses we have seen recently include fractured incisors and bone from pulling back on an object, severe oral trauma from catching their lip on a gate clip and a tongue laceration from the bit when accidentally standing on side reins.

🩸The mouth provides many challenges to wound healing due to constant motion from eating and drinking, contamination from saliva and oral bacteria and difficult to visualise/access areas. However the mouth does have a large blood supply which can result in rapid healing when appropriate repair techniques are used.

🔦 All mouth injuries should have veterinary assessment immediately to determine the severity and extent of trauma. This requires sedation, an oral speculum (gag) and good lighting to ensure nothing is missed.

If you see your horse with any drooling, blood tinged saliva, abnormal mouth odour or facial distortion, please immediately call the clinic on 1300 612121. 📞

29/09/2024

Some great advice from the AAEP regarding puncture wounds of the foot . Dr Mike saw a case just like this one this week which the highly vigilant owner jumped on immediately ensuring the horse was assessed properly , treated and will be totally fine :)

Puncture wounds in the foot qualify as medical emergencies, due to the number of vital structures just beneath the sole that can be physically damaged and/or contaminated with bacteria when they are penetrated by a sharp object.

If your horse steps on a nail or other sharp object and it remains embedded in the hoof, resist the temptation to pull the nail out and consult with your veterinarian first. Leaving the nail in place will allow the vet to take x-rays of the foot before removal, which helps to identify exactly what structures have been penetrated, and to plan the most appropriate strategy for dealing with the situation.

If your veterinarian advises, carefully remove the nail to prevent the horse from stepping on it and driving it deeper into the hoof cavity. As you remove it, be sure to mark the exact point and depth of entry with tape and/or a marker so the veterinarian can assess the extent of damage. Apply antiseptic to the wound, and wrap to prevent additional contamination while you wait for your appointment.

Penetrating hoof wounds can be extremely serious and shouldn’t be underestimated. The prognosis for successful recovery depends on quick action to identify the path of the nail, treatment of potential infection and mechanical damage to the foot, and proper aftercare. As always, consult your horse doctor for more information and advice!

20/09/2024

17/09/2024

The gorgeous AllSpice met Dr Mike and Dr James for his first clinic visit

His owner took advantage of our half price abdominal sand X-Ray offer

His visit was a great success

🐴 Low sand burden diagnosed
🐴 Sand drench performed
🐴 Home with a sand removal psyllium removal programme
🐴 Management in place to prevent an emergency call out due to sand colic
🐴 Horse , Owners and Vets all very happy with the outcome 👏

13/09/2024

Eye issues and injuries are always emergencies. This beautiful chaps owner was quick off the mark and ensured we could start intensive therapy and management of this serious eye condition at the clinic.

08/09/2024

There's been a run of hoof abscesses this weekend. Warm, wet conditions are perfect for soft feet & bacteria growth.

Ensure areas like feed spots & water troughs don't have standing water or mud. Pick out feet regularly, and call us if you notice any lameness!

24/08/2024

We promise to look after her and take her on many adventures to meet the Oldbury equine patients! 🤗

Sad day…. Saying goodbye to an old friend who has been in my rear vision mirror for over 13 years and kept well over 18,000 horses secure and me safe. She’s gone to a good home at Oldbury Equine Clinic where I can visit her occasionally. 😢

23/08/2024

Another cause of swollen legs - Greasy Heel

Greasy heel (pastern dermatitis), is an inflammatory condition of the skin (dermatitis) involving the lower limbs, particularly the non-pigmented skin.

🌧 Certain conditions such as prolonged exposure to moisture (wet muddy paddocks, wet bedding), abrasions, clipping etc reduce the effectiveness of the skin as a barrier to organisms. This allows bacteria which can be dormant (inactive) to invade the skin causing dermatitis.

🔺 Clinical symptoms may start off as matted fur with scabs/crusting however can rapidly progress to inflammed red skin which may split along a horizontal line. This is often very painful for the horse and can be associated with severe swelling and lameness.

'Barney' pictured here is a classic example how the skin can become red and inflammed and several horizontal cracks are starting to appear. His leg is also swollen from the disease.

⏳ Because treatment can be difficult and prolonged, early recognition is vital and prevention is usually the best cure. Identifying and removing the predisposing factors is extremely important for ongoing care.

📞 If you suspect your horse is suffering from greasy heel, please give the clinic a call on 1300 612121 for veterinary assessment.

21/08/2024

Happy Hump Day! 🥕