Castration can be used to manage some behavioural problems in male dogs that may be linked to testosterone(behaviours such as humping, scent marking, and roaming) – and while these behaviours are normal dog behaviours, they can be excessive or unwanted. However, testosterone may not be the only cause of behavioural problems in male dogs and sometimes castration can have the opposite effect, making dogs more fearful and aggressive than before.

Medical castration is an alternative to permanent surgical castration that lets us test and see if lowered testosterone will work for your dog‘s unwanted behaviours. Medical castration is a reversible option with its effect wearing off over time, and your dog’s testosterone levels returning to normal, as a result of that. In contrast, surgical castration is permanent and doesn’t allow you to test this in your dog.

Unfortunately, it is not currently available for female dogs.

The implant is a tiny, waxy cylinder that sits under your dog’s skin. It is a prescription product that your vet will need to administer. Your vet will insert the implant under the skin between your dog’s shoulders in a simple process similar to microchipping. It is quick to administer and can be done in a consult, without leaving your dog for the day.

The implant contains a slow-release product that will resorb over time and does not require removal. After the implant is inserted it will release the active ingredient steadily over time. The active ingredient in the implant works by preventing the production and release of sex hormones, like testosterone, that are responsible for fertility; this results in decreased testosterone levels and infertility. This gives you and your dog the benefits of surgical castration without surgery or an anaesthetic.

Testosterone levels and fertility will gradually return to normal once the implant wears off. To maintain a state of lowered testosterone and infertility, a new implant is then inserted by your veterinarian at either six or 12 months depending on the concentration chosen for your pet’s individual needs.

Once your vet has administered the implant, the testosterone levels will reduce within 1-3 weeks and it will take 6 to 8 weeks for your dog to become infertile. This is because it takes time for the level of circulating testosterone to decrease after the implant is placed under your dog’s skin. The decrease in testosterone results in infertility. Because there is a natural lag between implantation and infertility, it is important for you to keep your male dog away from any females during the first 6-8 weeks after implantation, as pregnancy can still occur if they tie during this initial period.

The medical castration implant for dogs was created in the early 2000s by an Australian biotech company. And it is still made here in Sydney. It has been available for male dogs since 2005 in Australia and in Europe since 2007. It is now available as an alternative to surgical castration for dogs in more than 30 countries, giving pet parents more choice, depending on what is best for them and their pet.

The implant must be repeated every 6 or 12 months (depending on implant size) to maintain its effect.

The implant is biocompatible. That means it is not harmful or toxic to living tissue and because the active ingredient is very similar to the natural substance it is mimicking, there are no drug interactions or significant side effects.

The best age for desexing, including the use of this implant, will depend on what is best for you and your dog. This minimum age can be different for different breeds and is therefore something you will need to discuss with your vet.

There are no significant side effects with using the medical castration implant.

However, your dog’s testicles may decrease in size (by approximately 1/3) and may feel softer than normal. A decrease in testicle size is a good way to check if the implant is working.

The use of EpiOtic SIS in dogs with perforated tympanic membranes has not been evaluated. Where the status of the tympanic membrane is unable to be determined, use of this product should be at the discretion of the attending veterinarian according to risk benefit assessment.

No, EpiOtic^® SIS is a gentle micellar solution that does not contain alcohol.

Endogard differs in 3 main characteristics from other allwormers sold in Australia. These are:

1. The increased palatability of the tablet makes administration of the tablet considerably easier than many allwormers. ENDOGARD converts an unpleasant task into a real treat for your dog.

2. ENDOGARD contains the actives praziquantel for tapeworm control and oxibendazole for intestinal worm control. It does not contain pyrantel or similar actives of the same class.

3. ENDOGARD is available in 5, 10, 20 kg and 35kg animal weight packs. For all animals between 2.5 and 40 kg not more than 2 and not less than half the tablet is required with each administration. With other allwormers up to 3 to 4 wormers may be required for some body weights.

Yes, EpiOtic^® SIS is an APVMA registered product for use in dogs only.

For ear cleansing or for the management or prevention of otitis externa in dogs. EpiOtic^® SIS can also be used prior to the application of prescription ear medications in dogs, or after swimming or bathing to remove moisture from the ear canal.

EpiOtic^® SIS is manufactured in regional Australia.

Otitis externa is a common problem in dogs and can range from a mild waxy, erythematous condition to severe purulent infection with ulceration. The build up of cellular debris, wax, bacteria and yeast may all play a role in otitis externa.

In general, treatment of adults should be given every 3 months. If your pet is a puppy, breeding bitch, in a known hydatid area or if whipworm is a problem, more frequent administration may be required. Under all circumstances consult the label or chart below before administering the product and talk to your veterinarian about worming and control of other parasites.

Value for money is measured in terms of cost and convenience. Overall we believe that the increased palatability of ENDOGARD, the easier administration, the multiple pack sizes that cater for dogs of all sizes and weights, the benefit ENDOGARD offers as part of the rotation strategy for intestinal worms and the price of the product make it excellent value for money.

Virbac recommends you use ENDOGARD in conjunction with a program to control heartworm, ticks and fleas. Talk to your veterinarian about what solution is best for your pet’s circumstances.

Studies in human sprinting athletes suggest that oral supplements of iron given about 15-24 hours prior to a race may help to ensure maximum oxygen use by loading iron-containing muscle enzymes in the pre-race period. Iron is utilised in the aerobic muscle energy pathways to aid utilisation of oxygen in metabolism. This may be of benefit in longer distance greyhounds where aerobic energy production provides up to 50% of the energy supply during a race. Obviously, any benefit to oxygen use in muscles in a sprint greyhound may help ensure maximum performance.

Add 6mL of IRONCYCLEN liquid to the evening meal on each of the two nights leading up to a race. Also provide 2 Rebound tablets (to provide B Complex and Vitamin C) to supplement other beneficial metabolic compounds for energy production and post-race recovery.

A IRONCYCLEN and NEUTRADEX tonic can be used to aid recovery after a hard race. Add 6mL IRONCYCLEN and 6mL NEUTRADEX over the tongue for two mornings after each hard race.

Chicken meats are low in iron, copper and Vitamin B12. A daily "foundation" supplement of FERAMO - D will provide extra iron and minerals to help correct most of this low dietary intake. However, as a booster, give 6mL of IRONCYCLEN liquid every second day when the greyhound is racing at irregular intervals greater than 7-10 days.

Note: The pre-race dosage of IRONCYCLEN, and post-race tonic of IRONCYCLEN and NEUTRADEX will effectively take the place of this twice weekly iron boost if the greyhound is racing regularly once per week.

Dogs, unlike horses sweat very little and instead pant to cool. Animals that sweat to cool require supplements that are high in sodium to replace the salts lost in sweat, whereas animals like dogs that pant require supplements that are high in potassium. BETA-CEL is specially designed for greyhounds and contains potassium salts to replace those lost during panting.

Yes, a product such as BETA-CEL contains potassium for nerve and muscle contraction, chloride for kidney function, lactate and citrate as a buffer against acidosis in the muscle and blood and calcium which is essential for muscle contraction.

For greyhounds lactate and citrate act as more effective buffers against acidosis in the muscles and blood than bicarbonates which are found in electrolytes for horses. Bicarbonate when fed to dogs is excreted and increases the amount of potassium that is loss through the kidneys.
 

Glucose is present in greyhound electrolyte supplements to provide energy, and assist with the uptake of potassium. A very complex system involving insulin acts to keep the greyhound’s blood glucose at a constant level. Giving any supplement which is high in glucose may stimulate the release of excessive Insulin. This is a natural hormone which stimulates cells to store glucose, thus decreasing blood glucose levels. This causes a reflex hypoglycemia where the blood glucose levels can become too low for a period of time.

Signs of low blood glucose (hypoglycemia) include:
• Lethargy
• Weakness
• Behavioral changes

To maintain a constant blood glucose level in greyhounds:
• Avoid giving supplements with high glucose content prior to racing
• If possible, avoid giving supplements with high glucose content on a regular basis

Electrolytes are body salts – that is: minerals dissolved in, and circulating in, body fluids. When dissolved, electrolytes take on an electrical charge to act as “ions”. Electrolytes are essential for performance dogs, particularly in the warmer months of the year. The increased level of panting needed to keep body temperature down depletes fluid and salt from the body. Due to the added stresses placed on dogs by regular training, racing, travelling, and barking, it is often difficult for them to obtain sufficient electrolytes from the feed alone, so supplementation is required. Without adequate supplementation of the important electrolytes potassium, sodium, chloride and magnesium, problems such as dehydration, loss of performance and muscle cramping may occur.

The mineral Sodium is the main extra-cellular ion – the main ion found outside cells. It regulates blood pressure. Both sodium and chloride are the main electrolytes in extracellular fluid. They do not become depleted following racing, as greyhounds do not sweat. These electrolytes are present in most greyhound electrolyte supplements in low concentrations. The mineral Potassium is the main intracellular ion – the main ion found inside cells. The electrostatic gradient (difference in electrical charge between the inside and the outside of cells) maintains the function of cells such as muscle and nerve cells Electrolytes are normally lost in sweat (in humans and horses, not in greyhounds), urine and faeces. Electrolyte balance is strictly regulated by dietary intake, kidney function, cell metabolism and fluid balance.

An adequate and correctly balanced supply of calcium and phosphorus is required for skeletal maturation, development and strength in young growing greyhounds and for bone remodelling in training and racing greyhounds. A typical greyhound diet traditionally contains meat, which is high in phosphorus but low in calcium. To ensure correct mineralization of bones is achieved, the calcium to phosphorus ratio should be between 1.2 -1.4 parts calcium to 1 part phosphorus.

The best way to achieve the optimum ratio of 1.35 parts calcium to 1 part phosphorus is to add CALCI-D depending on the amount of meat added to the diet. It is necessary to add CALCI-D to the diet, even to those that are receiving a mixture of meat and premium scientifically balanced kibble, to balance the meat portion of the diet. CALCI-D is unique in that the amount added to the diet depends on the weight of meat, ensuring that your greyhound receives the correct balance of calcium and phosphorus.

A deficiency of calcium can also lead to muscle cramping, as calcium is a vital component of the muscle contraction mechanism. Greyhounds on high meat diets are most likely to be deficient in calcium so add a calcium, phosphorus and Vitamin A and D supplement such as CALCI-D (1 scoop for every 400 g of meat) to the diet each day.

NEUTRADEX contains sodium acid citrate salt in a thick sugar syrup base. The acid-citrate salt is a buffering agent - providing mild neutralising power against alkaline salts, but strong neutralising or buffering activity against acid salts, or build up of acid in the blood or urine. Therefore it is most beneficial when used after a trial or a race where lactic acid build-up in the muscles and blood should be effectively and quickly neutralised to prevent soreness and discomfort. The sodium content (although the sodium requirement is low in greyhounds) given as an after race recovery aid stimulates the animal to drink more water, which in turn corrects post-race dehydration and flushes acid and metabolic wastes from the kidneys.

NEUTRADEX has many special attributes. Here are some:

• It encourages greyhounds to drink.
• NEUTRADEX is ideal for dogs that cramp.
• NEUTRADEX increases the action of the kidneys to clear toxic wastes produced by hard exercise.
• NEUTRADEX helps prevent dehydration.
• NEUTRADEX helps prevent muscle soreness after fast work.
• NEUTRADEX buffers the acid buildup in muscle cells.
• The sodium part of NEUTRADEX stimulates the thirst response to encourage drinking and flushing of toxins from the body.
• NEUTRADEX is caramel flavoured in a 1 litre bottle.

NEUTRADEX is limited in its use to the post-race period. Although it is helpful in counteracting dehydration by stimulating the desire to drink, it is not as effective as RECHARGE in meeting electrolyte needs and promoting fluid replacement and electrolyte balance after travelling or racing.

NEUTRADEX should not be given within the 24-36 hours prior to racing, although it may be given after the last trial or hard gallop before a race. Alkalinisation of the urine may increase the outflow of potassium salt and the flushing effect may eliminate other pre-race supplements of iron and B complex vitamins and reduce their retention time in the body.

During exercise, lactic acid and free radicals (harmful substances) build up in the muscles and if not neutralized and removed can lead to cramping, stiffness, fatigue and slow recovery. NEUTRADEX is formulated to combat the effects of acidosis and dehydration especially after fast work. Give 6 mL over the tongue or in milk or water as soon as possible after fast work.

It is not recommended that NEUTRADEX be used for everyday use, because of its potential to increase the excretion of potassium by alkalinising the urine. Potassium is an electrolyte often deficient in greyhound diets and is essential for optimum nerve and muscle function. The standard dose rate is 6mL mixed into the morning milk, or given by syringe over the tongue, for at least the first morning after a race, and preferably two mornings after a hard race. NEUTRADEX is limited in its use, to the post-race period. Although it is helpful in counteracting dehydration by stimulating the desire to drink, it is not as effective as RECHARGE in meeting electrolyte needs and promoting fluid replacement and electrolyte balance after travelling or racing.

Hint: Greyhounds that are not fit enough for the distance or speed of a race often develop low grade acidosis in their back and hind limb muscles. This causes them to “blow-up” or swell in the muscles within 30 minutes up to 6 hours after racing, resulting in discomfort, pain and loss of appetite.

RECHARGE can be administered over the tongue but when doing so do not exceed 10mL volume at a single dose and always provide fresh, clean drinking water or milky water for the greyhound to drink to replenish fluids. RECHARGE will increase the thirst response and fluid must be available immediately after dosage.

The formulation is specifically matched to the needs of the racing greyhound, containing a high potassium to sodium ratio, citrate salt as a buffering agent and glucose to enhance rapid uptake of electrolytes and restore vitality. It is a different formulation to that contained in RECHARGE for Horses, as that formulation is designed to rapidly replace sweat loss after exercise in horses. Both products are totally different to the high sodium, salty tasting sports drinks available for human athletes and sports persons. These are not suited to racing greyhounds (or horses).

Vitamin E supplements can be found in 2 different forms, although one form is superior to the other. Products such as WHITE-E contain a natural form of vitamin E known as d-alpha-tocopheryl. This natural form is fat soluble, readily absorbed and stored in the body prolonging the duration of effect.

The other form of vitamin E is a synthetic man-made substance known as dl-alpha-tocopheryl
(Note- the “dl” in front of the synthetic form). This form of vitamin E is water soluble and consequently not stored in the body; it is also not readily absorbed and contains fewer antioxidants than natural vitamin E.

Use caution when selecting a vitamin E supplement for your greyhound. Products that only state the vitamin content simply as “Vitamin E” usually contain the cheaper synthetic form of vitamin E.

• Muscle weakness
• Lack of stamina
• Poor racing performance
• Lowered fertility in both bitches and dogs
• Reduced immune response to infections
• Skin disorders
• Heart muscle degeneration

Over recent years, studies in laboratory animals and horses have reported that a programmed dose of Vitamin E leading up to a race can help improve race day stamina in animals that "lack strong finishing ability", "fail to last the distance" in longer races, or "fade in the home straight" although fit in all other ways. This special dose program has been successfully used in greyhounds that "fade" in the home straight, or lack endurance in longer distance races.

Step 1: The greyhound must be given at least 100IU WHITE-E daily for at least 7-10 days to build up Vitamin E reserves.

Step 2: On the morning before the last handslip or trial before the race (eg 3-4 days before the race) miss the WHITE-E in the feed.

Step 3: Next day, after the greyhound is "galloped" over 200-300 meters, allow the greyhound to cool down for 10-15 minutes. Then give 200-300IU WHITE-E mixed into 20-30mL of milk by syringe over the back of the tongue, before giving water or food. Food and water can be given 20-30 minutes after the WHITE-E.

Step 4: Continue giving 100-200IU of WHITE-E up to, and including, the morning of the race.

Note: Ideally the double dose should be given within 48-72 hours of the race to obtain the best benefit.

Any factor that increases the metabolic rate of an animal will increase the rate of oxidation and the level of free radical production inside body cells. Adequate Vitamin E must be available during these periods of increased metabolism to avoid cell damage.

The major factors that increase oxidation in greyhounds are:

Exercise - Physical exertion is the major contributor to free radical production in athletic animals such as greyhounds. With exercise, more oxygen is consumed to produce energy to fuel working muscles and greater levels of free radicals are produced. This increases their need for anti-oxidants such as Vitamin E to avoid tissue damage. If inadequate Vitamin E is available in muscle cell membranes muscle damage and degeneration can occur. This may be seen as reduced stamina, muscle weakness, poor racing performance and possibly muscle cramping. The heart muscle can also be affected and in severe cases of Vitamin E deficiency dogs have died from heart failure.

Pregnancy and growth - Pregnancy and growth both increase body metabolism and therefore increase free radical production. A deficiency of Vitamin E can lead to reduced sperm production in stud dogs, lowered fertility in bitches, low litter size and the birth of weak or dead pups.

Stress and Nervousness - Physical and emotional stress can increase the rate of body metabolism. Nervy animals often have a higher metabolic rate, and may require a higher dietary intake of Vitamin E, compared to their more placid kennel mates.

Injury, inflammation and infection - Tissue damage caused by injury or infection leads to increased free radical production. This can worsen or prolong the disease process and delay recovery. A Vitamin E deficiency has been shown to impair the immune system of dogs making them less able to respond to infections and to recover from injuries.

High fat diets - Diets high in polyunsaturated fatty acids (eg from vegetable oils) increase the level of lipid oxidation and free radical production in cell membranes. Extra Vitamin E is required as the fat content of the diet increases.

When feeding diets that are boosted with fat and polyunsaturated cooking oils it is important to supplement with Vitamin E. This vitamin is an anti-oxidant which prevents the uncontrolled oxidation of polyunsaturated fats into harmful compounds in muscle cells. For every tablespoon of fat added to the diet, give an extra 20 IU of Vitamin E above the basic supplementary level of 50 IU per day. Half a scoop of WHITE-E powder contains 100IU of Vitamin E.

Higher doses of vitamin E are also useful to calm greyhounds. The dose rate required to help settle nervy dogs is 3–4 times higher than the normal rate used to supplement the diet. For example, the normal dose of 100 IU daily (WHITE-E) can be increased to 300 IU on the morning before, and the morning of travelling or trialling. This dose will sometimes help settle nervous types so they relax more during travelling and when kennelled prior to racing. Doses such as this one are often used to increase the stamina and endurance of greyhounds over large distances.

FERAMO-D contains 9 essential vitamins and 5 essential minerals.

Vitamins are required for a wide range of vital bodily functions including energy production, general metabolism, nerve and muscle function and reproduction. With a few exceptions most vitamins can not be synthesised by the body and must be supplied in food.

Minerals are involved in metabolic processes including the formation and integrity of structural components such as bone, muscle, blood and other tissues and also play a role in energy utilization. Minerals can be classified as macrominerals which are those found in considerable amounts in the body which includes calcium, phosphorus and iron and microminerals which are those minerals found in trace amounts in the body including, copper, cobalt, manganese and zinc. 

Like any human athlete a complete and balanced diet is critical to the conditioning and maintenance of any working, racing or sporting dog. It is vital that nutrition is adapted to meet the needs of these dogs, which may be dramatically increased during periods of training and competition. Adequate nutrition may also play a vital role in the prevention of injury and shortening rehabilitation and recovery times.

Adequate nutrition for your puppy is important and is critical during early growth and development. From 6 weeks to 24 months depending on your puppy’s breed it will require a balanced diet and optimum health and nutrition to ensure they grow into strong and healthy adolescents. Correct nutrition can significantly impact genetic potential, trainability and integration of your puppy into the human household.

FERAMO-D can help ensure your puppy receives balanced levels of vitamins and minerals during this critical period.

Nutritional requirements change with age and many common diseases in older dogs can be managed through diet manipulation. Most dogs over 7 years of age have reduced energy requirements, higher protein requirements and lower nutrient digestibility than younger dogs.

As your dog’s nutritional requirements change it is important to ensure their diet is also modified to meet these needs. Ageing dogs are susceptible to obesity and associated health risks including arthritis, diabetes and reduced immunity. It is important to ensure your dog’s diet changes along with its age and lifestyle.

FERAMO-D can be used to ensure your ageing companion receives all the essential vitamins and minerals required during this period.

New findings have demonstrated the importance of the nutritional status of the bitch during pregnancy and lactation on the health of the newborn pups and the nursing bitch. In the last few weeks of pregnancy and early lactation the bitch’s nutritional requirements increase dramatically, similar to those of a working dog. Her appetite will be reduced as a result of abdominal distension as the puppies increase in size and weight, making it difficult to ensure she receives adequate nutrition during this period. FERAMO-D can be added as a vitamin and mineral boost without increasing the
volume of her meal.

Certain vitamins and minerals are required by the stud dog for optimum fertility. Ensuring your dog receives a nutritionally balanced diet containing all essential vitamins and minerals may improve fertility, if deficiencies currently exist.

In recent years many owners have made the decision to supply their dogs with raw foods or home-prepared meals for a variety of reasons. Raw foods and home-prepared meals are not always complete and balanced and as a result may unknowingly cause deficiencies in the diet. Unfortunately it can be difficult to determine if a homemade meal is deficient in vitamins and minerals as clinical signs of a nutritional deficiency can take months or even several years to develop. Fresh meats that are subject to storage and cooking have reduced potency of a number of vitamins and minerals. It is now common practice to include a multivitamin and mineral supplement to home prepared diets to create a balanced meal for your dog.

In some instances raw feeds and home-prepared meals are fed in conjunction with a premium dry food. As these dry foods have been specifically developed as a complete feed, adding raw foods and home-prepared meals to these dry foods may cause an imbalance of vitamins and minerals. When supplementing premium dry feeds with raw meat or home-prepared diets it is important to balance this part of the meal.

FERAMO-D when added to your dog’s diet can ensure they receive all the vitamins and minerals required for optimum health.

Essential vitamins and minerals in complete dry dog foods may be destroyed by certain factors including exposure to light, heat and air during manufacture, transport and storage. Supplementation with FERAMO-D will help ensure your dog receives a balanced diet with adequate levels of vitamins and minerals. FERAMO-D has been scientifically-developed based on National Research Council (NRC) nutrient standards to correct minor imbalances and inadequate feed levels. As FERAMO-D is formulated with recommended daily intake requirements in mind, we can guarantee that the level of vitamins and minerals in FERAMO-D are sufficient to correct minor imbalances.

Yes EQUIMAX can be used in mares at all stages of pregnancy. Pregnant mares should be treated as normal during their pregnancy taking care not to stress them during treatment. Mares should be wormed two weeks prior to their expected foaling date. Once a mare has foaled, the mare and foal should both be wormed with first foal worming at twelve weeks of age and subsequently every eight weeks so that large burdens are not allowed to develop.

Once a mare has foaled the mare and foal should both be wormed with the first foal worming recommended at twelve weeks of age. Young horses need to be treated differently to older horses because they are at risk of mectin resistant ascarids. Ascarids appear to be the worm developing resistance to mectins. Generally ascarids are not found in horses over two years of age as horses seem to develop a natural immunity to these worms as they mature. To protect young horses from potential mectin resistance, it is recommended that a combination product registered to treat mectin resistant ascarids, such as EQUIMAX^® ELEVATION or STRATEGY-T^®, be used. Young horses should be wormed with STRATEGY-T in spring and summer and EQUIMAX ELEVATION in autumn and winter until they are two years old. Faecal egg count (FEC) testing is recommended once they become a yearling to understand their parasite burden and then worm based on results.

EQUIMAX can be safely used in breeding stallions at any time without adversely affecting their fertility.

Autumn and spring will always be key times to worm all horses. Worm all adult horses once in Spring with STRATEGY-T^® and once in Autumn with EQUIMAX^® or EQUIMAX^® ELEVATION. It makes sense to target mectin wormers in the cooler months when bots and small stronglyes are more active inside the horse. Using non-mectin chemicals is typically suited to the warmer months although if summer sores are a problem a mectin product will be needed.

Worming strategically involves worming your horse based on the parasite lifecycle, risk of disease and likely resistance status of worms. In Australia, seasonal conditions are ideal for parasite growth during most of the year, particularly the warm, wet months of spring and autumn, however, the lifecycle of different parasites mean that they may be more active at different times of the year. When considering a worming program, you must also ensure that you include faecal egg count testing.

Most people underestimate their horse’s weight by as much as 20%. Underestimating a horse’s weight can lead to underdosing. Giving a horse less than the required dose of wormer can leave them at risk of worm-related disease as potentially worms will be left untreated within the horse. Underdosing can also encourage the development of resistance in your horses by exposing the worms to sub-lethal doses of wormer. It is therefore vitally important to correctly estimate your horses’ weight when deciding on the correct dose of wormer to give them. It is in fact preferable to give horses a slight overdose rather than an underdose. There are several methods for finding out a horse’s weight, the most accurate obviously being a set of scales. As most horse owners to not have easy access to horse scales, there are several other methods that horse owners can use to get a good estimate of their horses’ weight. The use of the weight estimation formula will give a reasonably good estimation of most horses’ weight. The formula is:

Another method that can be used to estimate weight is by using one of the commercially available weight tapes. Unfortunately, some of these tapes are far more accurate than others so it is a good idea to calibrate the tape using the formula first to check that it is measuring accurately. Weight tapes are also not suitable to use in immature horses as they have a different body composition to older animals.

EQUIMAX is registered for use in horses which means it may be safely used in horses. The use of this product in any other species would be considered “off label use”. Products should not be used outside of their registered label claims without first consulting a veterinarian (if at all). Variation in metabolisms between different species mean that dose rates can vary quite widely and that some species may be far more sensitive than others making products dangerous or even potentially fatal to those animals. It is for this reason that “off label use" should only be conducted under the supervision of a veterinarian.

Most wormers in Australia contain only two actives. EQUIMAX ELEVATION is a combination wormer which has three actives in a unique combination that give it a double action against certain worms. The ivermectin and pyrantel are both active against roundworms and the praziquantel and pyrantel are both active against tapeworms. This double action is thought to delay the onset of resistance to either anthelmintic. 

Yes EQUIMAX ELEVATION can be used in mares at all stages of pregnancy. Pregnant mares should be treated as normal during their pregnancy taking care not to stress them during treatment. Mares should be wormed two weeks prior to their expected foaling date. Once a mare has foaled, the mare and foal should both be wormed with first foal worming at twelve weeks of age and subsequently every eight weeks so that large burdens are not allowed to develop.

EQUIMAX ELEVATION can be safely used in breeding stallions at any time without adversely affecting their fertility.

Both EQUIMAX and EQUIMAX LV contain a mectin based active i.e. EQUIMAX contains Abamectin and EQUIMAX LV contains Ivermectin alongside Praziquantel. EQUIMAX LV provide all the benefits of EQUIMAX in a convenient low volume dose in an easy-to-use tube. EQUIMAX LV is easier to use for those with small hands or those with hard-to-worm horses.

EQUIMAX LV is registered for use in horses which means it may be safely used in horses. The use of this product in any other species would be considered “off label use”. Products should not be used outside of their registered label claims without first consulting a veterinarian (if at all).

Virbac is leading the way in strategic worming programs for horses based on the parasite lifecycle, risk of disease and likely resistance status of worms. This is important to slow down resistance.

A good program:

• Targets the horses that most need treatment and reduces chemical usage in the other horses
• Uses faecal egg count monitoring
• Avoids over usage of chemicals from the same class
• Includes products containing pyrantel to ensure adequate control in resistant small strongyles or roundworm
• Uses moxidectin no more than once a year when treatment for encysted small strongyles is specifically indicated
• Strategically treats horses based on worm lifecycles and time of year
• Avoids using single active wormers year after year

It is not recommended to use ERAQUELL all year for worming your horse. ERAQUELL does not treat or control tapeworm so for effective control of tapeworms there still will be a need to give a non-mectin wormer like STRATEGY-T^® in Spring time.

Young animals’ immature systems are much more sensitive than those of older horses. Since ERAQUELL is more difficult to dose to the correct body weight than paste wormers, the risk of overdosing is higher, and it is therefore not recommended in foals.

Yes STRATEGY-T can be used in mares at all stages of pregnancy. Pregnant mares should be treated as normal during their pregnancy taking care not to stress them during treatment. Mares should be wormed two weeks prior to their expected foaling date. Once a mare has foaled, the mare and foal should both be wormed with first foal worming at twelve weeks of age and subsequently every eight weeks so that large burdens are not allowed to develop. STRATEGY-T can be safely used in breeding stallions at any time without adversely affecting their fertility.

Virbac is leading the way in strategic worming programs for horses based on the parasite lifecycle, risk of disease and likely resistance status of worms. Our Gold Standard program combines trusted solutions from Virbac and our unique ‘3D’ best management practices to deliver premium and sustainable worm control. Gold standard ensures best long-term protection for the available drugs and most importantly your horse.

A combination wormer is one that has multiple actives having similar spectra of activity against the same worms. Using a combination wormer increases the efficacy of the product i.e. effectiveness against worms. Also helps to reduce paddock contamination as there are fewer worms on the property and helps with slowing down development of resistance.

SEPTICIDE works as an antiseptic, which assists the healing of a wound and prevents infection and sepsis. The insecticides also kill and repel insects, preventing further infection and irritation from insect bites.

No, as SEPTICIDE contains Permethrin. The product can only be used on dogs and horses. 

SEPTICIDE is particularly useful in summer when nuisance insects and flies are a problem. If a dog is susceptible to fly strike, then SEPTICIDE can be applied as a preventative, before insects wreak havoc on the ears. It can also be used at any time where a horse or dog is suffering from wounds.

SEPTICIDE is an antiseptic cream with added insecticides. It is ideal for wounds on dogs and horses, especially where fly worry is likely to occur. 

The insecticides repel insects attracted to the wound and kill any insects that come into contact with the wound, thus preventing further damage to the wound and assisting healing.

No, SEPTICIDE is in a soothing, emollient base that moisturises and protects the wound and promotes rapid healing.

It would assist the action of SEPTICIDE if the wound was initially gently cleansed with clean, warm water to remove any debris or exudate. SEPTICIDE can be applied liberally to cover the affected area.

SEPTICIDE is registered for use in horses and dogs which means it may be safely used in both horses and dogs. The use of this product in any other species would be considered “off label use”. Products should not be used outside of their registered label claims without first consulting a veterinarian (if at all).

CETRIGEN (‘purple spray’) is a bright purple colour to enable you to know exactly where you have sprayed it on the animal and to allow rapid assessment of how many and which animals you have treated.

CETRIGEN is an antibacterial spray with added insect repellents. It is formulated for the treatment of superficial cuts and wounds in all animals. It assists in drying the wound, preventing bacterial infection and making the wound less attractive for flies. 

The wound should be sprayed lightly over the entire affected area, however any run off should be wiped away. 

RAPIGEL is registered for use in horses and dogs which means it may be safely used in both horses and dogs. The use of this product in any other species would be considered “off label usage”. Products should not be used outside of their registered label claims without first consulting a veterinarian (if at all).

RAPIGEL is registered for use in horses and dogs only (refer above response). Virbac is an animal health company, there has been no research conducted for use in humans. We cannot advise use in humans, please check with your GP or specialist before using RAPIGEL.

The spherulites in PYODERM S are non-ionic. This means that they are not charged and so diffuse through into the cells of the epidermis (which is slightly positively charged) carrying the active ingredient (Chlorhexidine) with them. This helps the active ingredient penetrate into the epidermis where problem is. This is different to our other spherulited products that contain cationic spherultes. Cationic spherulites negatively charged and bind to the hairs and skin surface, holding the active ingredient in place.

Continue to use PYODERM S until the pyoderma has fully resolved and all underlying causes (such as contact allergy or FAD) have been treated or controlled. Once the skin has returned to normal, PYODERM S can be replaced by a gentle cleansing shampoo such as EPISOOTHE^® .

In dogs with chronic pyometra or in cases where the underlying aetiology cannot be fully controlled (such as dust mite allergy), it may be necessary to continue using PYODERM S as maintenance shampoo, to prevent the overgrowth of bacteria and yeast and repeated outbreaks of pyoderma.

The ingestion of a moderate amount of this shampoo would be expected to have no adverse effects, however it is recommended that you do not allow dogs to ingest this product.

In trials, PYODERM S was shown to have equivalent activity to a shampoo containing 2%chlorhexidiine and 2% miconazole against malassezia. In this specific formulation and at a concentration of 3% chlorhexidine has been shown to have good activity against malassezia. In vitro Malassezia counts were much reduced after 2 and 4 minutes of exposure and no organisms survived for 8 minutes, demonstrating the rapid antibacterial and antifungal activity of PYODERM S.

Is indicated for the treatment of both bacterial and fungal pyoderma, whether they occur in combination or alone. SEBAZOLE^® can be used for fungal skin conditions caused by Malassezia that has an associated seborrhoea and also as an aid in the treatment of fungal overgrowth involving Microsporum spp and Trichophyton spp. 

Sodium Thiosulphate and Sodium Salicylate have been retained to change the skin environment and enhance penetration of the other antibacterial and antifungal ingredients in SEBAZOLE^®. This results in a product with strong and specific actives covering a wide range of offending organisms whilst still being able to clean the skin and provide an environment for these actives to work.

SEBAZOLE is a topical shampoo that is not specifically contra-indicated for use in puppies and kittens when used according to the label instructions. If young animals have a serious skin disorder that requires treating it is more beneficial to treat topically than not to treat at all. Medicated shampoos are applied and rinsed off so there is time for the actives to work but the residual toxicity will be less (negligible) than other parenteral forms of antifungals. Multiple dose safety studies have been conducted in young pups and kittens with no problems being detected.

Ringworm is just a specific form of fungal infection (dermatophyte) so SEBAZOLE will be very effective. It is often local (a few affected areas) rather than generalised so SEBAZOLE may be all that is required. For generalised cases you will find that the affected animal is in need of many therapies, including antibiotic and/or antifungal tablets, so SEBAZOLE should be used as one of the approaches to treatment.

Topical shampoos would be the treatment option of choice for localised patches of ringworm.

a. 2 washes / week for 4-5 weeks or
b. Daily washes for 3-4 days then weekly.

Continue treatment until the hair regrows from the affected patches.

SEBAZOLE contains Sulphur and Sodium Salicylate which are well recognised in removing the scales and crusts associated with Seborrhoea. This improves the penetration of Econazole and Chloroxylenol. SEBAZOLE is an integrated approach to treating kerato-seborrhoeic syndrome as it is changing the skin environment to favour the activity of its major actives.

Econazole is a structural analogue of Miconazole and is effective at significantly lower concentrations than Miconazole.

RESICHLOR^® is not designed to replace shampoo therapy. It is an adjunct to shampooing and can provide an alternative for the time-restricted owner who may be inclined to skip shampoo treatments.

No RESICHLOR can be applied to a dry coat in between baths.

The ingestion of a moderate amount of this lotion would be expected to have no adverse effects, however it is recommended that you do not allow dogs to ingest this product.

Continue to use RESICHLOR until the pyoderma has fully resolved and all underlying causes (such as contact allergy or FAD) have been treated or controlled.

No, In a clinical trial that involved 16 dogs and 21 cats, there were no instances of apparent irritation or hypersensitivity, or impairment of wound healing.

The product can be used successfully following surgery for dog castrations, cat castrations, dog spays, cat spays and following minor surgery.

Licking and biting of the wound of not more than a trivial amount was reported by owners in 6/37 cases, but in no case did this result in the removal of stitches and/or reopening of the wound.

Should be applied to the affected area 3 times per day.

The oatmeal particules assist in maintaining the skin moisture level by keeping existing moisture in and drawing further moisture to the skin surface. The particules also attract and dislodge dirt particules from superficial and deeper parts of the skin. Moist, clean skin is less likely to be irritated and itchy. Oatmeal itself, through some of its components, has direct effect on the skin. 

The recommendation is to lightly rinse it off. A balance is required between leaving as much oatmeal on the coat and the possibility of creating a sticky coat from the carrier excipient base of the product. Many vets do not rinse at all. 

It contains actives which deal with a number of problems associated with ear complaints. These actives are anti-bacterial, keratin modifying, cerumenolytic, anti-pruritic and moisturising. This rang enables EPIOTIC^® to be a useful cleaning and preventative agent or a valuable therapeutic option. It also contains Docusate sodium to remove excess moisture from a canal. Finally, EPIOTIC can be used on skin lesions as well as in the ears.

It is non-irritant and can be used regularly.

Anaemia is a low red blood cell count or a low PCV (packed cell volume) or a low Haemoglobin reading or a low MCHC (mean corpuscular haemoglobin concentration) or low MCH (mean corpuscular haemoglobin). Any of those factors or all of them are termed anaemia.

A blood sample is the only way to definitively tell if your horse is anaemic but some of the clinical signs are:

• Decreased performance due to a lowered oxygen carrying ability.
• Poor recovery from exercise and excessive blowing
• Lack of stamina, poor finishing ability and general lethargy
• Swelling of lower legs and a rough dull coat,
• Pale mucous membranes may also be noticed such as the horse's gums appearing paler than usual.

Too much iron can cause a degree of gut ache. The forms of iron in FBC BLOODFOOD are less likely to cause this, however if there is too much iron in the diet the gut simply closes the gate preventing excessive absorption.

Injecting iron carries with it the risk of producing anaphylactic shock (severe allergic reaction) and bypasses the body’s regulatory mechanisms.

High calcium supplementation can cause a reduction in iron absorption and therefore in these circumstances iron supplementation would be beneficial.

FBC BLOODFOOD is registered for use in horses which means it may be safely used in horses. The use of this product in any other species would be considered “off label usage”. Products should not be used outside of their registered label claims without first consulting a veterinarian (if at all). Variation in metabolisms between different species mean that dose rates can vary quite widely and that some species may be far more sensitive than others making products dangerous or even potentially fatal to those animals. It is for this reason that “off label dosage" should only be conducted under the supervision of a veterinarian.

Too much iron can cause a degree of gut ache. The forms of iron in IRONCYCLEN are less likely to cause this, however if there is too much iron in the diet the gut simply closes the gate preventing excessive absorption.

Vitamin C is not absorbed well in horses and iron and copper in solution rapidly destroys it. Horses can make their own vitamin C.

No. FOUNDERGUARD needs to be fed daily to be of benefit. It is possible to supplement only at times of increased risk though and is not necessary at times when horses are not receiving high levels of grain. It is recommended to start FOUNDERGUARD supplementation prior to changing the feeding regime.

No. Side effects are extremely unlikely. Monitor the horse’s manure over the next 48 hours and if signs of constipation or dry manure develop call your vet.

FOUNDERGUARD is not a treatment for horses that have already got laminitis and founder. It can however be used to prevent further bouts of laminitis in the future.

Although vets have prescribed FOUNDERGUARD to pregnant mares, the relevant safety trials have not been conducted and it remains as ‘off label’ usage. Use of FOUNDERGUARD during pregnancy therefore is a decision for your veterinarian.

FOUNDERGUARD may initially decrease the rate of passage of food through the large intestine. This results in a decreased appetite and drier manure for up to a week. To stop this occurring the dose may be increased gradually over the first week.

No. Many horses are maintained on long-term FOUNDERGUARD supplementation.