Avon Ridge Equine Veterinary Services

02/01/2025

Happy new year 🎉 We’re back at it for 2025 and couldn’t have asked for a more perfect first patient of the year! 😍 🌟

🐴✨ ”

22/12/2024

☀️ With temperatures soaring over 40°C in some parts of WA today, keeping your horse hydrated is more important than ever!

💧 Adding some molasses or apple juice to their water can tempt fussy drinkers to consume more fluids.

💡 Pro Tip: Always offer plain water alongside flavored water, as some horses prefer it.

✅ Check hydration levels by pinching their skin on the neck (it should snap back quickly) and monitoring their manure (dryness can indicate dehydration).

Stay cool, stay hydrated, and take care of your four-legged friends! 🐴💦

21/12/2024

🔥 🐕 Important advice from our friends at Western Australian Veterinary Emergency and Specialty- WAVES

HEAT STROKE- How to avoid cooking your pet this summer.

As temperatures rise into the high 30s and 40’s some pets here in Perth will be hospitalised for the catastrophic effects of heatstroke. Many will survive if their owners are aware of the signs and take immediate life-saving action. Sadly despite the best of veterinary care, some may die of the complications of this horrific condition.
Dogs are most commonly affected but vets will also see cases in rabbits, guinea pigs, and other pocket pets.

As dogs cannot sweat, their main method of cooling themselves is to evaporate water by panting, in addition to drinking water, decreasing their activity, seeking shade and finding cool surfaces to lie on.

Signs of heat stroke include excessive, distressed, harsh sounding panting and then collapse. Dogs with heat stroke are trying so hard to breathe faster, that they often cannot stop for long enough to drink water.

Particularly at risk are geriatric animals, short nosed dogs which always have noisy breathing, dogs with stridor due to narrowing of their upper airway, and any dog which already has heart or lung disease, is obese or already ill. We have also seen young excitable dogs develop heat stroke secondary to chasing balls or playing excessively on hot days.

Consequences of heat stroke are death or damage to any organ, commonly muscle damage and bleeding disorders. Other complications include seizures, severe shock, ulceration, bleeding from the stomach and intestines causing blood in both vomit and diarrhoea, damage to the kidneys, liver, brain and lungs.

If your dog starts to develop distressed panting and excessively noisy breathing in hot weather, immediately stop any exercise. Actively cool your dog for at least five minutes by continuously saturating the whole coat with a hose or placing under a cold water shower. If your pet does not appear completely back to normal after 5 minutes of active cooling then you should immediately seek veterinary attention for your pet. If you are away from home, find the nearest source of cool water, including knocking on people's front doors to ask to use their hose. Cooling dogs with a hose is essential first aid, but in moderate and severe cases intravenous fluids and medications to treat complications may be required. Their chance of survival is much better if medical care is started rapidly; waiting a few hours to see if they will get better can be associated with a decreased chance of survival.

While driving to the veterinary clinic have the air conditioning on full or have the windows open while continuing to wet the dog’s coat with a water bottle. If your dog is small take a blanket or towel with you (just in case you manage to drop their body temperature too low and they start shivering).

Safety tips for dog owners over the hot days ahead include:
1) Do not exercise your dogs in the heat of the day.
2) Never leave dogs in cars (or sheds), as temperatures rise within minutes in enclosed environments, even if the windows are left partially open.
3) Always make sure they have plenty of fresh water and shade and keep dogs at increased risk inside; in air-conditioning if possible.
4) If heat stroke is suspected immediately start cooling your dog with cold running water for five minutes and then seek immediate veterinary attention.
5) If your dog has had heatstroke in the past be extra vigilant, they are at greater risk of it occurring again.
6) Keep dogs with stridor (noisy breathing) in air conditioning and have them checked by your vet (in many situations surgery can help them to breath more normally and decrease their risk factors for heat stroke).

If you have caged animals such as rabbits, guinea pigs or ferrets, remember cages prevent them burrowing underground or seeking a cooler area on hot days, so you will need to take care that their cage is moved to a cool location.

Finally please leave water bowls out for birds and wildlife; as their ability to remain well hydrated is important for wildlife surviving hot weather days. Sadly, climate change has significantly decreased rainfall in our environment over the past few decades. This affects wildlife who can't turn on the tap to take a drink when they need it. It is also increasing the incidence of heat waves and therefore the risks of animals developing heat stroke and other complications.

19/12/2024

Truth! 🙌😂

17/12/2024

A heartfelt thank you to all our clients for trusting us with the care of your horses and ponies throughout this past year. It’s been a privilege to be part of their journeys, and I’m truly grateful for your continued support.

Wishing you all a safe and relaxing Christmas break. While I hope you and your horses stay healthy over the holidays, we will be available for emergencies only between 20th December to 2nd January.

Please call 0427 062 095 if you have an equine emergency.

Routine appointments for 2025 can still be booked using the website link below.

https://avonridgeequine.com.au/book-an-appointment/

16/12/2024

💗 Making new friends while I’m working! 🐺

11/12/2024

3 Tips to Help Prevent Impaction Colic 👇👇

Hydration is the 🔑

1. Water troughs in the ☀️ heat up really quickly during the day. Make sure your horse has access to cool, clean drinking water in a shaded area 🌳

2. Molasses water can entice fussy drinkers to increase their water intake 💡 Just make sure the molasses water doesn’t sit out in the heat too long as it will become rancid.

3. Adding electrolytes to their feed will also help encourage increased water intake. Don’t overdo this. Follow instructions on whatever supplement you’re using. 🧂

Stay cool 😎

🩺 Contact us on 0427 072 095 or book an appointment online: https://avonridgeequine.com.au/book-an-appointment/



Equine Veterinarians Australia

08/12/2024

👏 Props to the owner for taking such great care of this nasty wound to her horse’s chest… with the help of some honey 🍯

▪️Honey promotes wound healing through several well-documented mechanisms:

1. Antimicrobial Activity
Honey has broad-spectrum antimicrobial properties, effective against bacteria and fungi. Its low pH, high osmolarity, and hydrogen peroxide content create an environment that inhibits microbial growth.
• Manuka honey, derived from the Leptospermum scoparium plant, has been the most extensively studied honey due to its unique non-peroxide antimicrobial compound, methylglyoxal (MGO). However, emerging research suggests that other types of honey may also exhibit significant antimicrobial properties.
• Despite its benefits, non-sterile honey can be contaminated with aerobic bacteria or fungi, and medical-grade honey is typically recommended for wound care.
2. Anti-inflammatory Effects
Honey reduces inflammation by modulating pro-inflammatory mediators, which minimizes swelling and pain at the wound site. This anti-inflammatory action facilitates faster healing and improves the horse’s comfort during recovery.
3. Moisture Retention and Tissue Regeneration
Honey maintains a moist wound environment, which is critical for epithelial cell migration and tissue repair. This accelerates wound closure and minimizes the risk of scarring.
4. Debridement
Honey assists in the natural debridement of wounds by enzymatically breaking down necrotic tissue. This process removes dead or infected tissue without damaging healthy cells, preparing the wound bed for optimal healing.

▪️Precautions and Veterinary Oversight

While honey is a powerful adjunct to wound care, veterinary oversight is critical for:

• Large, deep, or complex wounds
• Wounds near sensitive areas such as joints or eyes
• Signs of infection, such as swelling, heat, or discharge
• Persistent lameness, fever, or other systemic signs

🩺 Contact us on 0427 072 095 or book an appointment online: https://avonridgeequine.com.au/book-an-appointment/

06/12/2024

Horse whiskers are highly sensitive tactile organs and are integral parts of their sensory apparatus - they should NOT be trimmed!! They contain nerve endings at their bases, allowing horses to detect and respond to touch, vibrations, and changes in air currents. This sensitivity is crucial for a horse's awareness of its surroundings.

The base of each whisker is surrounded by a structure called a vibrissal crypt, which contains blood vessels and nerves. These vibrissal crypts enhance the sensitivity of the whiskers.

Whiskers also play a role in social communication among horses. During social interactions, horses may use their whiskers to express comfort, establish social bonds, or communicate boundaries. Foals use their whiskers extensively to navigate their world and maintain proximity to their mothers. Whiskers are crucial for young horses as they learn about their environment and develop social bonds.

05/12/2024

Learn more about snake bite in horses from equine internal medicine specialist, Dr Guy Lester.

https://equiimed.com/reviews/snake-envenomation/

21/11/2024

Precious by name, precious by nature. Gotta love the donks 💕

20/11/2024

PSSM1 - POLYSACCHARIDE STORAGE MYOPATHY TYPE 1

Horses with PSSM might show signs of muscle stiffness, reluctance to move, lameness, poor performance, pain on palpation of muscles and sweating.

PSSM is characterized by the presence of abnormal polysaccharide inclusions in skeletal muscle.Horses with type 1 PSSM (PSSM1) have a mutation in the glycogen synthase gene (GYS1). The severity of clinical signs of PSSM1 can vary widely from asymptomatic to severely affected.

The most common trigger for "tying up" in PSSM horses is less than 20 minutes of light exercise, particularly if the horse has been rested for several days prior to exercise or is unfit. Diets high in non-structural carbohydrates also increase the risk of muscle pain and stiffness in PSSM1 horses.

PSSM1 horses need carefully managed daily exercise programs. Dietary adjustments should limit the nonstructural carbohydrate (NSC) content of the diet because glucose and insulin stimulate the already overactive enzyme glycogen synthase in the muscle of PSSM1 horses.

Meeting the horse’s caloric requirements for an ideal body weight is the most important consideration in designing a diet for PSSM, as many horses with PSSM are good doers and may be overweight at the time of diagnosis. Adding excessive calories in the form of fat to the diet of an obese horse may exaccerbate insulin dysregulation.

For more information please call 0427 072 095 or book an appointment online https://avonridgeequine.com.au/book-an-appointment/

13/11/2024

We all have that one friend….. 🤦‍♀️😂

W.A Veterinary Equine Dentistry Pty Ltd
Equiimed

12/11/2024

⚠️ Warning: Incoming Cute Pony!! 💕

11/11/2024

Choke in horses is a condition characterised by an obstruction of the esophagus, preventing the normal passage of food and liquids into the stomach.

Causes:
- Dry Feed: Inadequate chewing of dry or coarse feed, especially in horses with dental issues.
- Rapid Eating: Consuming food too quickly without proper chewing.
- Insufficient Water: Lack of access to water or reluctance to drink can contribute to dry feed sticking in the esophagus.
- Esophageal Dysfunction: Anatomic abnormalities or motility issues in the esophagus may predispose horses to choke.

Clinical Signs:
Coughing and Gagging: Persistent attempts to clear the obstruction.
Drooling or Nasal Discharge: Due to the inability to swallow.
Extended Neck and Distress: Exhibiting discomfort with a stretched-out neck.
Decreased Appetite: Reluctance to eat or drink.

Potential complications:
- Aspiration Pneumonia: Inhaling food particles into the lungs can lead to respiratory issues.
- Esophageal Tears or Rupture: Severe cases may result in tears or ruptures of the esophageal wall.

Prevention:
- Ensuring horses receive well-soaked or adequately chewed feed.
- Providing continuous access to clean water to aid in swallowing.
- Regular dentals

For more information please call 0427 072 095 or book an appointment online https://avonridgeequine.com.au/book-an-appointment/

10/11/2024

▪️Pituitary Pars Intermedia Dysfunction (PPID), also called Equine Cushing's Disease, is a common endocrine disorder affecting older horses.

▪️While hypertrichosis, or excessive hair growth, is a widely recognized clinical sign of PPID, it is not present in all cases.

▪️Studies have shown that hypertrichosis is present in approximately 33-69% of horses with PPID. Therefore, diagnosing or testing for PPID solely based on the presence of hypertrichosis may result in underdiagnosis in horses without this sign, especially in cases of early or subclinical disease.

▪️Other signs can include laminitis, lethargy, muscle loss, pendulous abdomen, increased drinking and urination, abnormal fat deposition, increased sweating, recurrent infections, infertility, behavioural changes.

▪️At this time of year, we perform the Thyrotropin-Releasing Hormone (TRH) stimulation test as it is more sensitive for detecting early PPID cases, especially cases that might be missed with a basal ACTH test alone.

🔑 #1: Many horses with PPID may have completely normal coats.

🔑 #2: The TRH stimulation test which is now available at our practice is useful for diagnosing early PPID cases.

🩺 Contact us on 0427 072 095 or book an appointment online: https://avonridgeequine.com.au/book-an-appointment/

06/11/2024

Chronic muscle pain can significantly hinder performance and often presents as lameness or exercise intolerance.

▪️Clinical signs

The term myopathy refers to any disease or disorder affecting muscle tissue.

The 2 main signs that point toward a myopathy are the presence of muscle pain and presence of weakness, which manifests as loss of muscle mass and/or a decline in performance.

▪️Breed-Specific Myopathies

Breeds like Quarter Horses, are predisposed to conditions like Polysaccharide Storage Myopathy (PSSM), while Arabian and Warmblood horses can develop to Myofibrillar Myopathy (MFM). Recurrent exceptional rhabdomyolysis (RER) tends to occur in fit, nervous, excitable racehorses.

▪️Diagnosis

Distinguishing between primary muscle pain, secondary muscle strain, and orthopedic lameness is complex, especially as horses may exhibit overlapping symptoms. A detailed history and a blood sample combined with clinical signs of muscle pain and weakness, can help identify a myopathy. Genetic testing might also be useful in some cases.

▪️Diagnostic markers

Testing serum creatine kinase (CK) and aspartate transaminase (AST) levels is essential for determining the type of myopathy. Elevated CK and AST distinguishes forms of myopathies where muscle fibres are damaged compared to others where the muscle is painful but not degenerating. Measurements taken before and after exercise can also help determine if a myopathy is present.

▪️Targeted treatment

Treatment plans vary depending on the condition. For instance a low-starch, high fat diet and regular daily exercise is recommended for horses with RER.

However, this approach is not appropriate for Warmbloods MFM. New targeted training recommendations are also very important in improving the performance and recovery of horses with MFM.

🩺 Contact us on 0427 072 095 or book an appointment online: https://avonridgeequine.com.au/book-an-appointment/

04/11/2024

Did you know we offer mobile ultrasound services?

▪️ Mobile ultrasound technology allows high-quality, real-time imaging without the stress of transporting your horse. This service means that injured horses can be evaluated in the comfort of their familiar environment, reducing anxiety and making it easier for owners to get a quick, accurate diagnosis.

▪️What is Ultrasound?

Ultrasound imaging uses high-frequency sound waves to create detailed images of soft tissue structures. Unlike X-rays, which are ideal for bones, ultrasound excels in visualizing soft tissues, making it perfect for examining tendons and ligaments. By moving a transducer (a hand-held device) over the skin, veterinarians can capture real-time images of the soft tissues in the horse’s distal limb.

▪️What to Expect During an Ultrasound Exam

An ultrasound exam is non-invasive and generally well-tolerated by horses. The area being examined is typically clipped, as hair can interfere with image clarity, and ultrasound gel is applied to improve sound wave transmission. The veterinarian will move the transducer along the limb, capturing images in different planes. By examining multiple angles, they can gain a comprehensive view of the affected tendon or ligament.

▪️Perfect for Ongoing Monitoring

Our mobile ultrasound isn’t just for initial diagnosis; it’s also an excellent tool for tracking your horse’s recovery. We can schedule follow-up visits to monitor healing progress, ensuring the treatment plan stays on track and your horse returns to activity safely and at the right pace.

🩺 Contact us on 0427 072 095 or book an appointment online: https://avonridgeequine.com.au/book-an-appointment/