Hillside Vet Services

26/05/2026

Your horse’s annual care shouldn’t feel like a handful of disconnected appointments.

Our HVS Annual Health Packages are designed to bring the key parts of preventative equine care together in one planned, on-farm visit.

Dental care, parasite planning, vaccinations, senior screening, hoof X-rays, gastroscopy, performance bloods and joint support can all be built into a package that suits your horse’s age, workload and risk.

It means fewer reminders, fewer repeat bookings, clearer records, and a more proactive plan for the year ahead.

Contact us:
Facebook message
https://www.hillsidevet.com.au/contact/
0438 929 548
07 3924 9220

Annual package clients also receive access to our HVS after-hours phone line, with call-outs triaged by the vet and offered where clinically appropriate and available.

Swipe through to see how the packages work and which option may suit your horse.

Message HVS and we’ll help you choose the right package.

Travel fees apply. Package inclusions, savings, gastroscope days and after-hours access are subject to package terms and conditions.

25/05/2026

🔬 Small sample. Big answers.

At HVS, preventative care isn’t just about routine check-ups — it’s about picking up subtle problems early.

With on-farm and at-home microscopy, we can assess samples like joint fluid, skin, ears, wounds, lumps and bumps to help guide faster, smarter treatment decisions.

For horses, this can support lameness and joint investigations.
For dogs and cats, it can help us better understand skin, ear and wound concerns — without the stress of leaving home.

It’s all part of our proactive healthcare model: advanced veterinary care, delivered to your paddock, stable or doorstep.

Because sometimes the smallest samples tell us the most.

21/05/2026

HVS welcomed to the world the newest team member early Tuesday morning!
Introducing Xavier 💙.
Halle is loving her new big sister role and we are enjoying some much needed family time.🥰🤍

20/05/2026

If you have 15 minutes to listen this is a very good interview with Dr Oliver Liyou one of my mentors who has spent his life improving the oral health of horses. He discusses the importance of good dentistry and also mental health challenges in the industry 🤔🚑🐴

A warning - this Changing Australia conversation will discuss su***de. Dr Oliver Liyou's first memory is of being chased by a horse. It didn't stop him from becoming an equine vet, who's worked to improve the economic viability of rural veterinary practice and led the way in the critical area of equ...

11/05/2026

What a dental looks like here at HVS! 🦷

11/05/2026

Have you ever wondered what an Equine Veterinary Dental Exam looks like? 🦷🐴

We allow 60 minutes per horse for this comprehensive exam and treatment!

Regular dental care helps keep horses comfortable, eating well, and performing at their best.

At HVS, we bring professional equine dentistry straight to your property — making routine care easier for both horse and owner.

📩 Message us to book your horse’s dental or ask about our Annual Packages.

05/05/2026

🐴 Senior pony dentistry: why regular, high-quality care matters

This 21-year-old pony was recently purchased by her current owner and came to us with a long-standing dental problem — importantly, this is not the owner’s fault. It’s a great example of how dental disease without the proper care can quietly progress over time, especially in older ponies.

At her initial visit, Dr. Tommy found severe overgrowths of the upper 111 teeth, which were restricting normal jaw movement. At her review appointment, we addressed severe food packing between the upper cheek teeth and diagnosed an oroantral fistula — an abnormal connection between the mouth and caudal maxillary sinus, where fluid flushed in the mouth was able to pass out through the nose.

This pony will requires further diagnostics and treatment, including dental X-rays, sinus surgery, and dental extractions. They are in good hands as we perform all of these at Hillside Vet Services.

Cases like this are a reminder that equine dentistry is much more than “floating sharp points.” Regular, thorough dental care helps identify problems early, protect chewing function, reduce pain, and support long-term quality of life.

📍 Advanced equine dentistry, diagnostics, and treatment — with Hillside Vet Services.

04/05/2026

🐴 Finding the problem, one hoof at a time.

In this short video, Dr. Tommy walks through the diagnostic investigation of a suspected foot abscess — starting with the normal anatomy of the underside of the horse’s foot, identifying what looks abnormal, and carefully preparing the hoof to locate the abscess.

With all the wet weather around lately, we’re seeing a lot more hoof abscesses. Moist conditions can soften the hoof and allow bacteria to track in, especially when there are already weak spots present.

Common risk factors include:
✔️ Seedy toe / white line disease
✔️ Hoof wall cracks
✔️ Nail holes
✔️ Thrush
✔️ Poor hoof quality
✔️ Trapped dirt and bacteria

A foot abscess can make a horse suddenly and severely lame, but the bigger goal is prevention — finding and managing the hoof problems that allow abscesses to develop in the first place.

If your horse has seedy toe/white line disease, hoof wall cracks, nail holes, thrush, recurring abscesses, or poor hoof quality, now is the time to get on top of it before it becomes a bigger problem.

At Hillside Vet Services, we can assess your horse’s feet on-farm and work alongside your farrier to create a practical plan for long-term hoof health.

📍 Advanced veterinary care, delivered to your paddock.

03/05/2026

Young horse dental quiz! 🦷🐴

This horse had a dental examination and we found:

🦷 A retained deciduous tooth, also known as a “cap”
🦷 A wolf tooth
🦷 Sharp enamel points developing quickly

Here’s your challenge:

Question 1: How old do you think this horse is?

Question 2: When should a horse have their first dental examination?

A) From 12 months old
B) Once they are being ridden
C) Only if they drop feed
D) After 5 years old

Question 3: How often should young horses have their teeth checked?

A) Every 6 months
B) Every 12 months
C) Only once they start work
D) Only if they show signs of pain

Young horses’ mouths change quickly. Before their teeth fully mature, they are softer than adult teeth, which means sharp enamel points can develop much faster than they do in a mature horse.

Drop your guesses below 👇
We’ll reveal the answers in the comments!

At HVS, our equine dental service follows the professional model:

Examine → Diagnose → Treat

This includes sedation for safety and horse comfort, assessment of abnormalities and dental development, and development of a treatment plan tailored to the individual horse.

Because proper equine dentistry is more than “just a float” — it’s about identifying what is happening in the mouth, understanding why it matters, and treating appropriately.

At HVS, our Premium Equine Dental Service includes a comprehensive oral examination, sedation for safety and comfort, detailed charting, careful profiling of the 06s for gentle bit contact, advanced equipment to help protect your horse’s mouth during treatment, and oroscopic photos/video so you can see exactly what we see.

📍Professional mobile equine dentistry delivered on-farm by Hillside Vet Services.

21/04/2026

Not every horse health issue is obvious… and some are very well hidden. 🍆

This giant bean measured a whopping 41mm 😳

Beans can build up inside the sheath and cause irritation, discomfort, difficulty urinating, tail swishing, rubbing, and general grumpiness. In some cases, horses can be carrying around a lot more discomfort than owners realise. 😕

The good news? This is something we can check and address as part of routine preventative care.

At Hillside Vet Services, sheath cleans are included in our Annual Health Packages and can also be performed during our Premium Dental Service visits — making it easy to tick off another important job while we’re already on farm.🦷

Because good horse care is not just about teeth, vaccines, and worming plans… sometimes it’s also about removing a 41mm surprise.

If your gelding or stallion is due for a check-up, chat to us about booking in with one of our annual packages. Mobile vet care, delivered right to your property.

dentistry