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FAQs

  • Do you cater to emergencies?

    Yes. 24hrs, 7 days a week. As we sometimes only have one vet we may be delayed if they are seeing an equally urgent case, or if they are away at a conference. In these events we would refer you on to one of the other excellent practices in your local area. Please check out our Emergencies section for more details.

    What areas do you service?

    Allenview, Bahrs Scrub, Beaudesert, Biddaddaba, Birnam, Boyland, Bromelton, Browns Plains, Buccan, Canungra, Cedar Creek, Cedar Grove, Cedar Vale, Chambers Flat, Christmas Creek, Cryna, Flagstone, Gleneagle, Greenbank, Jimboomba, Josephville, Kagaru, Kerry, Kooralbyn, Laravale, Logan Reserve, Logan Village, Luscombe, Mundoolun, Munruben, New Bieth, North Maclean, Park Ridge, Rathdowney, South Maclean, Stockleigh, Tabragalba, Tamborine, Tamborine Mountain, Tamborine Village, Tamrookum, Undullah, Veresdale, Waterford, Wonglepong, Woodhill, Yarrabilba

    What are your office hours?

    8am to 5.00pm Monday to Friday, and 8am to 12pm Saturdays.

    Am I able to drop my horse off at your practice for the day as I have to work during your office hours?

    Of course, especially for routine consultations such as dental exams. Just ensure you provide enough feed for the day.

    How can I pay?

    Our vets carry a mobile EFTPOS machine so you’re able to make a payment at the time of consultation. Direct Debit payments must be made in consultation with the practice manager prior to the vet’s visit. We still accept cash or cheques.

    Do you charge an emergency fee?

    No, but if you require our vets after hours then the after hours consult fee will apply.

    Do you do horse dentistry?

    Yes! This is one of our growing areas in the clinic, as the word is finally getting out on the importance of annual dental check ups. All of our vets performing equine dentistry have undergone extensive courses, thus are extremely qualified and experienced in dentistry. We have a mobile crush, fitted out with the complete equine dentistry facilities, and we of course sedate your horse to safely and calmly perform all dentistry exams and treatments. The cost of a dental exam includes a basic health check, and male horses receive a bonus penis clean and check-up. We have reduced prices for those that are able to bring their horses to our Gleneagle clinic for their dental exams. Check out our equine dentistry section here.

    My usual vet is away at the moment and my horse requires veterinary attention. Will you be happy to assist my horse and then cooperate with my regular vet on their return?

    Of course we will. We have a wonderful relationship with many of the vets in this area and respect your decision on whom you choose to treat your animals. We want the very best for your pets and this of course means working closely with your usual vet to achieve the best outcome for your animal’s health.

    What is colic? And what should I do if I think my horse has colic?

    Colic is the general term for a horse stomach-ache. A horse’s digestive system is built very differently to ours, one major difference being that they cannot throw up.

    Another problem is that they have a large fermentation vat after the food gets through the small intestine and into the large intestine. In fact an average horse’s intestine is about 60 feet or 20 metres long, folded up into the relatively small space of a horse’s abdomen. This basically means that they are more likely to suffer digestive problems, because whatever goes in only has one way out, and it is a long and winding road.

    Horses are designed to graze almost continually just to get the nutrients they need and, unlike us, produce acid in their stomachs constantly, not just in response to food. Domesticating horses disrupts this process, particularly if the horse is stabled or has no access to grazing pasture. We also supplement our horse’s diet with grains and chaff, which, if not done carefully, can seriously upset their digestive system.In comparison to our digestive system the horse's one is relatively long and moves freely. It is possible for the gut to tangle itself, causing serious complications. Colic can be caused or brought on by many factors, some of these being a sudden change in diet, stress, water deprivation, feeding straight after exercise, anything un-natural ingested, erratic management, and much more.

    If you horse displays any of the following symptoms please phone us on 5543 1213 for veterinary advice & assistance, as an untreated colic case can sometimes be lethal:
  • depression
  • rolling violently
  • lack of appetite
  • kicking at their belly
  • elevated pulse rate
  • lack of or decreased digestive sounds
  • sweating excessively
  • pawing at the ground
  • turning of their head to their belly
  • lip curling (Phlehmen response)
  • repeatedly lying down and standing up
  • straining to pass manure, without passing any.



My horse isn’t eating or drinking. Should I be worried?

YES! You should be very concerned if your horse is showing a decreased or lack of interest in eating and drinking. There are many conditions which could have an adverse affect on a horse’s usual appetite (such as colic). If a horse does not gain adequate nutrition and hydration their condition can quickly deteriorate, making their treatment much more difficult, expensive (they may require fluid therapy), or, in some cases, they may have to be euthanased for humane reasons. So please phone 5543 1213 immediately if your horse is not showing an interest in eating or drinking. A quick response often makes a significant impact on the physical, financial and emotional cost of dealing with their condition.

I’ve just bought a new horse and, having not owned one before, am a bit unsure as to what I need to be doing for him to provide the best quality of life. What do you suggest?

Well, our website has a number of informative articles on providing the best care for our equine friends. Our Wellness Plans page details the most basic requirements for horses, and are organised into age groups.To be prepared for those times that perplex many horseowners, check out our Emergencies section to know what to do when your horse may get into a scary situation (but please ring us if this occurs).

Check out the Horses page for general articles which may be of interest to any horseowner.

And finally, don’t forget to subscribe to our email newsletter for fascinating articles, serious advice, and general tidbits on horse health and care, and the equine veterinary world.

If you have any further questions, please don’t hesitate to phone 5543 1213 for a general enquiry during clinic hours, or if you have an emergency please phone this number at any time.

My horse’s eye is mucky and appears sore. What should I do?

Call the vet ASAP. Do not administer any creams or medications without consulting the vet first, as some creams actually make some eye conditions terribly worse.

Eye cases can vary, but fast veterinary action often can mean an easier, less financially-straining treatment. Inaction on your part could lead to the condition worsening, which sometimes results in the eye being so badly damaged it needs to be removed.

Why can’t I get bute off you guys without a prescription?

Phenylbutazone (aka Bute) is a prescription anti-inflammatory medicine which can be highly effective, but if used inappropriately, can be very dangerous.

This is a drug which can have many side effects if used improperly, some of these include:

  • Bute can be unsafe at high levels over extended periods of time
  • Bute can cause gastric & colonic ulcers
  • Young, old and ill horses are sometimes unable to process the drug, accumulating toxic levels of it
  • Bute is wonderful in masking pain, though this can work against us. For example say an owner used bute to treat their horse’s lameness, when the cause for their horse’s pain was a fracture. Conditions such as fractures can then become lethal if left untreated
  • If intravenous bute is accidentally injected into the muscle severe tissue damage can occur
  • Some people give bute if their horse is colicing. This may not fix the colic, but it masks the pain and lessens the parameters your vet will use to assess the severity of the colic. This subsequently may affect the treatment plan, and may result in the horse’s death.
  • if bute is administered improperly to a condition, masking the deterioration may mean that you don’t call the vet out until your horse’s condition has severely deteriorated, which subsequently may affect its chances of recovery.Because it is a prescription product, it is illegal for us to supply bute without assessing the animal’s condition. If we were to simply hand over the bute without seeing the horse and the horse died or their condition worsened as a result of us not seeing it, we would not only be held liable, but our vet would lose their licence to practise veterinary medicine. This is clearly an unfavourable outcome, both for us and for your poor horse who suffered due to an improper treatment.

    So you see, there are many factors which make us unwilling to just hand out bute to any client, regardless of their horse experience or belief in their own diagnosis of the horse’s condition.

    My stallion/colt needs to be gelded (castrated), is there anything I need to consider in preparation?

    At VEVS, we only perform gelding surgeries if the horse is handled and halter-broken.

    This is because when the horse recovers from the anesthetic it can be very dangerous if they get up suddenly and are startled at being in a halter, as we need to guide them as they rise to prevent injury to them. Also, it is easier and safer to administer later treatments in the rare case of there being complications.

    We are also only able to perform the surgery if both testes can be located. It is highly unethical for a vet to only remove one teste, as this means that some of the unwanted traits of a stallion may still be present in your horse (as he actually hasn’t been gelded). This could be very dangerous if, later down the track, a future owner is not aware of their condition (commonly referred to as a rig), and the horse displays dangerous behaviors.

    We will also ask for your horse’s age, as gelding surgeries in older horse can be much more complicated. Also, if you are gelding them to change their behavior and they are older, they may not change anyway, as they have had those traits for such a long period.

    I’m buying a new horse, and was wondering if it is worth getting a vet to check her as I’m getting her very cheap?

    The old saying of ‘don’t look a gift horse in the mouth’ is very relevant for this situation. If the mare has underlying conditions not visible to the lay-person’s eye, she could actually turn out to be an extremely expensive prospect when, later down the track, her condition comes to the surface and requires extensive veterinary treatment. Check out this section for more info on pre-purchases.

    My horse got caught in the fence today, and his leg is bleeding, what should I do?

    Immediately call us on 5543 1213 for veterinary advice and assistance, as first aid treatments can differ depending on the site and severity of the wound. Your horse’s tetanus needs to be up to date, if it is not, the vet may administer or advise you to administer a tetanus antitoxin as soon as possible (which gives immediate protection, if the horse has not already contracted tetanus).

    My horse’s leg is swollen, what should I do?

    Phone us on 5543 1213 for assistance and advice, as some swellings may be a lymphangitis which may have serious consequences for your horse.

    My mare has been served by a stallion, so when should I get her pregnancy tested?

    Ideally, mares should have their first pregnancy test at 16 to 17days from the last service date, or 14 to 16 days from ovulation, if the vet has performed an ovulation check. We are able to check for twins at this time, and deal with them should that be necessary. Check out our reproduction and foaling section for more info.

    My horse has been losing weight. Why is this and what can I do?

    There are number of reasons for sudden weight loss (such as poor teeth, worms, malnutrition, etc.), but to determine the cause and then prescribe the most effective treatment, our vet would have to examine your horse, so please phone 5543 1213 to make an appointment. To read more on underweight horses see our article.

    My foal’s legs look abnormal, as in they’re not as straight as I think they should be. Should I get a vet?

    Yes, the earlier any leg deviations can be assessed, the better chance we have to successfully treat them. When breeding we recommend that you get a post-foaling check 12 to 24 hours after the foal’s birth (unless the foal appears unwell, isn’t drinking, etc), as the vet may be able to pick up on any conformation issues at this time. If you’re concerned about your foal’s legs after the preliminary vet check, please call us again as foal’s legs can change with growth and environmental circumstances.

    I’ve noticed a funny, wart-like growth on my horse today. Is there anything I can do for it or should I just get a vet?

    As there are many different things this could be, we would recommend that you get a vet to examine it to advise you on the best treatment plan. We often see sarcoids in this area, and if this is a sarcoid then there are a range of options depending on the location, which may include surgery, freezing, or use of a cream which works on most lesions, though this cream is quite toxic so needs to be administered by the vet.

    My horse has diarrhoea, should I be concerned?

    Yes, because your horse may become quickly dehydrated and its condition could further deteriorate. Phone us for assistance and advice.

    My horse appears to be limping, what should I do?

    Phone us for advice, as treatment and care greatly various with the severity and symptoms of lameness.

    Do you perform at-home euthanasias?

    Of course we do. Our caring vets are very willing to come out and place your animal in its final rest in the comfort of its family home. Please read our Saying Goodbye section for helpful information in this area.

    I’m not sure if my horse has been microchipped. What should I do?

    Either we can come out to you, or you can bring your horse to VEVS for the vet to scan them. If the vet cannot find a microchip it is highly recommended that you do get your horse microchipped. Read our microchipping article for more information on the importance of microchipping your horse.

    My horse has had “Qld Itch” for ages and nothing I try seems to be working. Is there anything else I can do?

    There is no substitute for a veterinary checkup, though we have a recipe for a natural remedy that is reported to work quite well (but we can’t give guarantees). Access it here. If this doesn’t seem to be working you will need to get one of our vets to come and examine the horse, work out a treatment plan that suits both of you, and possibly administer a stronger treatment, as this condition is quite uncomfortable for the horse involved.

    My mare has been served by a stallion many times but isn’t getting pregnant, what should I do    ?

    The mare may not be falling pregnant for a variety of reasons. These may include:

  • Abnormal reproductive cycles
  • Damage to uterus, cervix or vagina
  • Cysts or other abnormalities within the uterus
  • Abnormalities of the Vulva or vagina
  • Infection

    To diagnose and treat the problem may require multiple scans, lab testing or surgery. The first step is a thorough examination by a veterinarian experienced in the area of reproduction, with subsequent steps taken as needed. There is no “one plan fits all”.

    My day-old foal is not bright, alert and drinking as she was this morning, should I get a vet out?

    Yes, we consider unwell foals to be an emergency as their condition can quickly deteriorate into a life-threatening situation. Please phone 5543 1213 immediately for assistance.

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