Equine Articles

Tying Up

Tying Up is a syndrome and a term used to describe a group of common muscle disorders in the horse. It is one of and controversial syndromes in the horse,…
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Osteoarthritis in the Horse

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a common condition in all species including dogs, horses and humans. It is a common cause of lameness and poor performance in the horse, contributing to issues…
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Splints

“Splints” is the common term given to an inflammatory condition of the splint bones of the leg. Here, we are going to have a look at the anatomy, what the…
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First aid for horses

First Aid for the Horse

If you own horses, at some stage a medical emergency is highly likely. Emergencies with your horse can be frightening and confronting. Being prepared is the key. In this and…
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Cryptosporidiosis

There are many different zoonotic diseases to be mindful of when owning horses in Australia; some of the more commonly known ones include Hendra virus, ringworm, Psittacosis and Salmonella. Here…
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Cellulitis in Horses

A swollen leg caused by cellulitis or lymphangitis is relatively common in the horse and can be very frustrating to treat. The two terms are often used interchangeably, and there…
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Joint supplement for horses

Joint Supplements for Horses

Transcript I’m Nathan Anthony I’m an equine veterinarian with West vets equine hospital and I’m also a team vet with Equestrian Australia for our Equestrian Team. I recommend 4CYTE for…
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Toxic Weeds and Poisoning

There are many plants found in Australia that can be toxic to horses, and some take only low levels of consumption to cause an effect. Being able to identify these…
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The Foaling Mare

In this article, we are going to look at the normal birthing process and what to expect, what can go wrong and when to call the veterinarian. Most of the…
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Tetanus

Tetanus is a bacterial disease caused by the bacteria Clostridium tetani which is a ubiquitous organism found in soil and in the faeces of different animals (including horses). The bacteria…
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Kissing Spines

Kissing spines is more formally known as overriding (or impingement) of the dorsal spinous processes (ORDSP). It occurs when the dorsal spinous processes (the top blade of the vertebrae) are…
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Gastric Ulcers

The prevalence of gastric ulcers in racehorses has been well known for a number of years. Various studies across the world have reported that 80-90% of racehorses have ulcers. However,…
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Draft Horse

A Shaky Subject

Shivers or shivering are names that are used to describe a chronic nervous or neuromuscular syndrome in horses that has been recognised for centuries. Traditionally, it was recognised when horses…
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horse heat stress

Heat Stress

In the hot and humid climatic conditions of Australia – heat stress is a serious risk to the horse and can occur in all performance athletes from the pony club…
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Wounds and Lacerations

No matter how safe the stable or how well managed the horse is, horses will injure themselves and these wounds and lacerations can occur without warning.
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Race Horses

Laminitis in the Racehorse

Laminitis is widely accepted as the single most significant health concern in all breeds of horses globally. Typically, the condition of laminitis was believed to only affect older horses and…
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Upper Airways Endoscopy

Scoping (upper airway endoscopy) is a common procedure performed in racing stables on a daily basis. Due to the importance of the airway for a racehorse to reach their athletic…
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Epiglottic Entrapment

Upper airway disease is second only to lameness as the most significant performance-limiting condition in the racehorse. The conditions of the upper condition can be dynamic, changing as horses grow…
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Fetlock Breakdown Injuries

A fetlock breakdown injury is one of the most traumatic events to occur on a racecourse or on the training track. The cause of breakdown injuries have been studied extensively in…
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Equine Cushing’s Disease

What Is Cushing’s Disease? You may have heard of Cushing’s Disease in humans, however it is not quite the same disease in horses and is more correctly named Pituitary Pars…
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Udder Problems in the Lactating Mare

Mammary gland problems in the mare are thankfully not common, occasionally however, some issues can arise including; mastitis, abnormal milk production, discharge, swellings, lumps and ulceration. The horse has two…
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Transfer of Passive Immunity

It is crucial for the newborn foal to obtain antibodies through the dam’s milk because, unlike in humans, there is no natural transfer of antibodies through the mother’s placenta. This…
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A Case of Thumps

We’ve all had a case of the hiccups, but did you know that your horse can actually get the hiccups as well? Equine hiccups are more commonly referred to as…
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Swamp Cancer

Contrary to what the common name may lead you to believe, swamp cancer is not a cancer, but is caused by an aquatic fungus. The disease is called Pythiosis and…
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Surviving the Summer Heat

Summer is nearly upon us, and no doubt we have all noticed the temperature and humidity steadily creeping up. And whilst many of us are able to hide away from…
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Respiratory Conditions part 2

Every day, your horse’s respiratory tract is challenged by pathogens, such as bacteria, viruses and fungal elements. In the majority of cases, your horse’s immune system and defence mechanisms easily…
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Respiratory Conditions part 1

Welcome to Part One of a new three- part series on respiratory conditions, presented by the team at WestVETS Animal Hospital & Reproduction Centre. This month, Sarah Van Dyck outlines…
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Placentitis in the Mare

Placentitis can be a devastating problem in the horse leading to abortion, stillbirths or weak or premature foals. It is the most prevalent cause of premature delivery of a foal…
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Hindlimb Abnormalities

The condition known as a locking patella or locking stifle is not uncommon in the horse world. You may have heard horse owners talk about their horse that has stifles…
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Foaling Emergencies

Having a foal on the way is very exciting and, although most foalings go ahead without a hitch, it is vital to be able to recognise a problem early. It…
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Foaling and the Newborn

With the onset of spring and warmer days comes the arrival of the long anticipated foal. After the costs involved in breeding and maintaining your pregnant mare, a loss of…
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Flexor Tendon Injuries

Tendon injuries can occur in all equines – young and old, active and the not so active. But, what does a ‘bowed tendon’ actually mean? The first step in understanding…
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Exercise Induced Pulmonary Heomorrhage

Poor athletic performance or expistaxis (bleeding from the nostrils) are the most common presenting complaints for horses with exercise-induced pulmonary heomorrhage or EIPH. Epistaxis (bleeding from the nose) generally occurs…
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Equine Infectious Anemia

Equine Infectious Anaemia (EIA) is an incurable viral disease that is spread by biting insects. It is a rare disease in Australia, found most commonly in isolated pockets, particularly in…
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Chronic Diarrhoea

Diarrhoea is always an abnormal finding in the horse and an indication of a problem that could get much worse. While a sudden and copious onset should be treated as…
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Arthritis in Older Horses

Winter is well and truly upon us and these colder months can be particularly tough on our equine friends. One particular condition that all of us are familiar with is…
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Rattles in Foals

‘Rattles’ is the name given to a lung infection (bacterial pneumonia) in foals caused by the bacteria Rhodococcus equi (R. equi). The disease is called ‘Rattles’ because of the rattling…
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Hendra Virus

A very topical issue at the moment is that of Hendra Virus. With the recent outbreaks in Northern Queensland Hendra is foremost in many horse owners minds. Hendra Virus is…
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Bone Cysts

Bone cysts are a condition that frustrate horse owners, and although they are a relatively common occurrence, how and why they develop is still not fully understood or agreed upon.…
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Laminitis

Laminitis, also referred to as founder, is a complex and serious disease that every horse owner should be aware of. It can occur in horses and ponies of any size,…
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Tendon Lesion Treatments

Tendon injuries are unfortunately a common occurrence in equine practice. Work or competition at speed, on unlevel ground, or over jumps increases the risk of sustaining an injury to the…
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Travel Sickness

Moving horses interstate & internationally is a common occurrence in the equine industry. A disease associated with long distance movement is called Travel Sickness, also known as Shipping Fever or…
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Horse Winter Welfare

With winter now here, it is time to really think about how to look after your horse in the colder weather. Horses and ponies, particularly older ones, can lose weight…
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Colic

Colic

Colic is arguably the most feared disease of horses. It seems that every horse owner knows of a horse that has died from colic. Colic is potentially fatal for horses,…
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Blind Faith

Horses are very dependant on vision both as instinctive prey animals and as performance horses in which ever field of competition they are involved. While many ocular diseases in the…
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Understanding Colic

Definition and Statistics Colic simply means abdominal or belly pain. Most horses will have an episode of colic at some time during their life, but as some owners know, a…
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Miniature Horses

Miniature Horses

Miniature horses first came on the scene in the 1600’s when they featured as an exhibit at King Louis the Fourteenth’s zoo of bizarre animals. They became a favoured pet…
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Westvets Brisbane Veterinary Care
Locations
Anstead Small Animal and Equine Hospital
Cnr Mt Crosby and Hawkesbury Rds
Anstead, Queensland 4070, Australia
Anstead Small Animal and Equine Hospital
Cnr Mt Crosby and Hawkesbury Rds
Anstead, Queensland 4070, Australia
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