Health Issues
Why is it important to vaccinate my horse against Hendra virus?
There are three important reasons to vaccinate your horse against Hendra virus. First, vaccination reduces the risk of your horse contracting Hendra virus (HeV), a serious and life-threatening disease. Unvaccinated horses with the disease either suffer a debilitating and distressing death or if diagnosed, are euthanased.
What is laminitis, and how can it be prevented or treated?
Laminitis (also termed founder) is inflammation of the laminae of the foot – the soft tissue structures that attach the coffin or pedal bone of the foot to the hoof wall.
How do I keep my horse healthy?
To answer this question we first need to know how a healthy horse looks and behaves. What are the signs of a healthy horse?
When does my horse need to see the dentist?
A vet or qualified equine dentist should be called in regularly to thoroughly examine and carry out any necessary work on your horse’s teeth. Horses aged 2-5 years should have their teeth checked prior to commencing work or at six monthly intervals.
What weight should my horse be?
A healthy horse should not be fat or too thin. Until you gain experience it can sometimes be hard to tell however once you learn what to look out for it gets much easier.
What is Hendra virus?
Hendra virus (HeV) occurs naturally in flying foxes where it appears to cause little or no signs of illness. For reasons not yet completely understood, at times the virus is shed by flying foxes in their body secretions including urine, faeces, saliva and birthing fluids.
Do flying foxes pose a disease risk to my horse?
At certain times of the year (generally September to November for black and grey flying foxes, and April to May for little red flying foxes) flying foxes may secrete the Hendra virus (HeV) in body fluids such as urine, saliva and birthing fluids.
How can I minimise the impact of bushfire smoke on my animals?
Bushfires can lead to persistent smoke and related air pollution and this can cause serious negative effects and health problems for animals, just as it can in people. However, there are measures you can take to minimise these impacts.