Freeze Branding
We can undertake freeze branding using liquid nitrogen stored on site and can provide the numbers for the brands. Owners must provide their own station brand.
Parasite Control
Our understanding of intestinal worms in horses has evolved and it it now highly recommended that Faecal Egg Counts be done on individuals to determine whether or not drenching is required rather than sticking to routine drenching programs that were encouraged for a time by drug companies. Faecal egg counts are easy to perform - just collect a small, fresh faecal sample and drop it at the clinic and we will get an answer for you in <24 hours. From there we can recommend and supply the ideal treatment if required.
Vaccinations
We carry a range of vaccinations for the following diseases (for more info please see the article under the Information Sheet menu):
- Tetanus: a highly fatal disease in horses that survives in the soil for long periods and enters wounds. Tetanus is easily preventable by a course of 2 vaccines 4 weeks apart with a booster 1 year later. This will provide long lasting immunity with a booster every 5 years recommended.
- Strangles: a highly contagious bacterial disease causing abscesses to form in the throat area, strangles is very commonly caught at horse events and taken home during the incubation period, only for an outbreak to occur 1-2 weeks later. The strangles vaccination consists of 3 initial doses 2 weeks apart with 6 monthly boosters recommended for horses attending events. The vaccination can be combined with the tetanus vaccination for convenience.
- Hendra virus: an emerging disease that whilst not very infectious has high fatality rates for infected horses AND humans. There is still so much we don't know about this disease and clinical signs can be very broad and vague. Vaccination involves 2 initial doses 3 weeks apart followed by a 6 montly booster and then annual boosters thereafter. Horses must be microchipped prior to vaccination and the vaccine must be administered by a veterinarian. Some horse events (particularly in North-East NSW and Queensland have mandatory Hendra vaccination requirements.
- Salmonella/EHV: Reproductive diseases that can cause abortions. Pregnant mares can be vaccinated to protect them from the effects of these diseases.
Gastroscopy Clinics
Stomach ulcers are a very common issue in our competition horses and can result in reduced performance levels. The only way to definitively diagnose Equine Gastric Ulcer Syndrome (EGUS) is through gastroscopy (passing a long endoscope into the stomach to visualise the stomach lining). We undertake gastroscopy clinics 3-4 times annually in conjunction with Randlab to help identify those horses with stomach ulcers and devise treatment plans for them.