Equine Clinic of the University of Pretoria at Onderstepoort

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Equine Clinic of the University of Pretoria at Onderstepoort

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06/06/2025

🩺 Continued: Physiotherapy for Cellulitis 🐴

A few weeks ago, we shared how kinesiotaping can be used to support lymphatic drainage in a horse with chronic cellulitis. Today, we’re highlighting the another type of physical therapy used in cellulitis: TENS therapy (Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation).

📸 In these photos, Equinelibrium-trained physiotherapist Shanè Blignaut is applying TENS—an effective tool to help manage pain, reduce inflammation, and stimulate circulation in chronic inflammatory conditions like cellulitis.

Physiotherapy plays an essential role in our long-term management plans, especially for hospitalized patients recovering from soft tissue injuries, orthopedic surgery, or conditions like cellulitis.

We’re incredibly grateful to have Shanè on-site to provide tailored, hands-on care for our equine patients every day.

25/04/2025

🏥 Physiotherapy for Hospitalized Horses 🐴

Physiotherapy plays a crucial role in the recovery of hospitalized equine patients, helping to reduce swelling, improve mobility, and support overall healing.

📸 In this case, a horse with severe cellulitis due to a chronic wound received kinesio taping to aid in lymphatic drainage—a technique that helps reduce swelling and promote circulation.

💡 Physiotherapy is also highly beneficial for:
🔹 Postoperative colic cases – Encouraging gut motility and reducing adhesions.
🔹 Orthopedic patients – Supporting rehabilitation after surgery or injury.

We are incredibly lucky to have an in-house physiotherapist from Equinelibrium who can assess and treat our patients daily, ensuring they receive the best possible care! 💙

13/02/2025

🔍 Mystery Solved: Rope Knot Causes Colic in Donkey 🫏

This donkey presented with intermittent colic and severe abdominal distention over several days. Despite partial response to medical management, symptoms recurred whenever food was reintroduced. Due to the donkey’s small size, a re**al examination was not possible, leading our team to perform an exploratory laparotomy.

📸 In this photo series:
1️⃣ The surgical team performing the exploratory laparotomy.
2️⃣ A hard mass discovered in the lumen of the small colon.
3️⃣ The culprit—a knot of rope—removed via enterotomy.

This unusual foreign body was causing a blockage, leading to the recurring colic episodes. The rest of the abdominal exploration was unremarkable, and the donkey recovered well from anesthesia.

He is now recuperating in hospital under the watchful care of our medicine team, and we are hopeful for a full recovery! 💙

10/02/2025

✨ Case Spotlight: Laparoscopic Ovariectomy for a Granulosa Cell Tumor ✨

This mare presented with a large granulosa cell tumor (27x22x17 cm, weighing nearly 10 kg), requiring a laparoscopic ovariectomy for treatment. These tumors are the most common type of ovarian tumor in mares and can cause significant hormonal and behavioral changes.

📸 In this photo series:
1️⃣ A final-year veterinary student holding the removed o***y post-surgery.
2️⃣ Standing laparoscopy being performed with the mare under sedation and local anesthesia.
3️⃣ The ovarian pedicle being ligated, first with suture material and then sealed using the Ligasure vessel sealing device for precision and efficiency.

🚨 Diagnosis & Clinical Signs:
Granulosa cell tumors are often diagnosed through:
• Re**al palpation and ultrasound (revealing a large, often cystic o***y).
• Hormonal testing, including elevated anti-Müllerian hormone levels.

Clinical signs may include:
• Persistent or irregular estrus behavior (mareishness or aggression).
• Anestrus (failure to cycle).
• Stallion-like behavior due to excess testosterone production.

🛠️ Treatment:
Surgical removal of the affected o***y is the treatment of choice. Standing laparoscopy offers a minimally invasive approach, reducing recovery time and postoperative complications compared to traditional open surgery.

💡 Prognosis:
Excellent! Most mares return to normal hormonal cycles and behavior within a few months of surgery. Fertility in the unaffected o***y is typically preserved, and the mare can go on to have a productive career.

A huge congratulations to the surgical team and students for successfully managing this case! 💙

07/02/2025

🌾 Spotlight on Sand Colic 🐴

Sand colic is a common condition in horses grazing or eating off sandy or dry, dusty ground. This recent case highlights the serious impact of sand accumulation in the gastrointestinal tract—but thanks to the swift intervention of our medicine team, the patient is recuperating well! 💙

📸 In this photo: A radiograph revealing sand trapped in the colon folds in the ventral abdomen.

🚨 Signs of Sand Colic:
• Diarrhea or loose stool
• Fever and other signs of colitis (e.g., lethargy, dehydration)
• Abdominal discomfort (rolling, pawing, lying down)
• Reduced appetite
• Weight loss or poor condition

🛠️ Treatment:
• Oral administration of psyllium husk to bind and remove sand
• Anti-inflammatory medications to reduce gut inflammation
• IV fluids for hydration and support
• In severe cases, surgery may be required to evacuate large amounts of sand from the colon and prevent further damage.

🛑 Prevention Tips:
• Feed hay in raised feeders or on mats to reduce sand ingestion.
• Regularly monitor your horse with simple sand tests.
• Provide psyllium supplements periodically to prevent accumulation.

Sand colic can be life-threatening if left untreated, but early diagnosis and intervention make all the difference!

05/02/2025

🦶 Managing Laminitis with Therapeutic Shoeing 🐴

Laminitis is a painful and debilitating condition requiring a multifaceted approach, including specialized shoeing to support the hoof and redistribute pressure. In this case, we used two different shoeing techniques to aid in the horse’s recovery.

📸 Featured in this post:
1️⃣ Wooden clog – Provides a broad, supportive base to reduce pressure on the compromised laminar structures. It also shifts the break over back, reducing pull on the deep digital flexor tendon.
2️⃣ Reverse shoe with solar support over the frog – Shifts weight off the toe and encourages proper load distribution.

A huge thank you to Mark Trethewey for traveling all this way to shoe this patient and help us provide the best care possible! 💙

03/02/2025

🔬 Mystery Tumor in a Colic Case – Can You Guess the Diagnosis? 🐴

During an exploratory laparotomy for colic, our surgical team discovered this tumor on the mesentery of the small colon. Masses like these can contribute to colic by causing obstruction, strangulation, or impaired gut motility.

❓ What do you think this tumor is? Drop your guesses in the comments! ⬇️

💡 Common Differentials for Mesenteric Tumors in Horses:
🔹 Lipoma – The most common, these fatty tumors can wrap around intestines, causing strangulating colic.
🔹 Lymphoma – A malignant cancer affecting lymphoid tissues.
🔹 Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumor (GIST) – A rare but possible mesenchymal tumor.
🔹 Mesothelioma – A tumor of the peritoneal lining, occasionally found in horses.

Final diagnosis pending histopathology—stay tuned for the results! A big shoutout to our surgery team for their expertise in managing challenging colic cases. 💙

30/01/2025

🔬 Multiple Limb Arthroscopy: Treating OCD in All Four Limbs 🐴

This athletic horse underwent arthroscopic surgery on all four limbs to remove osteochondritis dissecans (OCD) fragments—a procedure aimed at preventing long-term joint damage and optimizing performance.

🚨 What is OCD?
OCD is a developmental joint disease where abnormal cartilage formation leads to loose fragments within the joint. It’s common in young, growing horses and can cause:
• Joint swelling (effusion)
• Lameness or stiffness
• Decreased performance

🛠️ Treatment & Prognosis:
• Arthroscopic removal is the gold standard, allowing minimal tissue trauma and faster recovery.
• Horses typically return to full athletic function with appropriate rehabilitation.

This horse is already on the road to recovery, and we’re excited to see it back in action soon! A big well done to the surgical team for their precision and care. 💙

15/01/2025

🩺 Septic Tenosynovitis 🐴

In this case, our surgery team performed a tenoscopy to remove a suspected foreign body (likely a splinter or wood) from the digital flexor tendon sheath of a mare. This mare presented with 4/5 lameness (AAEP scale) and was diagnosed with septic tenosynovitis, a serious and painful condition requiring urgent intervention.

Through tenoscopy—a minimally invasive procedure—we successfully located and removed the foreign body, flushing the tendon sheath thoroughly to reduce infection and inflammation. This precision procedure gives horses the best chance at recovery while minimizing tissue damage.

We’re hopeful this mare will be back on her feet soon and thank the entire team for their dedication to ensuring her care. 💙

13/01/2025

✨ Shining a Light on Lameness: Hindlimb Scintigraphy in Action ✨

In these photos, we’re showcasing a hindlimb scintigraphy study, featuring our incredible imaging sister Bev Olivier and final-year veterinary students. This advanced imaging technique helps pinpoint areas of abnormal bone activity, making it invaluable in cases of chronic, non-specific or subtle lameness. 🐴🔍

Scintigraphy is particularly useful for identifying issues that might not show up on standard X-rays or ultrasounds, giving us a clearer picture of what’s going on beneath the surface. This allows for more targeted treatment and better outcomes for our equine patients. 💙

📍 Did you know? Onderstepoort Equine Clinic is the only facility in South Africa currently performing scintigraphy.

10/01/2025

🌟 Welcome to the Team, Dr. Kirsten Steyn! 🌟

We’re thrilled to introduce one of our new equine interns, Dr. Kirsten Steyn! 🐴✨ Originally from Johannesburg, Kirsten completed her CCS year in Middelburg, Eastern Cape. Her passion for horses—both in the saddle and in the clinic—has brought her to OP Equine. 💪

Kirsten joined the internship to gain hands-on experience with a wide variety of equine cases, from surgery to medicine, and we’re excited to watch her grow in her new role. 💙

In the photos you can see that no time is wasted and she’s already gaining hands on experience in her first week. 🎢

Stay tuned as we introduce our other intern, Dr. Chantelle Steyn, next!

Address

Old Soutpan Road (M35)
Pretoria
0110

Telephone

+27761433655

Website

https://www.up.ac.za/companion-animal-clinical-studies/article/2868628/equine-clinic

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