Victorian Equine Group

21/04/2025

“𝙎𝙘𝙧𝙤𝙩𝙖𝙡 𝙝𝙚𝙧𝙣𝙞𝙖𝙨”; 𝙬𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙬𝙝𝙚𝙣?

It is reasonably common for a c**t foal to develop a scrotal or inguinal hernia. This can be on one side or bilateral.
An inguinal hernia means that a piece of intestine has migrated from the abdominal cavity into the inguinal canal (groin), whereas technically a scrotal hernia is one in which the intestine is in the sc***um next to his testicle.
In many cases, the intestine sits there, and the foal is still bright and happy; he just has a swelling in the region. These cases may self-resolve, especially if one is able to manually and frequently reduce the intestines back into the abdomen. If you have a c**t born with a scrotal hernia such as this, we should examine him for you to confirm it is an uncomplicated hernia and show you how to reduce it.
In a small proportion of cases, either the intestine will become twisted within the sc***um, or the hernia will rupture. This means that the vaginal tunic (the layer of tissue surrounding the testicle) ruptures and the intestines and testicle are sitting directly under the skin. In these cases, the previously present swelling will suddenly increase, the skin sometimes become thin and shiny and the foal is colicky. These require immediate surgery, to replace the intestine into the abdomen. Although it is technically possible to leave the testicle, in practice fewer complications will occur if we geld them at the same time and we usually recommend this.
Although uncommon, a similar process can also happen in stallions (often after breeding or very vigorous exercise) and in these older horses it is always an emergency; never delay in these cases if an older stallion has sudden onset scrotal enlargement.

12/04/2025

𝗔 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝘁𝗵𝘆 𝘄𝗶𝗻𝗻𝗲𝗿...
This week we had a delightful visit with one of our young clients; Sophie and her pony Gem.
Sophie was the winner of the Encouragement Award at the Kyabram Agricultural Show and as her prize was a free dental performed at the Victorian Equine Group, we had the pleasure of meeting Sophie's new pony Jupiter, along with the beloved Gem.🩷🩷🩷
Well done Sophie!

10/04/2025

Dr Anna, one of our superb interns on the tools stitching up this mare's cannon... maybe Anna will be a stud vet, maybe a medicine whiz or maybe we've converted her to surgery!
Who knows where this next generation of gun young vets will end up; but the sky is the limit for these three ladies!

23/03/2025

𝘼 𝙨𝙣𝙖𝙠𝙚𝙮 𝙨𝙪𝙢𝙢𝙚𝙧... 𝙣𝙤𝙩 𝙮𝙚𝙩 𝙤𝙫𝙚𝙧

Without a doubt, this summer we saw more suspected snake bite cases than usual. And with another last week, our warm start to autumn means they may not be over.
So we thought it pertinent to review some findings from this paper published by some fabulous Australian veterinarians. It's particularly important that these cases are all derived from Australia, because the snakes we see causing clinical problems here (brown, black and tiger snakes are "elapids") cause different signs and therefore presentations to the "crotalid" (including rattlesnakes and cobras) species that are seen in the USA
This paper included 52 cases. Pertinent points include;
-The most common month of presentation was October. No cases were reported from April through to August
- The most common signs reported by owners was weakness or an unsteady gait (63% of cases), followed by dullness and inappetence (19% of cases)
- When examined by a vet, the most common clinical signs in decreasing order were a high heart rate, neuromuscular weakness, altered mentation, muscle fasciculations, recumbency, abnormal pupil size and reflexes, increased respiratory rate, sweating and high temps, paralysis of the tongue, difficulty breathing and swallowing, discoloured urine and colicky signs
- On bloodwork, the most common clinical signs in decreasing order were high lactate levels, high white cell count, evidence of muscle damage, high fibrinogen and elevated kidney enzymes
- Only a quarter of cases had a suspected snake bite site; this was most commonly the muzzle (one of the major differences with crotalid species seen overseas)
- When the SVDK (snake venom detection kit) was used in some cases, it did not always yield a positive test, and should not be relied on for making a diagnosis
- response to antivenom was favourable, although it is hard to judge how much is needed. The survival rate was 86%, but this may be biased as some cases were included based on a positive response to antivenom treatment

In summary, although muscle damage and red blood cell breakdown are important clinical signs, the most common sign following envenomation in Australia is neuromuscular weakness, and treatment with antivenom does appear to increase chance of survival

20/03/2025

Can you help?

Our towel cupboard is looking a little bare at the moment.... if any of our locals have old towels lying around that they would like to get rid of, we would certainly put them to good use, and we would be most grateful!

19/03/2025

Loving a thoughtful thank you from a longstanding client. Fingers crossed for the patient x

18/03/2025

𝗟𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲𝗳𝗶𝗲𝗹𝗱 𝗹𝗮𝗺𝗲𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗲𝘀!

It was beautiful day in Lancefield today... Clare, Sarah and Micki had a very enjoyable day, as did their equine patients; as demonstrated by two outpatient lamenesses enjoying the beautiful new yards installed in their "spare time" by the amazing duo of Micki and Angus; thank you both!

15/03/2025

With the dry conditions we have right now, many paddocks have little no no grass left. Unfortunately, we are seeing a lot of colicky horses at the moment, and definitely in some of them an accumulation of sand and dirt is a cause.
Although, the general advice to "avoid access to sandy ground" is obviously true, it's not always practical.
If your four legged friend is often noted truffling around in the dirt, consider the following;
1. Feed as much roughage as you can; not only to stop them eating dirt but fibre helps them clear sand out of the gut
2. If you can, feed them the hay off a rubber mat or similar
3. encourage them to drink lots of water, using electrolytes as needed; the drier the intestinal contents, the slower things move and the more sand settles out
4. Feed psyllium; either as raw husks (feed stores and supermarkets) at 250grams per day or using commercial pellets. Psyllium is a high fibre laxative that sticks to sand particles and helps them pass. It is most effective when given periodically; we advise every day for one week of every month. It won't guarantee you avoiding problems, but it will help

Finally, if you're worried they are eating a lot, call us and discuss if its worth stomach tubing your horse electively; again it doesn't clear all sand, but it will help; and it might avoid that after-hours colic!

12/03/2025

𝑰𝒕'𝒔 𝒂 𝒘𝒓𝒂𝒑!
And today we had our last "ambulance" trip for the season!
Clare, Sarah and Mike took our trusty steed to one of our favourite studs for the last lot of foal surgeries.
Our fab ambulance has allowed us to do over 100 foal surgeries on farm this season, ensuring stellar service to the studs, top notch safety for the patients, maximal efficiency of the practice and a lot of fun x

06/03/2025

The Inglis Melbourne Premier sale is a focal point in the year for many of our Thoroughbred clientele. But this could be one of the most heartwarming stories we have ever seen from there...

25/02/2025

𝗢𝘂𝗿 𝗻𝗲𝘄 𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗻𝘀...
With James and Jacinta finishing their twelve month internship, we have two beautiful young ladies to step into the breach!
Pictured on the left is Kari Waring, a UK import who graduated from the Royal Veterinary College.
Pictured right is Anna Davidson, an Aussie (yes we have a couple of them!) graduate from the University of Adelaide.
James and Jacinta left big shoes to fill (both figuratively and literally in James case!) but we are very confident this gorgeous duo will do them proud!
Kari and Anna, we hope you two will be super happy here 🩷🩷

23/02/2025

𝗚𝗼𝗼𝗱 𝗹𝘂𝗰𝗸 𝗝𝗮𝗰𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗮!
A couple of weeks ago we waved goodbye to James, and this week to his better half; an exceptional young lady; Dr Jacinta Gilbert.
James and Jacinta have finished their twelve month internships with us and we are very sad to see them leave. We have been lucky to have twelve months of their careers
Jacinta has been a little ray of sunshine over the last year; always happy to be at work, always giving her foals the very best care they could ask for, and always lifting the spirits of everyone around her.
Jacinta and James have worked superbly side by side for the last twelve months (perhaps Mike and Sarah should take notes!) and are an exceptional pair of young vets with a real passion for the profession
We watch them start the next chapter of their lives together and wish them well x

20/02/2025

16/02/2025

This weekend our gorgeous Angus Wilkinson was the volunteer vet at the Gisborne Pony Club Horse Trials. Whilst Angus was busy at the cross country, his equally gorgeous partner, Dr Micki was able to slip along and assist at an emergency... lucky we have this duo living in the local region of Lancefield!

01/02/2025

This month we said our farewells to one of our all time favourites… at the Bendigo Equine Hospital we (and all our clients) have a special place in our hearts for the one and only Dr Holly Lenahan. 💛💛💛
Hol came to us way back in August 2020 as an intern and returned every breeding season thereafter.
She is an exceptional stud vet, with superb skills in all other areas of equine medicine. Not only is she one of the most talented vets we have ever had, she is quite simply one of the best human beings on this planet. Clients will know that nothing is too much trouble, and everything is done with a smile. She has an infectious enthusiasm for everything, and not once in five years have we seen her anything other than cheerful; even in the middle of the night or during a long weekend. Holly you’ve made our lives better every single day when you walk back into the hospital after a day at the studs; we will miss you desperately.
We wish Holly safe travels back to Europe and we know her future will be a successful and happy one. For now, we will live in hope of a Holly return! 💛💛💛

19/01/2025

𝐉𝐚𝐦𝐞𝐬; 𝐰𝐞 𝐥𝐨𝐯𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮 💙💙💙

James arrived to the Bendigo Equine Hospital as a racing-obsessed future track vet. 🏇🏇 However over the course of his internship, we think we’ve converted him to a soft hearted pony cuddler...
Just kidding, he’s heading off to Flemington to start his new track vet job and we wish him the best of luck.
Thank you James for providing many laughs and being a great sport. We already miss you x

10/01/2025

𝘊𝑢𝘱𝑐𝘢𝑘𝘦 𝘵ℎ𝘦 𝘊𝑢𝘵𝑖𝘦!

With Sarah losing out narrowly in the great Bake Off of 2024, this year she has taken to helping make a much cuter Cupcake 🐴 🧁
This lovely mare Holly was bred by Sarah last year and the result is an adorable foal called Cupcake who has been one of our smallest (weighing in at 19kg!!) and cuddliest patients this season… After a short stint in hospital, beautifully looked after by Dr Alison, Jacinta, and Niamh she is going home strong and healthy today. We hope little Cupcake puts a big smile on everyones face as she has ours ❤️

05/01/2025

A great weekend in Bendigo at the VAS Saddle Horse Championships. Beautifully organised by Victorian Agricultural Shows and sponsored by many, including Apiam Animal Health, we had two great days.