Equine Clinic of the University of Pretoria at Onderstepoort

22/11/2024

🐴✨ Learning Beyond the Classroom ✨🐾

This past week, our Onderstepoort family was out in full force! Three of our final-year veterinary students (Simphiwe, Sonam, and Sandali) and a final-year veterinary nursing student (Marli) had the privilege of assisting at the VetPD Equine Professional Development course at the stunning Dinokeng Nature Reserve.

The event was a fantastic opportunity for our students to gain hands-on exposure to world-renowned speakers, leaders in their fields, and cutting-edge technology. Special shoutout to our very own Dr. Yolandi Smit, who co-presented the lameness examination workshop—showcasing the expertise we’re so proud of at Onderstepoort! 🩺💪

Adding to the excitement, attendees got to work with the Butterfly ultrasound system supplied by Zebra Medical—a game-changer in equine diagnostics! 🦋💡

Moments like these highlight the importance of collaboration, innovation, and a passion for learning. Well done to our students and clinicians for making us proud!

25/09/2024

25/09/2024

We are truly thrilled to be involved in this groundbreaking work with Margot and are deeply in awe of Rest Ur Ass Donkey Sanctuary’s unwavering commitment to the welfare of working donkeys. Thank you for trusting the Onderstepoort Equine Clinic with her care. While the upcoming surgery and recovery will be challenging, our multidisciplinary team is dedicated to ensuring a positive outcome for Margot and her foal.

11/09/2024

Equine Veterinary Opportunity at Onderstepoort Equine Clinic

Position Duration: October 1st, 2024 - January 31st, 2025
Start Date: October 1st, 2024 (or sooner)

Are you a newly qualified veterinarian eager to build your career in equine medicine and surgery? This is a fantastic opportunity to join the experienced equine team at the Onderstepoort Equine Clinic, where you will gain invaluable hands-on experience in a dynamic environment.

Enhance your clinical skills with exposure to various equine cases, including colics, intensive foal care, lameness evaluations, and surgical procedures. You'll also have access to advanced imaging facilities, including CT and MRI, to deepen your knowledge in equine diagnostics.

Responsibilities:
The successful candidate will actively participate in the following areas:
- Provide clinical and ambulatory services and associated administrative duties in the Onderstepoort Veterinary Academic Hospital (OVAH) under the mentorship of Faculty Specialists.
- Participate in after-hours work (weekdays and weekends) on a rotational basis.
- Assist in the clinical training of undergraduate veterinary and veterinary nursing students.
- Engage in clinical rounds, journal club and research activities, offering an introduction to the research requirements of the MMedVet programme.
- Participate in a mentorship programme designed to support non-clinical development for aspiring specialists.

Requirements:
- BVSc or equivalent veterinary degree
- Registered and in good standing with the South African Veterinary Council (SAVC)
- Keen interest in equine medicine and surgery

For more information, please get in touch with Yolandi Smit at [email protected].

Seize this opportunity to advance your career in equine medicine with the Onderstepoort Equine Clinic!

10/09/2024

What a proud moment for Onderstepoort Equine Clinic! We are thrilled to celebrate the achievements of three exceptional graduates from the Equine Clinic at the University of Pretoria’s spring graduation ceremony:

📷 Graeme Piketh – MMedVet (Equine Medicine)
Graeme, an invaluable member of our medicine team, has a passion for cardiology and neurology.

📷 Elza Hollenbach – MMedVet (Equine Surgery)
Elza, a dedicated part of our surgical team, is focused on orthopaedics and neoplasia.

📷 Theunis Griesel – MSc (Equine)
Theunis is completing his surgical internship at OP and is determined to pursue a career as an equine surgeon, showing immense promise and dedication.

Well done to all three of our graduates and their mentors on this outstanding achievement! Your hard work and passion for equine care inspire us all. 🐴💪

18/08/2024

🦴 Did you know that horses have 205 bones, just one less than adult humans, who have 206? Some breeds, like the Arabian, may have even fewer!

16/08/2024

🦷✨ Ever wondered how we keep our equine friends healthy and pain-free? Today, we're taking you behind the scenes of a successful oral tooth extraction!

Oral health is just as important for horses as it is for us. When a tooth becomes infected or damaged, it can cause significant discomfort and lead to more severe health issues such as sinusitis. That’s where our expert team steps in!

With the help of Professor Steenkamp, our surgeons carefully removed a diseased tooth to relieve the horse's pain and prevent further complications. With the use of specialized tools and techniques, we ensured the process was as smooth and stress-free as possible for our patient. This horse will be feeling much better in no time, thanks to the dedicated care from our team! 🐴💪

Regular dental check-ups are key to maintaining your horse's overall health. If you notice any signs of discomfort, changes in eating habits or nasal discharge, don't hesitate to consult with us. We're here to ensure your horse enjoys a long, healthy life!

08/08/2024

Horses graze up to 17 hours a day! – horses are grazing animals and spend most of their time searching for food – due to their physiology they have to take in food constantly in small amounts, thus it is vital that horses are given ad libitum roughage (such as hay) or possibility to graze so that they do not develop any gastrointestinal dysfunction!

01/08/2024

Can you get all 17 labels? Watch our stories daily for the answers. We're starting today at noon 😁

30/07/2024

Granulosa cell tumours (GCT) are the most common ovarian tumour in horses and can occur in mares of any age. They may be composed of granulosa cells alone or contain theca cells. These tumours are almost always unilateral, functional, and benign.

The hormonal pattern of GCTs is inconsistent, resulting in a variety of clinical signs. Persistent, irregular, or absence of oestrus. Stallion-like behaviour e.g. mounting, aggressiveness, squealing, striking. In chronic cases, increased muscle deposition, a cresty neck, and an enlarged cl****is.

Typically, one o***y is enlarged with no palpable ovulation fossa. GCTs are slow-growing tumours but can reach up to 40 cm in diameter. The contralateral o***y is usually small, firm, and inactive.

GCT often have a multicystic honeycomb appearance on altrasound. Some may present a dense homogeneous appearance or appear as a solid ovarian mass with a single anechoic fluid-filled cyst. Haematomas or regions of necrosis within the tumour are common.

Since clinical signs, re**al examination findings, and ultrasonographic appearance are not consistently reliable in predicting the presence of a GCT, measuring serum hormone concentrations is recommended for diagnosis.

Serum levels of anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) have recently been shown to be a reliable means of identifying GCT in mares. In a recent investigation, the diagnostic accuracy of AMH, inhibin, and testosterone for diagnosing GCT was compared in 44 mares with histopathologically confirmed GCTs. The sensitivity of AMH for detecting known GCTs was 98%, compared to 80% for inhibin, 48% for testosterone, and 84% for the combination of inhibin and testosterone (Ball et al., 2013).

The treatment for GCT is surgical removal of the affected o***y. Standing laparoscopic surgery through the paralumbar fossa can be considered depending on the mare’s temperament. Most mares return to normal oestrous cycles within 6-8 months following unilateral ovariectomy, with a range of 2-16 months. Fertility usually returns to presurgical status after oestrous cycles have been re-established.

Here you can see a recent case undergoing unilateral laparoscopic ovariectomy.

25/07/2024

A 2024 census revealed there are approximately 330,000 horses in South Africa.
This includes rural horses, but excludes other equids (donkeys, mules, zebra). This is up from 280,000 in 2004.

There are an estimated 60 million horses in the world, combining wild and domesticated horses.

We love working to keep them all happy and healthy.

23/07/2024

Are you ready for emergency travel?

“Emergencies are nerve-racking enough, but not having easy access to a truck and trailer or having a horse that won't load can make an already stressful situation a lot worse.” ~AAEP

Make sure your horse knows how to box even in stressful situations. Practice regularly (even at night).

18/07/2024

While a variety of things can contribute to the development of stomach ulcers (medications, diet, stress, etc.), one train of thought is that these areas of irritation result as a consequence of the acid of the stomach splashing against unprotected parts of the stomach lining. When a horse eats forage, the hay can help absorb some of that acid and thus reduce the risk of ulcer formation.

It is important to note that a forage meal (one comprised of hay or grass) provides the most benefit, while eating large volumes of concentrate feeds (such as oats, corn, or other cereal grains) can actually increase the amount of acid within the stomach.

As always, please consult with your vet regarding further diagnostics and treatments if you have concerns that your horse may have gastric ulcers.

16/07/2024

Small Redworms alert! 🐴🪱

Did you know the recommendations for worming horses have evolved? Stay informed to keep your horses healthy! Recently, we identified small redworms (Cyathostomins) in a horse’s colon during laparotomy.

During winter, Cyathostomin larvae hibernate in the gut wall, encysting there until the warmer spring months. When they emerge, they can cause significant intestinal wall damage, leading to sudden weight loss, abnormal blood conditions, diarrhoea, colic, and even sudden death.

Appropriate (and well-targeted) winter treatment is crucial! Moxidectin and praziquantel combined can target small redworms, other roundworms, bots, and tapeworms. Always discuss the best protocol with your vet.

With increasing resistance to anthelmintics, a targeted and responsible worming strategy is vital. At Onderstepoort, we offer multiple tests to make worming as specific, and cost-effective as possible. For more advice, speak with your vet on the best approach to test and treat your horse.



🩺🐎✨

11/07/2024

🐴 **Welcome to the Onderstepoort Equine Clinic!** 🐴

We understand that having your horses with us is a difficult time for you. However, we know how much horses love it when their owners visit, and we love having you come to see them. To ensure a peaceful and healing environment for our equine patients and to allow us to perform procedures and care for them better, we kindly ask you to visit during our designated hours:

- Weekdays: 3:00 PM - 5:00 PM
- Weekends & Public Holidays: 9:00 AM - 11:00 AM

If your horse's condition allows it, we will happily let you take them for a walk and graze outside. We try our best to be available during visiting hours which allows us to spend time explaining any unanswered questions you may have.

We truly appreciate your understanding and cooperation. Thank you for entrusting us with the care of your horses. We look forward to seeing you!

Warm regards,
The Onderstepoort Equine Clinic Team

11/06/2024

In emergencies, quick action is crucial. We know that colic is stressful for everyone involved. Here are some helpful hints for bringing your horse (or sending your patient) to Onderstepoort for colic.