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What a quantum shift to normal life in Australia since our last newsletter.

Orange Veterinary Hospital is aiming to provide our clients with an uninterrupted service during the Covid-19 pandemic.

We are open for business 8.30-5.30 6 days a week - and yes that includes Saturday afternoon. To help protect the health and well being of our staff and clients we have separated staff into two separate teams who are working on a rotating 2 day roster - if you wish to see a particular vet please be aware they may not be available if it is not their rostered day on...we are very happy arrange an appointment with your preferred vet when they are rostered on if the situation is not urgent. 

Our phones can be very busy at certain times, usually early morning and late afternoon - our team do their best to answer calls promptly however if you are asked to wait please be patient or if you can't seem to get through please keep trying. If you can't make immediate contact and your enquiry is not urgent you can contact us by email orangevet@orangevet.com.au 

Our Molong Clinic days have been reduced temporarily to help manage our staff resources during this time - Molong is now open on Monday and Thursday 9am-11.30am by appointment. For veterinary attention outside these days and hours please call Orange 63618388.

We apologise to our Molong based clients for any inconvenience during this temporary reduction in opening hours. 

We appeal to you all for your help as we navigate this often changing situation - when visiting Orange Vet Hospital or our Molong Clinic 

  • Please observe social distancing of 1.5mtrs when in the hospital or carpark.
  • Where practically possible please have only ONE person accompany your pet on their visit.
  • You will be greeted at our front door - please wait for triage by staff before entering the reception area.
  • Please use the provided hand sanitizer before entering our building.
  • Please advise staff if you are self isolating or suffering from symptoms such as fever, cough or sore throat.
Stay safe and take care. 

 

Contents of this newsletter

01  A Special Note about COVID-19 and Pets

02  Caltrop - a toxic summer plant

03  Equine De-Worming

04  Mandatory Pain Relief for Mulesing

05  New ‘Fit to Load’ Guide Released

06  Sore Eyes - 5 Signs Your Horse Needs the Vet

07  World's Oldest Ram Semen Still Producing

01 A Special Note about COVID-19 and Pets

Coronaviruses are a group of viruses that infect birds and mammals, including humans. They are often associated with the common cold, bronchitis and pneumonia, and can also affect the gut. The coronavirus that is COVID-19 also likely originated from a wildlife reservoir.

Canine coronavirus, which can cause diarrhoea, and feline coronavirus, which can cause feline infectious peritonitis (FIP), have been seen by veterinarians for many years. They do not cause infections in humans. These coronaviruses are not associated with the current COVID-19 pandemic.

Can COVID-19 infect pets?

There have been reports from Hong Kong that a dog owned by a patient with COVID-19 has tested positive to the presence of the virus in its nose and mouth. This may be a case of human-to-animal transmission, however the dog’s first blood tests have been negative. At this stage, there is no evidence that pet dogs or cats are a source of infection to other animals or humans.

Should I avoid contact with pets or other animals if I am sick with COVID-19?

As the outbreak continues, a number of pet owners will be placed in quarantine, however current information suggests that there is no apparent risk to you or your pet from them being in quarantine with you.

However, we do advise that all pet owners continue to practice appropriate hand hygiene before and after handling their pet, their pet’s food and when washing food/water bowls.

At no stage should pet owners do anything that may compromise the welfare of their pets. We suggest minimising close contact with your pet during this time, such as hugging, face-to-face contact or having them sleep on your bed.

What do I do if I am in quarantine or self-isolation and my pet is unwell?

If you are in quarantine, do not break quarantine. Please ring us first for advice.

02 Caltrop - a toxic summer plant
cathead toxicity

Typical case of ataxia. CA Bourke

Our 'from the field' article for March is now old news for many due to rapid pasture growth in response to recent rainfall across the region - the landscape transformation in some areas is nothing short of blinding green!

However vet Ryan's discussion of Caltrop (cathead) Toxicity will be just as relevant next summer for producers. Being able to avoid the very stressful animal health issues from this plant is important for your business. 

"Caltrop/ Cathead are annual plants which germinate after rainfall in late spring and summer when the maximum air temperature reaches 24°–27°C much like what we have experienced here in the Central West recently.

A lack of pasture coverage means that sporadic rain can induce the rapid growth of this weed, which in turn leeches large levels of nitrate from the soil that have not been consumed for some time.

Caltrop growth is rapid and can be fatal to our livestock if grazed inappropriately. This weed can cause staggers, nitrate poisoning and photosensitisation. Sheep and cattle can BOTH be affected. Symptoms may develop several weeks to months after stock have grazed cathead dominant pastures. 

Symptoms to look out for

  • Acute toxicity: Staggery gait/ shaking, lack of co-ordination, can’t walk straight, death (from nitrate poisoning), swelling of face, ears, yellow discoloration of gums/ eyelids, diarrhoea, excess salivation.

Prevention

Do NOT place hungry stock onto lush green pasture with high infestation of caltrop as rapid engorgement can lead to death within 48 hours. 

What to do

Remove any affected animals from pasture, place onto good quality roughage, ensure sufficient water available, consult your local veterinarian immediately if any of these symptoms occur - 63618388.

For further information on caltrop vine click here

03 Equine De-Worming

When was the last time your horse had a worm egg count?

Modern horse de-worming practices have evolved greatly. Traditionally, it was recommended that horses were rotationally drenched every 6-8 weeks to keep worms at bay – but this is no longer the case.

What is the problem with traditional de-worming practices?

Traditional de-worming practices were developed more than 40 years ago when large strongyle worms were the most common and damaging internal parasite in horses. With the introduction of the drench ivermectin, this approach was very successful in controlling large strongyles, to the point that they are no longer much of an issue. However, due to decades of such frequent drench use, we are now faced with the serious issue of drench resistance. Small strongyles are now considered the worm type of greatest concern, and we have limited effective drenches available to combat them.

What are the cornerstones of modern de-worming recommendations?

1. Perform regular worm egg counts – This helps determine if your horse actually has a worm burden. Worm egg counts should be conducted 2-4 times per year, but more frequently for young, aged, unwell or new horses. A small manure sample for each horse is all that is required for your vet to perform a relatively inexpensive worm egg count.

2. Use a combination drench – Drenches with two or more active ingredients are less likely to lead to drench resistance. Target the drench ingredient for the most relevant worm type.

3. Drench adult horses 1-2 times per year – Unless the worm egg count suggests more regularly.

4. Practice good pasture management – Remove manure regularly, avoid overcrowding, and spell paddocks to help manage worms.

Call us today to arrange a worm egg count for your horse!

04 Mandatory Pain Relief for Mulesing

Victoria – the first state to mandate pain relief for mulesing sheep.

In December 2019, Victoria became the first state in Australia to mandate pain relief for mulesing. Producers who surgically mules their animals without pain relief can now be fined more than $3300.

The new regulations stipulate that a person must not mules a sheep unless the sheep is administered with a pain relief product that has been registered for use on sheep by the APVMA.

The following is a list of current products available for pain relief:

Trisolfen®
- Local anaesthetic and antiseptic gel
- Currently registered for mulesing, castration of calves and lambs, and disbudding and dehorning of calves.
- Meat WHP 90 days

Metacam® 20 & Buccalgesic OTM®
- These both contain the same non-steroidal, anti-inflammatory ‘meloxicam’ which is effective for both pain relief and reducing fever caused by infection. They are made by different manufacturers.
- Metacam® is an injectable form of meloxicam and is registered for single-dose use in sheep and lambs 14 days of age or older for the alleviation of pain and inflammation. The use is not limited to a procedure, and can be used for mulesing, tail docking, surgery, castration, lameness, mastitis etc. WHP 11 days
- Buccalgesic OTM® is an oral form of meloxicam and is registered for the alleviation of pain associated with castration, tail docking and mulesing of lambs. WHP 10 days
These products are available through veterinary clinics only.

05 New ‘Fit to Load’ Guide Released

An updated guide to help producers, agents, buyers and transporters decide if an animal is fit to be loaded for transport by road or rail has been released by Meat & Livestock Australia (MLA). The 2019 edition of the national guide, Is the animal fit to load?, includes new content to ensure best practice of animal welfare when preparing, loading and delivering cattle, sheep and goats.

The additional information includes:
- Clear roles and responsibilities for consignors and transporters
- Clear checklists to assess whether an animal is fit to load
- Managing effluent Loading densities
- Requirements for transporting bobby calves
- Using firearms or captive bolt for euthanasia

In the instance an animal is not fit to load, and you need veterinary assistance, please give us a call.

The document is available for purchase or download from the MLA website.

06 Sore Eyes - 5 Signs Your Horse Needs the Vet

A horse with a sore eye is a serious concern.

Eye problems can deteriorate rapidly and, as such, they are usually considered an emergency condition. It is essential to be aware of the signs of a sore eye, so that you can contact your vet immediately.

1. Excessive weeping or discharge
A sore eye may weep clear fluid, which can be seen streaming from the eye. Thick, white or yellow coloured discharge could indicate infection.

2. Redness
Any redness of the conjunctiva of the eye could indicate inflammation or bruising.

3. Swollen eyelids
Swelling around the eye can be the result of inflammation or could be due to direct trauma to the eye and surrounding structures.

4. Closed eyelids or squinting
A horse with a sore eye will be very sensitive to direct sunlight. As such, they will squint or close the affected eye in an attempt to reduce the pain.

5. Discolouration of the eyeball
The surface of a horse’s eyeball should be clear and shiny. A “blue” or white-coloured eye could indicate a serious problem with the cornea.

Don’t take chances when it comes to a sore eye – call your vet immediately if your horse shows any of the above signs.

07 World's Oldest Ram Semen Still Producing

Last month, Stock & Land reported that the world’s oldest frozen ram semen is still achieving high pregnancy rates despite being put on ice 50 years ago.

The semen was thawed and inseminated in ewes as part of the 2018 Balmoral Sire Evaluation Group, a trial into leading sires suited for fine wool production. The semen was initially frozen to prove sperm could survive several years storage in liquid nitrogen at -196oC - and it is now the oldest sheep semen in the world’s existence to be inseminated.

Alongside several modern rams in the trial, the historic semen produced equivalent pregnancy rates, suggesting it was as fertile as the day it was frozen. This demonstrates that long-term frozen storage of sperm is a safe and reliable way to preserve genetics for future use in the agriculture industry.