Illawarra Equine Centre: Equine Veterinarians

17/09/2025

Dr Becky has joined Illawarra Equine Centre vet team for a 6-month contract until early 2026. Welcome aboard Becky! 👏👏

Originally from the UK, Becky graduated with a Bachelor of Veterinary Science from the University of Liverpool. During her studies, she gained experience through a variety of equine externships across the UK, including time in Newmarket.

At B&W Equine Hospital in Gloucestershire she worked closely with specialists in surgery, medicine, imaging, and anaesthesia. Following this, she relocated to Australia for a 12-month fellowship in surgery and anaesthesia at Scone Equine Hospital, gaining a huge variety of experience during the busy breeding season.

For more, click here: https://www.iecvet.com.au/beckybacon

10/09/2025

For the month of September, we have teamed up with Zoetis to bring you a great offer on Hendra Vaccinations.

If you have horses that have not been vaccinated, or have horses that have lapsed with their Hendra vaccine, you can now get their second dose for free!!

All you need to do is book our vets to give the first dose during September and we will give them the second dose/ booster free of charge.

Call us today to take advantage of the special offer and get your horses vaccinated. It might just save their lives!

28/08/2025

Happy birthday and best wishes Mitch. .... 21 again?? 😄 🐴🎉🎁

20/08/2025

🐴 SPECIAL OFFER - PROTECT YOUR HORSE FROM HENDRA 🐴

With the recent confirmed Hendra virus case in South East QLD, now is the time to ensure your horses, ponies and donkeys are up to date with their vaccinations.

Book your horse's first Hendra vaccine with us for September and you will receive the second dose FREE!!

(Travel charges may apply, but you are welcome to book on a Travel Free Day or bring your horse into the clinic anytime and save on mileage.)

📞 Call us today on 4448 6488 to book an appointment.

Protect your horses - and your family, from this deadly disease.

18/08/2025

Our very popular Winter Dental Special Offer ends on 30 August.

Don't miss out! Call our friendly team to make a booking.
Ph: 4448 6488

15/08/2025

Happy Friday! Dr Mitch gets a cuddle with one of the first foals of the season. Big smiles all round as both mare and foal are doing well. 🐴🥰

10/08/2025

Hendra - Vaccination saves time. Vaccination saves lives.

In July an unvaccinated Quarter horse mare tested positive to Hendra virus on a property in South-East Queensland.

The horse was first noticed unwell on a Wednesday afternoon when she appeared dull and standing alone, having not returned with her paddock mates for feeding. She was put in an isolation yard and had a temperature of 40°C.

She ate well that evening and a normal temperature was recorded around 8pm, but by Thursday morning she had abnormal breathing and had not passed faeces.

A vet examined her around 7:30am and recorded a temperature of 38.4°C, HR - 52 and RR - 60, no other clinical signs were observed. By midday her breathing had worsened, and so she was transferred to a specialist equine referral clinic.

At the referral clinic she was observed to have a dull demeanour, temperature of 38.7°C, RR - 100, injected oral mucous membranes, foamy bilateral nasal discharge and weakness/ataxia. Given these clinical signs, the referral vet suspected Hendra virus and after collecting specimens for testing advised the owner to isolate the horse while awaiting test results.

Sadly, the horse died later that day.

The Health authorities contacted everyone who had contact with the infected horse and who may have been exposed to help them manage their health.

This was the first case in Queensland in three years and is a reminder that Hendra virus will always be a threat for unvaccinated horses in Australia and their care givers, including veterinarians.

The best way to protect yourself, your family and your horse against Hendra Virus is with vaccination. Horses require a microchip and 3 doses of Hendra vaccine in the first year, then an annual booster.

Illawarra Equine Centre would like to support you to vaccinate your horses against Hendra virus. Throughout September we will be running a promotion with Zoetis to offer the second vaccine dose for free.

Stay tuned for more information throughout August and September or contact us for more information.

08/08/2025

We are ending the week with a rainbow at the clinic.
Happy Friday everyone! 🌈

05/08/2025

Gastroscope Day - Friday 15 August

Gastric ulcers often present as one or more of the following symptoms:
- Poor body condition
- Poor hair coat
- Girth pain
- Intermittent loose faeces/diarrhoea
- Depressed appetite
- Reluctance to train
- Recurrent low grade colic

To check whether your horse is suffering from gastric ulcers, book in for a simple Gastroscope at our clinic. If ulcers are diagnosed, our vets can then prescribe a highly effective treatment plan.

NEXT GASTROSCOPE DAY: Friday 15 August at Illawarra Equine Centre, Berry. $95 per horse. Overnight stabling can be booked if fasting is difficult for you.

Call us now on 4448 6488 for more information or to make a booking.

26/06/2025

Winter 2025 Newsletter
Read about a lesser known equine dental disease; book in for our Winter Dental Specials, Gastroscope Day and more.....

Check out this A4 designed by Illawarra Equine Centre.

05/06/2025

On the King's Birthday Monday 9th June, our office will be closed but in an emergency you can still contact our vet on call: Ph: 4448 6488

Photo credit: King Charles III (then Prince Charles) petting a horse Ken Goff/Getty Images

04/06/2025

Welcome to Winter!
It's time to make the most of our Winter Dental Special where dental exams throughout June, July & August are only $175 (including mild sedation). Call us now to book in your horse's annual dental checkup.