Black Diamond Park Equine Vet Clinic

04/06/2026

Now this is a great idea. Please take note.

Please don't be THAT client who accidentally wakes up their horse doctor with a non-urgent text! On call or not, your veterinarian deserves a full-night rest. 💤

If you have a late-night or weekend thought, update, or question that does not warrant an emergency response, please hold off on sending that text until the next business day OR utilize your smartphone's "Send Later" feature to schedule the text to be received at an appropriate hour/business day.

If you haven't used your phone's "Send Later" feature, a quick Google search can help you find the instructions compatible with your specific smartphone model. If you're an iPhone user, reference our graphic for a quick visual.

We promise your horse doctor will thank you for letting them sleep through the night and enjoy their weekend uninterrupted by non-emergency texts. As a reminder, it's never a bad idea to ask your veterinarian about their after-hours emergency policies. With horses, emergencies are bound to happen; let's just be mindful of our vet's policies and on-call schedule before we send that text or call.

03/06/2026

01/06/2026

I am always amazed at what this equine hospital can do. This type of endoscopic surgery is a standard procedure in human surgery but now being performed in horses.

28/05/2026

Hi everyone,
I am finally back from my Melbourne visit.
The advanced equine ultrasonography course at Avenel Equine Hospital was really good and well worth braving the cold. We covered normal anatomy vs pathological views on ultrasound, looking at ocular (quite straight forward), abdomen, thoracic and cardiology. A couple of hours of lectures then small groups of 3 participants for hands on practical exercises. Even ultrasound guided biopsy into a pork roast embedded with ribs and olives for practice. That was fun!!🤣
Distinguishing between liver, spleen, kidney and stomach wall became much easier. However, echocardiography was really challenging without special probes.
Needless to say, dear Buddy will be the practice horse. With the purchase of an abdominal probe for my machine, this will add another dimension for diagnostics, especially with the colics that I do. So I am really looking forward to this.
In addition, I had another 2.5 hour one-on-one tutorial with the BCF ultrasound manager to further my skills in adjusting the settings on my machine. This will improve image quality as I use more functions on my machine.
I also caught up with my elderly parents and John’s family in Melbourne.
I look forward to the next very full and busy days catching up with clients and cases.
Cheers
Dr sal

28/05/2026

May visit from Dr Steve Rayner (equine surgeon) at Black Diamond Park Equine Vet Clinic in Maryborough.

We saw 15 cases, including;
- 2 gastroscopes, one with infestation of gastric bots resulting in ulceration and requiring treatment.
-2 upper respiratory endoscopes, one with rhinitis and the other with narrowed nasal tubinates.
-2 check ups with the facial/oral swamp cancer (or Oomycosis), and an angular deformity in a foal, both showing slow improvement.
-1 X-ray of temperomandibular joint showing osteoschlerosis (and a corrective dental)
-6 lameness work ups - one with Biceps Femoris muscle tear, one with severe carpal arthritis, one with recurrent hoof abcesses, one podiatry X-ray to rule out pathology and one second opinion on lameness.
-1 surgical case to remove an eye from a horse already blind but now traumatising the eye. This was done under general anaesthesia.
There was another case that I missed due to an accident in the float parking area where I needed to call an ambulance. I am extremely grateful to my clients for assisting this elderly lady, who is now recovering well.

Many horses are travelling from Bundaberg, Gladstone, Gympie and west of Maryborough as well as local cases.

Steve’s next visit is scheduled for Wednesday the 17th June and he already has 6 cases booked.
Dr Steve’s main role in our district is to support local veterinarians with equipment that most vets don’t have (such as endoscoping and laser therapy) or to perform more tricky procedures requiring more expertise (such as surgeries, complicated lamenesses and post op checkups).

If you are in need of his services, please contact me early (via messenger) to avoid disappointment as he books out quickly.

The Wide Bay is very fortunate to be able to access such a knowledgeable vet with over 35 years experience in equine surgery and also an equine vet who shares my vision for genuinely caring about owners and the welfare of their horse, such that we can provide evidence based answers and a realistic pathway forward.
Cheers
Dr Sally Whalan (BVSc)

27/05/2026

I see this all the time with horse welfare being significantly compromised due to lack of Hendra vaccination. Systemic severe vaccine reactions are extremely rare and localised reactions can be adequately prevented and treated. Cost is not exorbitant. I do them regularly at $150 and no mileage. All 20 of our stud horses are always kept upto date. All studs and horse training/agistment places should be done-not only for horse welfare but to prevent lengthy quarantine problems.

The message is clear.

Get your horse vaccinated!!
Dr sal

'I have been to three funerals': see why the fight against Hendra is personal for this vet👇
https://www.queenslandcountrylife.com.au/story/9251816/

25/05/2026