Smythesdale Animal Hospital

04/09/2026

Wet weather can mean sore feet! Is your Livestock at risk of foot problems? 🐄🐑🐐
• Mud foot fever
• Pastern dermatitis
• Greasy heel
• Footrot
With muddy paddocks and prolonged wet conditions, the chances of infections and lameness issues are still high.
Constant exposure to mud softens the skin around the feet, allowing bacteria to enter causing painful conditions such as foot abscesses, footrot and scald.
Footrot is a very common painful, highly contagious disease affecting particularly sheep, goats and cattle.
The disease itself differs in sheep and goats from cattle
🐑Sheep + Goats: Contagious bacterial infection affecting interdigital tissues. This can also affect Alpacas.
🐄Cattle: Bacterial cellulitis of the foot
Footrot will spread when bacteria infected hooves transfer to moist pastures or laneways, mud or muddy handling facilities and then enters the skin of healthy animals through softened hooves.
Signs to watch for
• Lameness or leg favoring
• Reluctance to walk / graze
• Swelling around hoof or in between toe digits
• Red, inflamed or damaged skin
• Crusty scabs on feet
• Oozing lesions
• Foul odor from foot
• Separation of the hoof
• Livestock grazing on their knees
Preventions / Treatments
• Good Biosecurity Farm plan
• Purchasing stock with valid foot rot vendor declaration
• Move stock to drier paddocks where possible
• Regularly checking feet conditions
• Foot bathing
• Isolate and treat infected animals
• Quarantine New Livestock
• Clip effected area
• Apply topical creams
• Prescription Medications
• Removing excess scabs
• Pairing Feet
▪ Footrot is a notifiable disease in some states of Australia
If you suspect Footrot among your heard or need advice for your farm biosecurity - call the clinic on (03) 5318 5750

28/08/2026

Today is known as Rainbow Bridge Remembrance Day 🐾🌈, a day we remember the beloved animals who have crossed the rainbow bridge.
Every paw, purr, wag, nuzzle, hooves, chirp, scales and gentle souls leaving a lasting imprint on our hearts. Though they may no longer be by our side, the love and memories we shared with them remain forever.
Today, we honour the animals we have loved and lost — the companions who brought us joy, comfort, laughter, and unconditional love.
Share a photo or special memory of your pet in the comments below. 🐾💕

28/08/2026

🐎Mud Fever in Horses 🐎
Also known as
- Pastern Dermatitis
- Greasy Heel

Mud fever is a very common problem during the wetter months primarily effecting the pasterns and fetlocks.
Horses lacking pigmentation, thick fetlock feathers or exposed to long periods of wet and muddy conditions are at a higher risk.
It is caused by a bacterial or fungal infection entering the skin via damaged or softened skin causing
- Painful crusty scabs
- Some cases lesions can travel up the leg or effect all four limbs
- Heat, redness and swelling
- Itchiness
- Lameness
Treatments
a) Clip Hair
b) Gently clean mud of area and if possible, soak area using an antiseptic shampoo or betadine to help soften the scabs
c) Dry area completely
d) Apply topical treatment as advised by your vet
e) Keep the horse in clean dry conditions
Prevention
- Move horse to drier paddock - or limit time in muddy conditions
- Inspect your horse's legs daily
- Clean legs often
- Use barrier or protective creams during wetter seasons
- Maintain good hygiene protocols
Regular monitoring and early intervention is KEY to reducing the severity of mud fever in Horses.
How can a vet help
- Sedation - sometimes required to clip and clean area if very painful
- Prescribe pain relief and prescription creams
With the grounds still very wet and muddy give our team a call if you are concerned your horses are showing signs of mud fever - (03) 5318 5750

27/08/2026

25/08/2026

🐾 Meet the Team Tuesday 🩺

Shanae

1. What is your role at SAH?
Veterinary Nurse
2. What aspect of the job do you enjoy doing the most?
Large Animal Nursing and Hospital Nursing
3. Do you have any pets of your own?
Yes - 1 Quarter Horse x Paint, 1 Domestic Shorthair Cat and Family Pets -1 Border Collie cross and 4 Mini Goats
4. What's the most memorable case you have worked on?
Most cases for me have a memorable part but one of my favourites was assisting the vet with a difficult foaling, the whole process from birth to post foaling care and being able to see the foal a few weeks later be full of life was very rewarding after a touch and go enter into the world.
5. Who talks the most in the clinic?
Most likely me or Kate! We Love a chat!
6. Special Interests in the Veterinary Industry?
Equine + Livestock Reproduction and Nutrition as well as Equine Rehabilitation
7. Favourite Hobbies?
Horse Riding, Camping, Travelling, Canoeing, Baking, Reading and spending time with Family and Friends
8. What areas would you like to continue further education in?
Equine Rehabilitation
9. Who drinks the most coffee?
Lisa or Fletcher
10. What is your favourite procedure to perform:
I don’t have a specific favourite as I enjoy a wide range of procedures and love the variety of my role!

Write up:
Shanae has been a qualified veterinary nurse for 10 years starting her nursing journey in 2016 locally here in Smythesdale for 5 years then heading down south for 4 years to a mixed practiced clinic in Camperdown gaining experience with dairy work whilst completing her advanced Diploma in Agriculture through Tocal College and has been back at Smythesdale Animal Hospital for 2 years now. Alongside nursing for 8 years Shanae also worked part time on a sheep and cropping farm outside Skipton.
When not at work, Shanae spends majority of her time with her horses and dogs or she will be off travelling and camping as well as spending time with her friends and family.

18/08/2026

🐾 Meet the Team Tuesday 🩺

Lisa

▪What is your role at SAH?
Lisa is the first person you will usually see at reception when coming for a visit with your cat, dog or other companion animal. She checks in patients, answers incoming calls and books the appointments.
▪What aspect of the job do you enjoy doing the most?
The puppies and kittens. Seriously, who can you resist these little cuties?
▪Do you have any pets of your own?
Lisa has 2 tame budgies.
▪What's the most memorable case you have worked on?
Lisa remembers a sweet little Dachshund that even though he ate like a horse, he just couldn’t keep weight on. After lots of tests and trials the little sausage was finally diagnosed and put on treatment. It was a pleasure to see him for his weekly weigh in and see his little body look more normal. He is doing so well now that this little sausage is almost too rolly poly.
▪Who talks the most in the clinic?
Tough question, but when Shanae and Amos start having a yarn, Lisa wishes she could be a fly on the wall.
▪Special Interests in the Veterinary Industry?
Lisa loves the exotic animals like birds, reptiles and rodents and is always happy to help when they come in.
▪ Favourite Hobbies?
Geocaching (Mr. Google will be able to tell you what it is) and reading a good book.
▪What areas would you like to continue further education in?
At Lisa’s age the only education she seeks is from traveling to far off distant lands.
▪ Who drinks the most coffee?
Lisa is most definitely the Coffee Queen; her mug is never out of arms reach.
▪What is your favourite procedure to perform?
Cuddling the animals in recovery, it keeps them from feeling lonely especially when they are missing home.
Lisa grew up in the northern suburbs of Melbourne and had every kind of pet you can think of. Lisa moved to Ballarat in 2015 and immediately wished she’d done it sooner. With a long history of reception jobs, she finally landed her dream of working in a vet clinic about 3 years ago. She loves travelling the goldfields in search of historic buildings and discovering the stories behind them.

13/08/2026

Laminitis (or founder) is a painful condition that causes inflammation and damage to the laminae and coffin bone in a horse or pony's hoof. A horse's entire body weight is loaded onto 4 hooves when standing and only one foot when galloping,
The soft tissue structures of the laminae attach the coffin bone / pedal bone to the hoof wall. These layers are made up of about 600 finger like projections interlocking with each other. Its function is to provide support and shock absorption during movement and provide stability of the pedal bone within the hoof. When there is inflammation or damage it weakens the bonds of the soft tissue causing pain, tenderness, lameness or movement within the hoof.
In severe cases the coffin bone can rotate, sink or pe*****te the sole of the hoof which can be debilitating or even fatal as the damage caused is irreversible.
Common causes:
• Obesity / over feeding / Poor Diet
• Metabolic disorders - Equine Metabolic Disorders, Cushing's
• Systemic inflammatory conditions
• Lush pastures
Signs of Laminitis:
• Uncomfortable walking or inability to walk
• "Sawhorse" stance / stretched stance
• Shortening strides
• Horizontal rings on hoofs
• Reluctance to pick up feet
• Palpable digital pulse or heat in the dorsal hoof wall
• Constantly shifting weight
• Constant lying down / painful standing
Preventions:
• Diet and Pasture Management
- Restrict grass or limit grazing time (grazing muzzles or bare paddock)
- control Forage - low sugar hay, soaking hay
- Avoid grains and High Sugar Diets
• Monitor body condition
• Regular exercise and movement
• Manage underlying metabolic causes
• Maintaining proper hoof care + Regular Farrier Visits
It is important to remember that damage to the sensitive laminae is irreparable, and horses that have suffered from laminitis previously, have a very high chance of foundering again so it is important to manage your horses or pony's laminitis every year all year round.
There is no cure for laminitis, only strict management to help maintain a sound horse and to help prevent further bouts of laminitis or future severe cases.
If you are concerned about your horse having laminitis or wanting to review your management plan, please call the clinic to arrange a consultation with one of our veterinarians (03) 5318 5750

11/08/2026

🐾Meet the Team Tuesday 🩺

Rachael

▪What is your role at SAH?
Veterinary Nurse
▪What aspect of the job do you enjoy the most?
Helping owners and their pets, client education, providing the best possible care, working alongside a passionate team in a rural community.
▪Do you have any pets of your own?
A Golden Retriever called Finn and a Domestic Shorthair cat called Tilly.
▪What's the most memorable case you have worked on?
Any case where a patient comes in unstable, requires urgent surgery, and then goes on to make a full recovery. Seeing them return to their normal life is one of the most rewarding parts of the job.
▪Who talks the most in the clinic?
Probably Shanae or Lisa! I love that they do though! They keep me very entertained
▪Special interests in the Veterinary Industry?
Monitoring anaesthesia in compromised patients, working with older Cats or assisting with Dentals.
▪Favourite hobbies?
Camping, fishing, reading, water skiing, cooking, trying new restaurants (I'm a bit of a foodie!), and spending time with my pets, family and friends.
▪What areas would you like to continue further education in?
Emergency nursing and expand into Large Animal Nursing
▪Who drinks the most coffee?
Fletcher!
What is your favourite procedure to perform?
▪I enjoy helping wherever I'm needed! I love the variety, every day is different!

Rachael grew up on a small farm in Enfield and graduated from Loreto College in 2017. Having always been surrounded by animals, she developed a fascination with them from a young age. Her passion for animal care led her to begin working as a veterinary receptionist in Ballarat in 2021. Then completing her Certificate III in Animal Studies in 2022, followed by her Certificate IV in Veterinary Nursing in 2023.Rachael and her now husband moved to Smythesdale and have enjoyed becoming part of the local community. She joined the SAH team in September 2025 and has thoroughly enjoyed being part of such a supportive and passionate team. Outside of work, you'll usually find Rachael travelling or fishing, discovering new restaurants, reading, adventures with her Golden Retriever, Finn and spending quality time with her family and friends.

07/08/2026

Did you know dental disease is one of the most common health conditions in pets?
In fact, most cats and dogs by the age of 4 start showing signs of dental disease.
Constant bad breath is not normal for your pet and can be a sign of dental disease. Just like us, your pets can develop a buildup of plague and tartar and develop gingivitis. Dental disease can also affect other body systems and lead to other health conditions, so it is very important to keep on top of your pet's oral health
Signs your pet may need a dental
-Bad breath
- Tartar or plaque on teeth (yellow / brown build up that does not come off with brushing Reluctance to chew)
- Difficulty eating food
- Red or bleeding gums
- Less interested or yelping when playing with toys
- Loose or infected teeth
- Weight loss
🪥Regular Dental Checks (every 6-12 months) allow us to identify dental disease and discuss home care to keep teeth healthy
🪥Yearly professional dental procedures allow us to perform dental radiographs to assess root health, remove tartar and plaque buildup from teeth and under the gumlines where dental disease often causes issues.
These consultations and procedures help to prevent dental disease from progressing, help preserve teeth, maintain healthy gums and ensure your pets overall health.
What does our dental process look like?
1. Dental check with a nurse: this allows one of our nurses to complete a full oral examination, discuss any concerns and at home dental care.
2. Book in for dental at precheck
3. Dental Procedure completion
a) Dental Radiographs
b) Scale and Polish
c) Extractions (if required)
How can I prevent dental disease at home?
- Dental chews or treats
- Prescription or specific Dental Diet
- Water additives
- Brushing your pets’ teeth (keep in mind there is special pet friendly toothpaste that must be used)
If you are unsure or need advice, please call the clinic to book a nurse consultation with your pet.
Products we recommend to help prevent dental disease at home:
- Oxyfresh Water Additive
- Oxyfresh Dental Gel Kit
- Petosan Toothpaste
- Greenies Feline Dental Treats
- Oravet Dental Chews
- VeggieDent Chews
IM3 Bamboo Tooth Brush

06/08/2026

A quick shout-out to two of our vets, Kate and Fletcher, who apparently don't get enough running around at work and spend their weekends playing local footy and netball. We are proud to be their sponsors 🏉🏐 But please don't pull a hammy again Fletch 🤣