YourVet - Equine

19/03/2026

Free ACTH testing to screen for equine cusings disease (PPID) is back!
If you think your horse has any of these clinical signs
- long, curly or delayed shedding coat
- laminitis
- recurrent infections
- increased drinking and urination
- weight loss or pot bellied appearance
- lethargic or decreased performance

Cushings is a progressive disease but with early detection and management horses can live longer more comfortable lives.

Please get in touch to organise an appointment!

(The ACTH test is free but farm visits/mileage is still charged)

28/01/2026

Do you know any amazing, caring, experienced vets living locally?
Or around the motu who might like to relocate to our beautiful part of the world?

We're growing our team in Waipu and would love to hear from them...

https://www.seek.co.nz/job/89964192
[email protected]

15/01/2026

A very exciting development happening at work today! No more backing in 😁🥰

21/12/2025

We were delighted to treat the most adorable patient last week, a small but mighty 11kg!

His human mum had noticed that his real mums colostrum wasn’t quite as good as it should be so booked him in for an igg blood test at 24hrs old.

The result confirmed a partial failure of transfer of immunity, so a plasma transfusion was indicated.

Super star nurse simmy carefully monitored him for a few hours while we ran the plasma in.
He is back home doing really well!

17/12/2025

“If you can’t see it, you can’t diagnose it. And if you can’t diagnose it you can’t treat it.”

This is why a thorough oral examination with a calm/sedated patient, a bright light and dental mirror is so important, equine dentistry is much more than sharp enamel points.

27/11/2025

We have Randlab nz Gastroscope (and the wonderful Tim Montgomery) coming up next week Tuesday 2nd December to our Waipu clinic.
A few spaces left, please get in touch ASAP if you would like your horse checked out for Gastric ulcers!

Below is one with moderate to severe pyloric ulcers which requires specific targeted treatment. Why we always recommend scoping first to see what we are dealing with.

24/11/2025

Equine sarcoids - please don't got treating them without talking to us first!!

Sarcoids are a relatively common finding in our horses, they can be disguised as a small lump or a small dry patch of skin. Facial sarcoid's in particular can be quite challenging to treat due to the anatomic locations but it is very important to do so as they have more of a tendency to become locally invasive and develop malignancy.
Did you know that while a horse carries a sarcoid they are not only at risk of infecting themselves further but also of acting as a source of infection to other susceptible horses in the nearby vicinity!

IF you think your horse has a sarcoid please get in touch with us to make an appointment so we can help come up with the best treatment plan.

18/11/2025

Foaling and breeding season is well and truly upon us!
We are available 24/7 for any emergency foalings as well as able to come out and check your new arrival and blood test for IgG (if required for insurance).

We are also able to cater your breeding needs at our purpose built facility in Waipu. - Services include - fresh or chilled AI, uterine swabs, pregnancy scans and twin reductions.

Please get in contact if your thinking about getting your mare in foal

12/11/2025

Also available for our lovely Equine Clients 😀

Afterpay now available.

We know that your furbaby's health needs don't always align with human payday and that financing necessary urgent treatment is not always easy.

We're happy that we're now able to accept Afterpay payments in our Waipu clinic, closely followed by Maungaturoto in the coming weeks .

Hopefully this helps in those tricky moments.

05/11/2025

A great post, worth reading.

Antibiotics aren’t magic dust — and they’re not always the answer

At GVEH, we know how much you care about your horse’s health. When something looks sore, swollen, or infected, it’s natural to want to “get onto antibiotics” straight away — just in case.

But here’s the truth: using antibiotics when they’re not needed can actually make things worse in the long run, for both horses and people.

A recent study in the Equine Veterinary Journal (Stuart et al 2025 ) found that:
🔹 1 in 4 horse owners have asked their vet directly for antibiotics.
🔹 1 in 3 admitted to reusing leftover antibiotics from a previous illness.
🔹 Some even said they’d consider changing vets if antibiotics weren’t prescribed.

That tells us one thing — we all care deeply, but we don’t always understand how resistance develops. Every time antibiotics are used unnecessarily or incorrectly (wrong dose, wrong duration, “just in case”), we give bacteria another chance to outsmart the drug. Over time, these “superbugs” make infections harder, sometimes impossible, to treat.

At GVEH, we don’t withhold antibiotics to be difficult — we use them wisely and only when evidence shows they’re needed. This protects your horse today and keeps these vital medicines working tomorrow.

So next time we suggest monitoring, a swab, or an alternative treatment first — it’s not hesitation, it’s stewardship.

Together, we can keep antibiotics effective for all our horses. 💚

09/10/2025

What a fun day doing a bunch of donkey’s teeth today!!
Donkeys have the same hypsodont teeth (constantly growing) like horses but are often overlooked to have their teeth done as we don’t tend to ride them. However it’s very important to get them checked as they are more prone to diseases like diastema.
This lovely family of donkeys were very lovely to work with and will be feeling much comfier tonight.

15/09/2025

Please take the time to fill out this survey so we can gather useful information on equine worming.

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