Randwick Equine Centre in Sydney, Australia | Veterinarian

Randwick Equine Centre

Locality: Sydney, Australia

Phone: +61 2 9399 7722

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23.01.2022 It's beginning to look a lot like................... a vet clinic!!

22.01.2022 Fantastic news!

22.01.2022 Sand colic is a relatively common cause of colic with a strong geographical association, not surprisingly occurring more in areas with sandy soil. Over time, grazing sandy pastures or eating feed off the floor can result in ingestion of significant amounts of sand. The sand sinks to the most dependent area of the gut where it accumulates causing irritation and even blockage in severe cases. Some horses will lose condition and may develop diarrhoea, while others present wit...h colic signs. These signs are usually mild and non-specific so it can take a bit of investigation to confirm the cause although the horse’s location often leads to suspicion of sand impaction as the problem. Faecal sand tests involve collecting a sample of the horse’s droppings in a rectal glove and mixing it thoroughly with water before allowing it to settle. Any sand in the droppings will settle down the bottom of the fingers where it is easy to feel. Passing of sand in the droppings does not occur all the time though so it is easy to get a false negative. Radiographs of the abdomen are the best way to confirm a diagnosis of sand colic although it can be tricky to get good images in large horses! First line treatment may include pain relief, administration of oral fluids, paraffin oil and psyllium to help with expulsion of the sand. Severe impactions may require surgery to remove the sand from the gut. Longer term management and prevention includes using haynets, mangers or mats instead of feeding off sandy ground and avoiding overgrazing of grass. The addition of psyllium to the diet of horses in at risk areas is commonly recommended to help reduce sand accumulation. If you want to know more about monitoring and preventing sand colic, just chat to one of our vets.

22.01.2022 Another update on the new hospital - things are progressing really well and we're all getting so excited about the move. The stables are being installed along with the interior fixtures and fittings - not long to go now!

20.01.2022 Hyperlipaemia is a metabolic condition that usually occurs in donkeys, miniature horses and native ponies during periods of anorexia and/or stress. Obesity increases the risk and pregnant or lactating mares are also predisposed. In addition to these risk factors, there is usually a trigger, eg. illness, stress or a sudden change in diet, which causes the body to enter a state of negative energy balance. Insufficient calories are being taken in and in response triglycerides... (fatty acids) are released from fat stores. Normally, these are processed and reabsorbed by the liver but when too many triglycerides are released the liver becomes overwhelmed and fatty acids are released into the bloodstream. Signs are fairly non-specific poor appetite and dullness but usually the breed and history leads to suspicion of the condition. Diagnosis is usually straight forward, with triglycerides measured on routine blood biochemistry panels. In severe cases, the blood may even appear cloudy due to the fatty acids within it! This condition can be fatal and so reversing the negative energy balance by tempting the patient to eat is critical. This may involve feeding foods that would normally be considered non-ideal, ie. those high in sugar and so must be carefully monitored and supervised by a veterinarian. In totally inappetant ponies, feeding a gruel via a stomach tube may be necessary, as well as intravenous fluids. Treatment of the underlying cause is also essential. Whilst this condition cannot always be avoided, maintaining a healthy bodyweight will help, as will making changes to energy intake gradually. Careful monitoring of at risk horses for potential triggers and prompt recognition of a decrease in appetite will allow for early treatment and increase the likelihood of a successful outcome.

19.01.2022 It's a really tricky time of year for managing rugs at the moment and with all the wet weather recently we will probably see a few cases of rain scald popping up. Rain scald (dermatophilosis) is an infectious disease caused by the bacteria Dermatophilus congolensis and is usually seen after prolonged periods of rain. Some horses seem to be predisposed to the condition and tend to get it repeatedly whilst others may be affected as a one off. Crusts along the back and down th...e sides of the body where the rain runs off are characteristic for the condition. Lesions begin as small crusts with matting of the overlying hair progressing to larger crusts with pus and circular erosions underneath. Diagnosis can be confirmed by looking at a smear of the crusts under a microscope the bacteria have a very distinctive ‘railtrack’ appearance. The most important factor in treatment is preventing further exposure to rain and most cases resolve with this alone. Removal of the crusts and treatment with topical antibacterials such as chlorhexidine may speed up resolution. Occasionally systemic antibiotics are required for severe cases. Care must be taken to dispose of the crusts after removal as they pose an infection risk to other horses and any rugs or saddle pads should be washed as well. Providing shelter and regularly checking and changing rugs during prolonged wet weather reduces the chance of rain scald. If you are worried your horse might have rain scald or another skin condition, don't hesitate to chat to your vet today.

19.01.2022 UPDATE: the mare is now a successful foster mum for an orphan colt. A big thank you to everyone for sharing and spreading the word. You all played a part in hel...ping us achieve a great outcome from a tragic beginning Due to unfortunate circumstances tonight we have a lactating mare available to be used as a foster mare. The owners are saddened by the loss of their own little one but would love to help another baby out if they can! Contact the owner directly on 0477 177 850 or clinic for details on 02 4861 7983 or at [email protected]. Alternatively send us a message on Facebook. Please share, let’s spread the word and see if we can help another foal

18.01.2022 Non-weight bearing lameness It’s every owner’s nightmare finding their horse holding their foot up or struggling to walk. Urgent veterinary advice is ALWAYS required but what are the most frequent causes of non-weight bearing lameness? Thankfully the most common cause is a subsolar or foot abscess and luckily these are the least serious although always require urgent attention! Other causes of non-weight bearing lameness are septic synovial structure (infection of a joint or... tendon sheath usually due to a wound) and fractures. These can be life-threatening and obviously require emergency treatment and diagnosis, for welfare reasons and to achieve the best possible outcome. Diagnosis begins with a history and clinical examination. Foot abscesses are usually accompanied by increased digital pulses (which can be felt where the digital arteries cross over the sesamoid bones at the back of the fetlock joint) as well as heat in the foot and pain on hoof testers. Septic joints or tendon sheaths are often associated with a wound but in some cases there is none, or it may be impossible to see without clipping the hair first. Swelling of the joint capsule or tendon sheath may be present with septic synovial structures although if the fluid can drain out of a wound then this may not be the case. Fractures may be obvious in some situations but require x-rays to diagnose in others again focal swelling around the fracture may be present but not always! Most foot abscesses are relatively straight forward to treat (unless there is involvement of the deeper structures of the foot) and carry by far the best prognosis. Septic joints and tendon sheaths require rapid and intensive therapy to save the horse's life. The prognosis with fractures varies significantly depending on the bone involved, weight, age and temperament of the horse amongst other factors. Immediate assessment is key to a good outcome so always call straight away if your horse is non-weight bearing lame!

18.01.2022 A GREAT NEW TRAINING PROGRAM FOR VETERINARIANS WITH A SPECIFIC INTEREST IN SPORTS MEDICINE In partnership with the University of Queensland (UQ), REC is excited to be launching scholarships in Equine Sports Medicine and Rehabilitation. The 3.5 year positions will combine clinical work, training and research supervised by a wide range of specialists and highly experienced clinicians. The successful candidates will rotate between REC and UQ, with the bulk of clinical work being... done at REC. On successful completion of the program, candidates will be awarded the Doctor of Veterinary Clinical Science (DVClinSc) degree. Candidates who successfully complete the program will also be expected to be eligible to apply to sit American College of Veterinary Sports Medicine and Rehabilitation certifying examinations. ALL enquiries must be made via the link below:- https://scholarships.uq.edu.au//dvclinsc-scholarship-equin

13.01.2022 If anyone has a foster mare available, please contact Hunter Equine Centre.

12.01.2022 As the Spring grass comes through it’s a great time to have a think about your horse’s weight. Being overweight puts extra pressure on the entire body especially the bones, ligaments and joints and is associated with a higher risk of metabolic conditions such as Equine Metabolic Syndrome, laminitis and hyperlipaemia. Obviously the most accurate way to monitor your horse’s weight is to actually weigh them. But weighbridges are expensive and the vast majority of horseowners ...don't have access to them on a regular basis. Weigh tapes offer a great alternative they are cheap, easy to use and whilst they may not give an exact weight are very useful for monitoring trends and calculating doses for wormers etc. It's most accurate if the same person uses the same tape in the same place on the horse and at the same time of day. Another good estimate, although it involves slightly more work, is the formula validated by Texas A and M University (Heartgirth x Heartgirth) x Bodylength/330 = Weight in lbs Then divide the answer by 2.2 to give you the weight in kilos. Body condition scoring charts are a really useful guide to the correct weight for a horse using a grading system based on fat distribution in certain areas of the body. Various different scoring systems are available - this one from the NSW DPI has lots of useful pictures and more information. https://www.dpi.nsw.gov.au//Estimating-a-horses-condition- If you have any concerns or questions about your horse's ideal weight or how to achieve it, have a chat to your vet.

09.01.2022 Heatstroke in horses As the warm weather hits, it’s time to start adjusting our routines to avoid the hottest parts of the day. Most Australian horseowners are pretty aware of the dangers of exercising horses in the heat but it’s always good to have a reminder about the signs of heatstroke and a quick look at the best techniques for cooling a hot horse! Signs of heatstroke or hyperthermia are an elevated resting respiratory rate (over 30, normal is 8-16) and heart rate... (over 80, normal is 28-40) and an elevated rectal temperature (normal is 37.5-38.5C). Lethargy, weakness and strange behaviour as well as profuse sweating and sometimes even a lack of sweating may also be seen. Left untreated hyperthermia can cause major organ shutdown and death! Obviously exercising in hot and humid conditions is the most likely cause but horses can also develop heatstroke at rest when shade is either not available or inadequately ventilated. Dry heat alone is not so concerning but the combination of heat coupled with high humidity, which inhibits the body’s ability to thermoregulate, is a real problem. Most studies consider hot conditions to be over 30C and high humidity is over 85%. Other risk factors for heatstroke are lack of conditioning to hot weather and anything that interferes with the horse’s ability to thermoregulate such as excess bodyweight. Simple measures such as riding early in the mornings, later in the evenings and staying in the shade are fairly obvious. Ensuring your horse is adequately muscled but not carrying extra condition will help and slowly increasing exercise intensity as the weather warms up will allow your horse to get used to the warmer conditions. Electrolyte supplementation is important as horses lose a lot of salt and other electrolytes in their sweat. These can be given in feed, mixed with water or in an oral dosing syringe. Always provide plain water as well when providing electrolytes in water. After exercise apply cool water to the whole horse, concentrating on large muscle masses and areas where major blood vessels run close to the skin, eg. the lower neck and inner thighs. Fans or misting systems are also very useful if available! If you think your horse may have heatstroke: - Stop exercise straight away and remove the saddle, saddle pad, blankets and boots. - Move to a shady and ideally breezy area - Hose the entire horse with cool water, scrape the water off and repeat. Scraping off is esssential as water left on the body surface can heat up and actually act as an insulator! - Offer cool water to drink - Call your vet if your horse does have heatstroke the earlier treatment is given, the better! Keep cool and happy riding! Image by Christel Sagniez from Pixabay

08.01.2022 Chest drains for pleuropneumonia This is a horse that was treated for pleuropneumonia recently at the clinic. She had a history of long distance travel and subsequently developed a temperature. Clinical examination revealed muffled lung sounds in the lower portion of the lungs - an indicator of the presence of fluid in the pleural space (the space between the lungs and the inside lining of the chest cavity). Ultrasound examination confirmed this suspicion with a small amoun...t of fluid visible on one side of the chest but much more on the other side. Small volumes of fluid can be left to resolve without intervention but with larger amounts, as seen in this case, removal is beneficial and so a chest drain was inserted between the ribs into the pleural space. Five litres of fluid was removed - a relatively small amount compared to some cases. Volumes can be several times this amount on each side!! The drain was sutured in place and a one way valve attached to the end of the drain to allow fluid to drain out whilst preventing air from being sucked into the pleural cavity. The drain remained in place for 4 days to prevent further fluid accumulation and the filly was treated with broad spectrum antibiotics. Regular ultrasound exams were performed to examine the lungs until no more fluid was visible on ultrasound and bloodwork was repeated at regular intervals to monitor her recovery and guide antibiotic treatment. Pleuropneumonia is a potentially life threatening infection but thankfully this horse responded well to treatment. See more

08.01.2022 So, you’ve decided to get your colt or stallion castrated. What are the options? There are a few different ways this common procedure can be performed and lots of factors which affect the best technique for any individual patient. Standing castrations are performed under heavy sedation with local anaesthetic infused into and around the testes. Temperament is the first big consideration here with the technique only suitable for well-handled horses for obvious safety reasons...!!. This technique is harder to perform on smaller horses and ponies and requires both testicles to be fully descended. This technique is useful if facilities are not suitable for a 'knock down' procedure or when it is preferable to avoid a general anaesthetic for example in a horse recovering from an orthopaedic injury. Castration under general anaesthesia can either be performed in the field or in the hospital. Field anaesthesia requires good weather conditions (not too hot, not raining etc) and a flat, dry grassy paddock for safe induction and recovery of the patient. The anaesthetic for a standard castration is short (around 30 minutes), complications are rare and the surgeon has better access and visibility than with a standing technique should any surgical complications arise. More complicated castrations are usually performed in the hospital, eg. cryptorchid surgeries where one or both testes are retained or in older stallions where sutures may be placed to tie off the larger blood vessels. Surgical facilities offer better sterility for longer and more involved procedures as well as having a range of instruments on hand if required and high-tech anaesthetic monitoring for longer procedures. Tetanus prophylaxis, perioperative antibiotics and anti-inflammatories are usually prescribed doses and duration of treatment vary depending on the surgical technique used and the environment amongst other things. As with any surgical procedure complications can arise and we'll discuss these in a future post. Coming up nextwhat is a cryptorchid?

02.01.2022 What is a cryptorchid? WARNING - graphic surgical images!! A cryptorchid (also known as a ‘rig’) is a colt or stallion with one or both testicles retained. This means that as the horse matured, one testicle (or less commonly both) failed to descend along the normal path into the scrotum. In the foetus the testicles form near the kidneys and in the normal colt will descend down the inguinal canal into the scrotum in the last month before or a couple of weeks after birth. ... Retained testicles are usually much smaller than normally descended testicles and can be quite abnormal looking. They are most commonly found within the inguinal canal (known as high flankers) but can also be found within the abdominal cavity. Whilst testosterone is still produced by a retained testicle (allowing rigs to exhibit stallion-like behaviour even if both testicles are retained) the retained testicle is usually infertile as exposure to higher temperatures within the body prevents normal sperm production. Diagnosis is usually straight forward if the history of the horse is known but the difficulty comes when horses have changed hands and it is sometimes unclear whether the horse has been gelded or even partially gelded. Blood hormone levels can be used to check for the presence of testicular tissue and rectal and ultrasound examination can also be useful to help locate the testicle within the inguinal region or abdominal cavity. For 'high flankers' the surgical procedure is relatively straight forward but for abdominally retained testicles, the procedure is more involved as the abdomen must be entered to locate and remove the testicle. Historically cryptorchids underwent open abdominal surgery to locate the retained testicle but more modern techniques have enabled this procedure to be performed laparoscopically (via keyhole portals in the abdominal wall) which dramatically reduces complication rate and recovery time. The images here show a laparoscopic cryptorchidectomy being performed by Dr Chris O'Sullivan.

01.01.2022 Swollen limbs are a relatively common issue in horses and have a range of causes, from simply being confined (stocking up) to an injury or infected wound and even systemic disease. So when should you worry? You should call your vet urgently if: - The horse is also lame - The horse has an elevated temperature (>38.5C) or seems dull... - The swelling is associated with a wound or oozing skin - The leg is hot or painful to touch - The swelling is new, unusual for that particular horse or you are concerned for any reason Any of the above could indicate either a serious injury, systemic disease or a condition known as cellulitis all of which require prompt treatment. Some causes of swollen legs may not need an emergency visit but it’s always a good idea to get them checked out by a vet so always call for a chat if you’re at all worried.