Barwon Equine Hospital

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Moolap, VIC
Barwon Equine Hospital

Full range of Equine Veterinary Services for Geelong and surrounds Our hospital facilities have been purpose built to cater for all equine patients safely.

Barwon Equine Hospital provides full veterinary services to Geelong and its surrounding areas (Lara, Little River, Bannockburn, Teesdale, Inverleigh, Winchelsea, Modewarre, Torquay, the Bellarine Peninsula and everywhere in between) Weekly consultations in the Colac, Camperdown, Terang and Cobden areas are also offered. We provide a 24hour a day, 365 day a year hospital and ambulatory emergency se

rvice, for horses of all ages and breeds. We can hospitalise patients for more specialised and intensive procedures, surgery and treatments. Our services include: foal through to geriatric medicine, poor performance and lameness diagnosis, evaluation and treatment, pre purchase examinations, digital radiography (including yearling sales sets), reproductive services (including obstetrics, assessment of poor fertility, preparation of walk-on mares and artificial insemination of mares with chilled or frozen semen), routine surgeries, specialist consultation (by arrangement). Our vets have extensive equine backgrounds and are committed to helping you and your horse achieve their full potential and health. We have committed to staying up to date with the newest treatments and procedures and are in constant contact with various specialists. The clinic is equipped with the newest technology, such as digital radiography, ultrasound and endoscopy, to achieve the highest standard of Veterinary service to our equine patients. We also offer Veterinary Services to other large animals such as cattle (existing clients only).

20/04/2026

Ever Wondered Why Our Vet Cars Are So Full? 🚗🐴

From the outside, it might look like chaos… but every item has a purpose! We never know what we’re going to see on a visit, so we have to be prepared for everything.

As an examples, inside our cars you’ll find:
💊 Anti-inflammatories, anaesthetics, antibiotics, fluids
🩹 Sutures, bandages, blood tubes
🐎 Buckets, stomach tubes, twitches, hoof testers, nail pullers
📸 Scopes, x-ray machines, ultrasounds

This is also why our receptionists ask questions of you when you call to book an appointment. It helps us make sure we have every chance of bringing everything we might need, so your visit goes smoothly — whether it’s a routine check or an unexpected emergency.

It might look like a jumble to some, but trust us — every vet has a system, and to us, it makes perfect sense!

👉 Next time you see one of our cars arriving, know we’re ready for anything, from routine checks to emergencies.

18/04/2026

Bot parasite management in horses 🐴

We've all been there, horses careering around the paddock desperately trying to rid themselves of a bot fly or kicking their legs, stamping their feet and swishing their tails. Then there's the mad dance around the horse while we try to squish it and stamp on it! And why is it that some horses seem to just stand there quietly and let flies lay eggs on their them...everywhere?...

As a veterinary clinic, we often see questions about bots (Gasterophilus spp.) and how best to manage them. These parasites are common across Australia, with adult flies laying yellow eggs on the horse’s coat—most often on the legs, chest, and around the mane. Horses ingest the eggs during grooming, allowing larvae to migrate and attach to the stomach lining.

While bots are usually low-grade parasites, higher burdens can contribute to gastric irritation and discomfort—making prevention and timely treatment important.

Our key recommendations:

• Strategic deworming – Treat with an effective anthelmintic (e.g. ivermectin or moxidectin) at the end of bot fly season (late autumn to early winter) to target larvae in the stomach.
• Daily egg removal – Physically remove bot eggs with a bot knife or grooming tool to minimise ingestion.
• Fly control & hygiene – Good manure management and paddock hygiene help reduce fly exposure.
• Tailored parasite plans – Not all horses need the same approach—regular reviews and targeted deworming strategies are best practice.

If you’re unsure about your horse’s parasite control program, our team is here to help develop a plan suited to your property and local conditions.

Feel free to share any hacks you might have for removing eggs from hair!

16/04/2026

Thoroughpin in horses 🐴

Thoroughpin is a distension of the tarsal sheath, presenting as a soft, fluctuant swelling above the hock that is often visible on both the medial and lateral sides. It results from an accumulation of synovial fluid within the tendon sheath of the deep digital flexor tendon.

In many cases, thoroughpin is not associated with pain or lameness and may be considered a cosmetic finding. However, it can be linked to underlying factors such as repetitive strain, conformational predisposition, or increased workload—particularly in young or athletic horses.

Clinical evaluation is recommended to differentiate thoroughpin from other causes of hock swelling and to assess for any concurrent pathology. Monitoring for changes in size, heat, or sensitivity is important. In cases that do not respond to conservative management, drainage of excess fluid and medication with corticosteroids may be pursued.

Management typically focuses on addressing contributing factors, including workload modification, footing, and overall limb health.

14/04/2026

Gastroscoping Day 14th May 2026

Get your diary out! Our next gastroscoping day is scheduled for Thursday 14th May 2026. We are looking forward to having Alex Macpherson from Randlab in attendance. If you've been thinking of getting it done before winter, now is the time to act! As per normal, it's first in, best dressed so please call the clinic on (03) 52 488 899 in business hours to reserve your slot.
You never know what you might find! For the curious amongst you, this image shows a polyp located at the pylorus which was impacting gastric outflow and causing considerable discomfort.

16/03/2026

We're putting it out to our clients today, what topics would you like to know more about? We will do our best to cover some of them on this page, if you provide your suggestions below...

14/03/2026

Preventative Care Isn’t Just Vaccines 🐴✨

Is your horse 🐎 not thriving, no matter how much feed you give? Don’t wait for problems to slow you down!

A preventative care check can include:
• 🥩 Body condition & nutrition
• 😁 Dental check
• 🪱 Parasite control
• 🩺 Screening for systemic disease

It's not just the older ones that need checking coming into winter. Even younger horses sometimes need that extra TLC ❤️. Regular check-ups keep them happy, healthy, and performing their best!

👉 Book a preventative care appointment today and stay ahead of problems!

12/03/2026

🦷 Don’t Let Dental Issues Steal Your Horse’s Smile! 🐴

Keeping your horse comfortable, healthy, and performing at their best starts with the basics — and routine dental care is a big one.

Horses’ teeth grow and change continuously throughout much of their lives. Without regular exams and floating, sharp points, uneven wear, and other dental issues can develop. These problems may lead to:

• Dropping grain or quidding hay
• Weight loss or poor body condition
• Head tossing or resistance under saddle
• Bit discomfort
• Increased colic risk due to improper chewing

Many horses don’t show obvious signs until issues are advanced, which is why routine dental exams (typically every 6–12 months, depending on age and individual needs) are so important.

Preventive dentistry helps:
✔ Improve comfort and performance
✔ Support proper digestion
✔ Catch problems early
✔ Extend the functional life of your horse’s teeth

If your horse hasn’t had a dental exam recently, now is a great time to get on the schedule. Our clinic is happy to help keep your horse smiling and feeling their best. Give us a call or send us a message to book an appointment with Dr Alice! 🐎✨

06/03/2026

Please note the clinic will be closed on Monday 9th March 2026 for the Labour Day public holiday. A vet will be available, for emergencies only, on the after hours number 0418 520 533. The clinic will re-open at 8am on Tuesday 10th March 2026.

01/03/2026

Managing Laminitis: Millie’s Story 🐴

Millie is a 13yo New Forest pony mare with a history of chronic laminitis, previously managed with restricted pasture access. Her new owner noticed subtle signs of discomfort:
• Spending more time lying down
• Rocking back onto her hindlimbs when turning
• General foot soreness

🩺 Examination Findings
• Increased digital pulses in both front feet
• Hoof tester pain across the toes

• Radiographs revealed laminitic changes including:
– Mild rotation of the pedal bone
– Remodelling of the tip of the pedal bone
– Roughening of the dorsal margin of the pedal bone
– Very shallow soles

💊 Management Plan
• Phenylbutazone to control inflammation
• Diet reviewed to ensure proper nutrient balance
• Restricted grazing and/or controlled turnout
• Daytime confinement in a sand yard as needed

Once stable, Millie will be screened for underlying endocrine conditions such as:
• Cushing’s Disease (PPID)
• Equine Metabolic Syndrome (EMS)

Identifying metabolic conditions is key to preventing recurrence.

📌 Key Takeaways
• Checking digital pulses is an easy and valuable way to detect foot inflammation early
• High-fructan grass can trigger laminitis flares
• A venogram can help assess blood flow in chronic laminitis cases
• Always consider screening for underlying endocrine conditions

Early recognition and careful management make a big difference in keeping horses like Millie comfortable and active.

26/02/2026

When Behaviour Changes Have a Physical Cause 🐴

Luna is a 6yo Warmblood mare who presented for assessment of her stomach due to recent behavioural changes under saddle and during handling.
Her owner had noticed:
• Mild girthiness
• Reluctance to go forward
• Increased anxiety and inappetence around competitions
These signs raised concern about possible gastric ulcers.

🩺 Initial Assessment
A preliminary examination was performed, including:
• Full set of vital parameters
• Trot-up to rule out other contributing issues
No abnormalities were detected, so we proceeded with a gastroscope to directly visualise the stomach.

🔎 Gastroscopy Findings
• The squamous region of the stomach was free of ulceration
• A bot larvae burden was identified
• Ulceration was present in the glandular region, near the pylorus
• A small polyp was noted in the pyloric antrum

Glandular ulcers differ from squamous ulcers in both cause and treatment approach, and accurate diagnosis via gastroscopy is essential for appropriate management.

💊 Treatment Plan
Glandular ulcers often respond well to treatment with oral sucralfate, alongside appropriate management changes where indicated. This is slightly different to the treatment of squamous ulcers, highlighting the benefit of scoping rather than presumptive treatment.

If your horse is showing signs such as girthiness, resistance under saddle, or unexplained behavioural changes, gastric disease may be a contributing factor. Contact the clinic on (03) 52 488 899 to discuss whether gastroscopy is indicated for your horse. Our next gastroscoping day is Thursday 5th March 2026.

22/02/2026

When the Suspensory Says “Slow Down” 🐎

Mable is a 3yo Thoroughbred racehorse in work who presented with swelling and thickening over the medial proximal sesamoid region of her left forelimb. There was heat and pain on palpation.

🔎 Ultrasound examination (the stall-side imaging modality of choice for tendon and ligament injuries) identified an injury to the medial branch of the suspensory ligament.

🩺 What’s the plan?

Rehabilitation will include:
• An initial period of rest
• A graduated return to exercise, starting with hand walking
• Slow, incremental increases in workload over weeks to months
• Careful return to full work

Controlled rehab is critical for optimal ligament healing.

⚡ Shockwave Therapy
Ligaments (which connect bone to bone) often respond well to shockwave therapy.
Shockwave can:
• Increase local blood flow
• Stimulate tissue healing
• Provide a direct analgesic effect
A typical course involves 3–4 treatments at fortnightly intervals (sedation is often required).
Mable is a suitable candidate for this therapy.

📌 Important: In Victoria, shockwave treatment in registered racehorses must be performed by a Racing Victoria (RV) registered veterinarian.

If your horse has a swelling or lameness that may benefit from ultrasound or shockwave therapy, contact the clinic on (03) 52 488 899 to speak with our team.

Address

8-12 Cooney Street
Moolap, VIC
3224

Telephone

+61352488899

Website

http://www.beh.com.au/

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