Tweedie & Associates Equine Veterinary Services

24/07/2025

Winter colic

We are seeing three types of winter colic at present. Have a short read of our latest newsletter about this and some simple management strategies you can do to help

This winter has been a challenge for many of us balancing the lack of feed in paddocks with feeding out a lot of hay to horses. This has brought some challenges for many horses. The older horse has found this particularly challenging. While the previously good doer is now just doing fine. Body weigh...

08/07/2025

📹🐴 Is Your Horse Telling You Something? 🐴📹

Not all lameness shows up as a limp. Sometimes, the earliest signs are so subtle they’re easy to miss — a head toss, a reluctance to bend, a change in stride, or just “not feeling quite right” under saddle.

In this video, we share how to spot those early red flags and explain why acting before it becomes obvious can make all the difference to your horse’s performance and comfort.

🧠 Trust your gut – if something feels off, it probably is.
👩‍⚕️ Our team is here to help with lameness evaluations, gait assessments, and diagnostic tools like flexion tests and ultrasound.

🎯 Early detection = faster recovery + better long-term outcomes.

📍Based on the Mornington Peninsula? Contact us to book a lameness consultation or regular performance check-up.

01/07/2025

Join the Team at Granwick Park – Afternoon Stable Staff Position (Moorooduc, Mon–Fri, 3:00–5:00pm.)

We’re looking for a dedicated and experienced team member to join us in an afternoon stable staff role at Granwick Park – home to Lara Tweedie Equestrian, Tweedie & Associates Veterinary Services, and our much-loved crew of Tweedie family performance horses.

This is a casual, non-nursing position, ideally suited to someone who loves caring for horses and takes pride in maintaining a performance stable to the highest standard. You’ll play a key role in both caring for our horses and supporting the veterinary clinic by keeping our stables and clinical work-up areas spotless and well-organised.

Hours:
Monday to Friday
3:00pm – 5:00pm
Job share considered for the right applicants. Additional hours available on a Friday.

Location: Moorooduc

About the Role:
The position involves hands-on care of high-level performance horses. Applicants must be confident, calm, and competent with a range of horses and have a sharp eye for detail. Experience in a similar setting is essential.

Key Responsibilities:
• Feeding paddock-based horses
• Bringing horses in and changing rugs
• Feeding stabled horses
• Grooming inpatients
• Hand-walking horses
• Skipping out boxes and yards
• Operating a UTV safely and efficiently
• Cleaning tack to a high standard

What We’re Looking For:
• Previous experience with performance horses is a must
• A genuine love for horses and horse care
• High standards of horse management
• Reliability and a strong work ethic
• Ability to follow instructions and work independently
• Ability to maintain strict confidentiality

To Apply:
Please email your CV to Lara Tweedie at [email protected]

26/06/2025

🔍 Early Detection of Lameness Leads to Better Outcomes — and Lower Costs 💼🐎
Subtle signs of lameness can be easy to miss, but early recognition is key to effective treatment and long-term soundness. One common example is proximal suspensory desmitis in performance horses—a condition that, when caught early, can often be managed conservatively with rest and targeted therapy.
However, when left undiagnosed, this injury can progress, requiring more invasive treatments such as shockwave therapy or even surgery, significantly increasing both downtime and costs.
💡 By identifying lameness at its earliest stages:�✔️ We improve the prognosis�✔️ Reduce the intensity and duration of treatment�✔️ Help avoid chronic, performance-limiting complications
If you’ve noticed even subtle changes in your horse’s gait, behaviour, or performance, don’t delay. Early diagnostic evaluation—including nerve blocks and ultrasound—can make all the difference.
📍 Serving the Mornington Peninsula, our experienced veterinary team is here to support your horse’s soundness and success. Contact us today to schedule a lameness assessment.

23/06/2025

🚨 New Video Series: Foundation First – Why Prevention is Better Than Cure 🐎💡

Performance horses give us their all — but are we doing enough to protect them before problems arise?

In Part 1 of our new series, we dive into the real value of preventative horse health. Discover how working closely with your equine vet on the Mornington Peninsula can help you avoid the high costs, downtime, and heartbreak that come with injury.

🔍 We cover:
✔️ The hidden cost of reactive care
✔️ Why your vet should be your performance partner
✔️ How common injuries develop — and how to stop them early
✔️ The importance of building your horse’s health baseline

If you want the best for your performance horse, this one’s for you.

🎥 Watch now and take the first step toward smarter, safer performance horse care!

08/06/2025

🚨 Colic Surgery: What Impacts Survival? 🚨

Colic surgery can save lives — but several risk factors affect your horse’s chance of recovery. Here’s what you should know:

🔸 High heart rate (>60 bpm), high lactate, delayed capillary refill
🔸 Strangulating lesions (like twists) = poorer outcomes
🔸 Time is critical — delays reduce survival rates
🔸 Post-op complications (ileus, endotoxemia, peritonitis)
🔸 Age & breed — older horses & certain breeds are higher risk
🔸 Experienced surgical team & facility = better outcomes

⏱ If your horse shows colic signs, don’t wait — call your vet ASAP. Early action can make all the difference. 🐴❤️

📍 We’re proud to support horse owners across the Mornington Peninsula with expert care, from paddock to post-op.

👩‍⚕️ Questions about colic or emergency care? DM us or drop a comment 👇

04/06/2025

🚨 Winter Colic & Surgery Decisions – What Every Horse Owner Should Know ❄️🐴

As the temperature drops, the risk of colic in horses rises. Winter colic can strike fast and be life-threatening, and one of the toughest decisions you might face is whether surgery is the right option – especially if your horse is older or if finances are a concern.

In this video, our vets break down:
🔹 Why colic is more common in winter
🔹 What signs to look out for
🔹 How to prepare now in case emergency surgery is needed
🔹 The key factors to consider: age, long-term outlook, and financial planning

Being prepared can make all the difference when minutes matter. 💙

🎥 Watch the video now and speak to our team if you have questions about your horse’s surgical suitability or a winter colic prevention plan.

📍 Based on the Mornington Peninsula? We’re here to help – 24/7.

22/05/2025

NEW Weekly Series: Ponderings of an Equine Vet

Each week, we’ll take a moment to reflect on the cases we’ve seen and share insights that might help you care better for your horses. Welcome to our new series — real stories, real horses, real learning.

This week’s theme? Dental health in our golden oldies.

We’ve seen several retired horses this week with significant dental issues — loose, painful teeth that had to be removed. These horses had been quietly dealing with discomfort, and it took a proper dental exam under sedation to truly understand what was going on.

If you’ve got a much-loved mate in the back paddock, now’s the time to book them in for a dental check. Older horses often suffer in silence, and a thorough exam (with sedation and pain relief) is essential to properly assess their oral health.

Let’s keep our senior horses comfortable and healthy — they’ve more than earned it.

21/05/2025

Prp - platelet rich plasma

Benefits of PRP (Platelet-Rich Plasma) Therapy for Joints in Horses:

PRP therapy is an advanced, regenerative treatment that uses the horse’s own blood to support healing and reduce inflammation in joints. Here’s how it works and why it’s beneficial:

How PRP Helps:
1. Stimulates Natural Healing:
PRP is rich in growth factors and proteins that are essential for tissue repair. When injected into a joint, it stimulates the body’s natural healing processes, helping to repair cartilage, ligaments, and other soft tissues.
2. Reduces Inflammation:
PRP helps reduce the inflammatory response inside the joint, which can significantly decrease pain and improve mobility—especially useful in early arthritis or after injury.
3. Slows Joint Degeneration:
By improving the health of joint tissues, PRP can help slow the progression of osteoarthritis, preserving joint function for longer.
4. Drug-Free Option:
Since PRP uses the horse’s own blood, there’s no risk of drug reactions, and it’s a great option for horses that need to avoid repeated corticosteroid use.
5. Supports Recovery from Injury:
Whether it’s a ligament strain or joint trauma, PRP can support faster and more complete healing when used alongside rest and rehabilitation.
6. Minimally Invasive:
It’s a relatively simple procedure performed at your vet clinic or in the field, with minimal downtime for the horse.

⸻

Common Uses in Equine Joint Therapy:
• Early osteoarthritis
• Synovitis (joint inflammation)
• Joint injuries in performance horses
• Post-surgical joint support

18/05/2025

Cold Weather + Dry Paddocks = Colic Risk

As the weather cools and pasture quality drops, we often see a rise in impaction colic cases. Why? Horses tend to drink less when it’s cold, and with less fresh grass available, their fibre intake increases—without the water to move it through the gut.

Hydration is key.
Even in winter, your horse needs 20–40 litres of water a day. If water sources are icy cold or too far away, they may simply not drink enough.

Here’s what you can do:
• Warm up buckets slightly if possible
• Add salt or electrolytes to feeds
• Offer soaked hay or beet pulp
• Monitor water intake daily

If your horse seems off their feed, dull, or showing signs of discomfort, don’t wait—impaction colic can become serious quickly.

Got questions or concerns? We’re here to help—just give us a call.

06/05/2025

Drought & Your Horse’s Health: What You Need to Know

The ongoing dry conditions across the Mornington Peninsula are taking a toll on our pastures—and our horses. Drought not only reduces the availability of fresh forage, but it also puts horses at serious risk of health issues such as:

Impaction Colic – Dehydration and poor-quality roughage can lead to dry, compacted feed in the gut, causing painful and potentially life-threatening blockages.
Peritonitis – In severe cases, damage to the intestinal lining can lead to dangerous infections within the abdominal cavity.
Diarrhoea – Stress, changes in diet, and poor water quality can upset your horse’s gut, leading to nutrient loss and dehydration.

What can you do?
• Ensure constant access to clean, fresh water
• Feed high-quality hay and consider adding electrolytes
• Monitor manure and appetite closely
• Call your vet if your horse shows signs of discomfort, reduced eating, or unusual manure

Don’t wait—early intervention can make all the difference.

Need advice or an assessment of your horse’s condition? Call us today to chat with one of our equine vets.

Stay safe and stay hydrated—both you and your horses!

03/04/2025

🐴✨ Say Goodbye to Joint Pain with Pro-Stride! ✨🐴
Is your horse slowing down, showing signs of stiffness, or just not moving like their usual self? Pro-Stride may be the solution you've been looking for!
Pro-Stride is a revolutionary, drug-free treatment that uses your horse’s own blood to fight inflammation and support healthy joints. 💉💪 It’s 100% natural, processed stall-side, and can start working in just a few days.
✅ Ideal for horses with: • Joint arthritis�• Performance-related inflammation�• Stiffness or lameness�• Age-related joint issues
We've seen fantastic results in horses right here on the Mornington Peninsula — from pleasure horses to high-level competitors. 🐎🏆
📞 Want to know if Pro-Stride is right for your horse? Give us a call today or send us a message to chat with one of our vets. Let’s keep your horse happy, sound, and moving freely!