Equine Health

Our experienced Farm Services veterinarians are available for farm visits to provide a number of routine & non-routine services, including treatment of sick animals, routine surgeries (eg. castration, rigs, vasectomies), diagnostic testing, health plans and advice. It can get busy though, so bookings are essential – please call the clinic on 06 878 8666 to make an appointment. If you have an animal emergency, we will prioritise getting someone to you as soon as possible.

Regular equine Health Checks carried out by a veterinarian can help identify many underlying health conditions and potentially extend the length & quality of your horses life. Common health issues include dental, hoof, lameness & skin issues. A blood test carried out at the same time can also identify underlying conditions such as acute/chronic infection, Cushings Disease and Metabolic Syndrome.

In addition, there are a number of common (potentially life-threatening) equine diseases which can be prevented through appropriate & timely vaccination programmes, including Tetanus, Strangles and Equine Herpesvirus (EHV). An Annual Health Check is the ideal time to discuss and/or update your horses vaccination status. Vaccination Cards signed by a veterinarian can be an important pre-requisite for some equine sporting events & venues.

Horses have evolved as superb animal athletes and as such, many of their health issues centre around the performance of their musculoskeletal system. An outward presentation of ‘lameness’ can be due to many complex interactions between the muscles, bones, ligaments and tendons of their back, legs & feet. Differentiating between all these potential causes often requires veterinary workups utilising xrays, ultrasound & nerve blocks before the best course of treatment can be decided.

The use of veterinary xrays and ultrasound are important diagnostic tools, particularly for the correct diagnosis of musculoskeletal problems in the horse. Ultrasound diagnosis of early pregnancy is also an alternative option to waiting for post-45 day blood tests.

Pre-purchase veterinary examinations are recommended prior to making what can be a significant financial investment when buying a horse. There are a number of different levels or stages to which these can be done, right down to taking detailed xrays to identify existing or potential problems. Call the clinic to speak to one of our experienced equine vets about your requirements.

The condition of your horses mouth and teeth can have a huge impact on overall health & performance. Regular dental checks and appropriate dental care will go a long way towards ensuring the wellbeing and longevity of your animals. We recommend always performing dentistry under sedation where possible, to allow for better access and assessment than can be achieved otherwise.

Blood testing is often used to provide diagnosis of pregnancy in mares due to the relative ease with which samples can be collected. Ultrasound pregnancy scanning, while being slightly more invasive, can provide a much earlier (< 40 days), real-time alternative, and also allows the identification of potential issues such as twins and/or uterine lesions.

Having trouble remembering the date, timing and product required for health measures like vaccinations, drenching and dentals? Want to do everything you can to maintain the general health and wellbeing of your horses? Speak to one of our equine vets about setting up an Annual Health Plan which provides you with best practice recommendations and sends you regular reminders of when things need to be done.

Many useful equine drugs and products are now classified as Restricted Veterinary Medicines (RVM’s), meaning they must be prescribed by a vet who knows you, your property and the animals under their care. Legally, this requires your vet to have visited or seen your animals before they can do this. Under certain circumstances, you may be able to set up an RVM Authorisation with your veterinarian whereby they prescribe you with medicines to hold on your property to treat basic health issues when you need them. Speak to your vet to see whether this may be an option for you.

The volume and variety of equine health products on the market can be quite daunting unless you know a bit about the active ingredients and the research behind them. Here at VetsOne, we stock a range of proven products, all with great customer support and advice. Speak to one of our equine vets today for a product which best suits your needs.