Fairlane Veterinary Services

20/05/2025

𝐂𝐨𝐥𝐢𝐜 𝐢𝐧 𝐇𝐨𝐫𝐬𝐞𝐬

Colic is the number 1 killer of horses. Colic is not a disease. It is a combination of signs that alert us to abdominal pain in the horse. Signs can be subtle, or can be severe. It is important as owners, to recognize the signs of colic early and seek veterinary advice. Signs to look out for include:

𝐌𝐢𝐥𝐝 𝐭𝐨 𝐌𝐨𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐒𝐢𝐠𝐧𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐂𝐨𝐥𝐢𝐜
- decreased appetite
- depression
- prolonged recumbency
- decreased f***l output
- curling lip
- pawing
- looking at their sides
- circling
- stretching as if to urinate

𝐒𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐂𝐨𝐥𝐢𝐜 𝐒𝐢𝐠𝐧𝐬
- sweating
- rolling
- dog sitting
- rapid breathing with flared nostrils
- no gut sounds

We have seen an increase in the number of colic cases lately. Some of this can be contributed to the flush of grass around the area and/or the bad weather we recently had. Any horse is susceptible to colic.

𝐁𝐮𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐭𝐢𝐩𝐬 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐜𝐨𝐥𝐢𝐜:
1. Feed a high quality diet primarily of roughage
2. Set a routine and stick to it (feeding, exercising)
3. Provide fresh clean water at all times
4. Avoid putting feed on the ground, especially if on sandy soils
5. Reduce stress - horses experiencing changes in work loads, environment are at risk for intestinal dysfunction.
6. Provide daily exercise/turn out
7. Avoid feeding large amounts of concentrate feeds at one time, divide into smaller meals to not overload the gut

Sometimes, despite our best efforts, horses will still colic. If you have concerns about colic in your horse, please call your veterinarian as soon as possible so they can evaluate them.

07/05/2025

𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐅𝐚𝐢𝐫𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐞 𝐏𝐫𝐞-𝐬𝐲𝐧𝐜 𝐦𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐠𝐫𝐚𝐦 𝐢𝐬 𝐬𝐡𝐨𝐰𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐝𝐚𝐭𝐚 𝐓𝐇𝐑𝐄𝐄 𝐬𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐢𝐧 𝐚 𝐫𝐨𝐰 𝐨𝐟 𝟔𝟎% 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐜𝐞𝐩𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐭𝐨 𝐭𝐢𝐦𝐞𝐝 𝐢𝐧𝐬𝐞𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐚𝐭 𝐡𝐚𝐥𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐜𝐨𝐬𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐚 𝐂𝐈𝐃𝐑 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐠𝐫𝐚𝐦!

We have finally been able to start analyzing the data from this season's synchrony programs and we are thrilled to see that we are seeing the same results for the Fairlane Pre-sync program year on year. This gives us confidence that you should expect to get the same results regardless of what the season throws at you. We had a few new farms want to give it a go as well, and they also achieved the same results!

We have been able to look a bit more in depth at the data this season, thanks to some wonderful farmers doing data collection for us! The new data is showing us what to expect for the entire group of animals in the program.

𝐖𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝐮𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐅𝐚𝐢𝐫𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐞 𝐏𝐫𝐞-𝐬𝐲𝐧𝐜 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐠𝐫𝐚𝐦 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐜𝐚𝐧 𝐞𝐱𝐩𝐞𝐜𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐟𝐨𝐥𝐥𝐨𝐰𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐮𝐥𝐭𝐬 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐠𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐩 𝐨𝐟 𝐚𝐧𝐢𝐦𝐚𝐥𝐬:
1. 60% of the group will hold to their timed insemination
2. Of those that do not hold to timed insemination, you can expect 55% to hold to their next mating (average time to next heat is 23 days)
3. Of those animals that do not hold to the timed insemination OR the following heat, you can expect 50% of them to hold to their next heat (average time to next heat is 27 days)

04/05/2025

𝐀𝐮𝐭𝐮𝐦𝐧 𝐟𝐥𝐮𝐬𝐡 𝐨𝐟 𝐠𝐫𝐚𝐬𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐋𝐚𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐬 𝐑𝐢𝐬𝐤 𝐢𝐧 𝐇𝐨𝐫𝐬𝐞𝐬

As the grass starts to grow again (thank goodness for that!), please be cautious with how much grass your horses are getting. When the grass starts to flush, we often see an increase in laminitis cases, especially in the "easy keeper" group of horses, or those that have been diagnosed or suspected of having underlying endocrine disease like PPID (Cushings) or Insulin Dysregulation.

It is best to minimize access to grass, either break feeding small amounts or removing them from grass altogether to minimize risk. If you have any questions or suspect your horse has laminitis please give us a call! Early intervention with a team approach between your farrier, your vet and yourself gives the best outcomes in a laminitis event.

01/05/2025

𝐒𝐞𝐭𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐮𝐩 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐚 𝐠𝐨𝐨𝐝 𝐦𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐬 𝐧𝐨𝐰!
𝐂𝐡𝐞𝐜𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐝'𝐬 𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐞 𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐥 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐮𝐬

Checking your herd's trace mineral status at dry off allows us to get a jump on any deficiencies there may be. This saves you money in the long run as we can fill up the cow's mineral requirements bucket much more rapidly with supplementation in the dry period, ensuring they are at adequate levels at calving, and into mating.

If you haven't already booked in dry off bloods or liver samples with cull cows, let us know.

29/04/2025

I have been a bit slack posting about the spore counts! Apologies.
Last weeks spore counts were as follows:

Hawera: 0
Kapuni: 15,000
Awatuna: 10,000
Waiteika: 0

Overall the counts are coming down which is nice to see! Hopefully this means the end of the facial eczema season is near. We will still continue to monitor the counts as some evenings have been warm and humid.

Send a message to learn more

28/03/2025

Facial eczema spore counts:

Hawera: 30,000
Kapuni: 140,000
Awatuna: 90,000
Waitieka: 75,000

Continue zinc dosing as counts are still high in many areas.

20/03/2025

𝐀𝐥𝐰𝐚𝐲𝐬 𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐜𝐤 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐕𝐞𝐭 𝐛𝐞𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐚𝐝𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐦𝐞𝐝𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬
~*~𝐒𝐨𝐦𝐞 𝐥𝐚𝐛𝐞𝐥𝐬 𝐨𝐧 𝐛𝐨𝐱𝐞𝐬 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐍𝐎𝐓 𝐜𝐨𝐫𝐫𝐞𝐜𝐭 ~*~

𝗙𝗹𝘂𝗻𝗶𝘅𝗶𝗻 𝗺𝗲𝗴𝗹𝘂𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗲 (𝗮𝗸𝗮 𝗖𝗼𝗹𝗶𝘅, 𝗕𝗮𝗻𝗮𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗲, 𝗖𝗮𝗹𝗲𝗳𝗹𝘂𝗻𝗶𝘅, 𝗡𝗼𝗿𝗳𝗹𝘂𝗻𝗶𝘅, 𝗙𝗹𝘂𝗻𝗶𝘅𝗶𝗻)
𝗡𝗘𝗩𝗘𝗥 𝗚𝗜𝗩𝗘 𝗜𝗡 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗠𝗨𝗦𝗖𝗟𝗘

This medication is often implicated in causing clostridial myositis or a gas gangrene when given in the muscle. It is a relatively rare occurrence, but one we should all be aware of as it can be life threatening. Horses seem to be over represented, but it can cause issues in other species.

Clostridial myositis most commonly develops after an in the muscle injection. Flunixin is the most commonly implicated medicine to cause this. It can cause acute death in some cases. In other cases, you may notice swelling at the site of injection. The area may be hot, and feel bubbly. There will be pockets of fluid underneath the skin. The horse may show signs of septicemia (Blood poisoning)- increased heart rate, increased respiratory rate, fever, dull/listless.

Treatment involves multiple fenestrations through the skin to allow air in and fluid to drain as well as antibiotics and supportive care. The skin may slough.

The picture shows a horse being treated for clostridial myositis.

Please always consult your veterinarian before administering any medications to ensure correct dose and route of administration.

17/03/2025

𝐋𝐨𝐨𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐂𝐚𝐬𝐮𝐚𝐥 𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐟𝐟 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐃𝐫𝐲 𝐂𝐨𝐰 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐓𝐞𝐚𝐭 𝐬𝐞𝐚𝐥 𝐚𝐝𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧

If you are interested please contact us at [email protected] or send us a PM

16/03/2025

We wanted to wish Jo, our receptionist, a fond farewell as she finished up with us on Friday. Jo's warm smile, professionalism, and positive attitude made everyone feel welcome. We wish her all the best at her new job and know that she will succeed in whatever she pursues.

13/03/2025

Facial Eczema Spore Counts
February 13, 2025 (range from Low to High Risk)

Hawera: 40,000 (high)
Kapuni: 35,000 (high)
Awatuna: 5,000 (low)
Waiteika: 10,000 (low)

11/03/2025

𝐖𝐞 𝐡𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐬𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐞𝐱𝐜𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐧𝐞𝐝!
𝐖𝐚𝐭𝐜𝐡 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐬𝐩𝐚𝐜𝐞!

27/02/2025

Facial Eczema Spore Count
Feb 27, 2025 (Overall a Moderate Risk around the Monitoring Sites)

Hawera: 15,000
Kapuni: 10,000
Awatuna: 20,000
Waiteika: 20,000