Equine Clinic of the University of Pretoria at Onderstepoort

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!

10/01/2025

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

We’re excited to introduce our second new intern, Dr. Chantelle Steyn! 🐴✨ Originally from Polokwane, Chantelle completed her CCS year at the Agricultural Research Council in Irene. Her lifelong love of horses, which began before she could walk, has fueled her dream of becoming an equine veterinarian.

Chantelle joined the OP Equine Clinic internship to build a strong foundation for her ultimate goal: specializing in equine surgery. With her dedication and enthusiasm, we know she’s on the right path, and we’re proud to be part of her journey! 💙

Fun fact: When she’s not in the clinic, Chantelle is training for her first marathon—now that’s commitment! 🏃‍♀️

09/01/2025

🎥 Behind the Scenes at GrootPlaas! 🦏✨

Here’s a snapshot of Mia Slabbert (Anker), Dr. Elza Hollenbach, and Dr. Yolandi Smit in the GrootPlaas studio after an inspiring interview about Binti, an orphaned rhino who underwent surgery with our team. We’re thrilled to share that Binti is thriving at home and making a remarkable recovery! 💙 Follow her journey at The Rhino Orphanage therhinoorphanage

A huge thank you to Grootplaas for giving us the platform to talk about Binti’s journey. 🐾

📺 Watch the full interview here: [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RW-Ml8OUKZY](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RW-Ml8OUKZY)

08/01/2025

🔍 A KICK, A WOUND, AND A PIECE OF HOOF 🐴

This brave mare came to us after being kicked, resulting in a nasty wound on her distal tarsus. During her treatment, we removed this nearly 10cm-long piece of hoof embedded in the injury! 🦶😱

Our dedicated team, including final-year veterinary students, provided comprehensive care, from wound cleaning to meticulous bandaging. In this photo series, you can see the initial injury, the surprising foreign object we removed, and one of our students applying a forelimb bandage to another wound on the same mare.

Today, this patient heads home to continue her recovery. We’re rooting for a full recovery.

05/01/2025

🩺 Why Checking Foal IgG Levels is Vital 🐴

This is a stall-side IgG snap test showing partial failure of passive transfer (FPT). Foals rely on colostrum from their mares for essential antibodies to kickstart their immune systems. If these antibodies aren’t adequately absorbed within the first 24 hours, foals are at risk of life-threatening infections.

🛑 Why it matters:
FPT often goes unnoticed without testing, but its consequences can be severe. That’s why we recommend IgG testing for all newborn foals to ensure they’re getting the immunity they need.

💉 What happens if FPT is diagnosed?
• Partial FPT can sometimes be corrected with oral colostrum if caught early.
• For more severe cases, intravenous plasma transfusions are necessary to boost immunity and protect the foal.

Routine IgG testing and timely intervention save lives! Speak to your vet about checking IgG levels to give your foal the best start in life.

03/01/2025

🚨 The Serious Side of Choke in Horses 🚨

In this case, we treated a horse that developed severe pleuropneumonia following an episode of esophageal obstruction, commonly known as choke.

Pleuropneumonia can cause significant fluid buildup in the chest, making it difficult for the horse to breathe. This video captures a thoracic drain, where we removed 12L and 15L of fluid from each side of the thorax. The infection was caused by Streptococcus equi subspecies zooepidemicus.

Thanks to the expertise and dedication of our medicine team, this horse fought through and has been safely discharged to recuperate further at home. 💪🐴

This case highlights the potential complications of choke and underscores the importance of prompt treatment. If your horse shows signs of choking, seek veterinary care immediately!

02/01/2025

✨ Behind the Scenes: Equine Heroes in Action! ✨

Check out this incredible sight—16 freshly collected blood bags from one of our amazing equine blood donor heroes! 🩸💪 These donations will be carefully processed into life-saving plasma.

Plasma therapy is a crucial tool in treating critically ill horses and foals, especially those with failure of passive transfer or severe infections. Thanks to our dedicated donors and team, we’re able to make a difference when it matters most. 💙🐴

A big thank you to our donor horses for their calm cooperation and to our veterinary team for their precision and care. Every drop counts!

31/12/2024

Happy New Year

20/12/2024

We’re happy to help

18/12/2024

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. 🐴💪