Feb2011 IN THE WET
The Dayboro Vet Surgery, although soggy, was very lucky to escape with no damage through the big wet and subsequent flood. We all know of people and pets who were not so lucky and hope, with help from friends, family and even complete strangers, they are getting their lives back on track.
Over the storm and flood period we quickly filled with displaced and frightened animals as did the University clinics at Gatton and St Lucia. We are happy to say they have all returned home except for 2 gorgeous cats that we are keeping till the poor owner has a home to go to! The Gatton campus can also report that their numbers are rapidly dwindling as owners are reunited with their pets.
The other casualties we are seeing a lot of are horses. Some were swept along in flood waters and even tangled in fences. Thankfully most of these are minor scrapes and bruises.
FEET and SKIN are the two areas that we find are not coping with the persistent wet weather. Dogs are getting hot spots and skin and ear infections are rife. Early treatment is the best option here as if left the area affected will grow before your eyes.
Horses, cattle, alpacas, llamas, sheep and goats are all getting feet problems. Constant wetness causes the soles to become very soft and bruise easily, hoof walls to soften, split and allow sticks and stones to become imbedded. Fungal and bacterial infection can work up into the hoof wall leading to foot abscesses. These need veterinary attention, they need to have areas trimmed away to drain the pus and sometimes antibiotics. Cattle also get a number of other problems, foot rot and interdigital fibromas to name two, and these need to be diagnosed properly to ensure the right treatment.
Greasy Heel occurs when constantly wet skin above the hoof becomes swollen and inflamed, and infected with both bacteria and fungi. Rain scald is similar – constantly wet skin and hair over the body allow infection to grow. Both of these can be treated at home but you want to start early before it gets bad. Vigilance with aggressive and persistent treatment is the only way to go.
Everybody would love to have access to nice dry paddocks at this time, and some people have offered elevated paddocks to those in desperate circumstances, but for the majority who have no other option then good foot care can help prevent some problems later. Checking and cleaning your animals’ feet regularly can save some heartache and expense down the track. For horses regular trimming from a good farrier can go a long way to preventing many of these feet problem.
There are some things you can do yourself and then others where you will need our help, so please if you feel your animal is developing a problem please give us a call for advice.
Take care and we all hope for some good weather to dry us all out before Autumn,
Cheers from Dayboro Vet.
The other casualties we are seeing a lot of are horses. Some were swept along in flood waters and even tangled in fences. Thankfully most of these are minor scrapes and bruises.
FEET and SKIN are the two areas that we find are not coping with the persistent wet weather. Dogs are getting hot spots and skin and ear infections are rife. Early treatment is the best option here as if left the area affected will grow before your eyes.
Horses, cattle, alpacas, llamas, sheep and goats are all getting feet problems. Constant wetness causes the soles to become very soft and bruise easily, hoof walls to soften, split and allow sticks and stones to become imbedded. Fungal and bacterial infection can work up into the hoof wall leading to foot abscesses. These need veterinary attention, they need to have areas trimmed away to drain the pus and sometimes antibiotics. Cattle also get a number of other problems, foot rot and interdigital fibromas to name two, and these need to be diagnosed properly to ensure the right treatment.
Greasy Heel occurs when constantly wet skin above the hoof becomes swollen and inflamed, and infected with both bacteria and fungi. Rain scald is similar – constantly wet skin and hair over the body allow infection to grow. Both of these can be treated at home but you want to start early before it gets bad. Vigilance with aggressive and persistent treatment is the only way to go.
Everybody would love to have access to nice dry paddocks at this time, and some people have offered elevated paddocks to those in desperate circumstances, but for the majority who have no other option then good foot care can help prevent some problems later. Checking and cleaning your animals’ feet regularly can save some heartache and expense down the track. For horses regular trimming from a good farrier can go a long way to preventing many of these feet problem.
There are some things you can do yourself and then others where you will need our help, so please if you feel your animal is developing a problem please give us a call for advice.
Take care and we all hope for some good weather to dry us all out before Autumn,
Cheers from Dayboro Vet.
