Equine

Equine health and production

UQ VETS Equine Specialist Hospital at the University of Queensland’s Gatton Campus is a world class veterinary hospital designed and built specifically for horses. Staff at the ESH are also involved in research aimed at improving our understanding of important conditions affecting horse health, welfare and performance outcomes.

The internal medicine team within the UQ VETS Equine Specialist Hospital is passionate about advancing our understanding of endocrine disorders in horses. UQ VETS can offer patients specialised diagnostics and management of a range of hormonal disorders including Equine Metabolic Syndrome and Pituitary Pars Intermedia Dysfunction (PPID). Our research, applied at UQ VETS Equine Specialist Hospital, has already helped many horse and pony owners across Queensland through specialist consultations, owner education and scientific presentations. Click here for more information on endocrine and laminitis research. 

The surgery team within the UQ VETS Equine Specialist Hospital is involved in research and innovation to develop and improve methods for surgical correction of disorders affecting soft tissue and bones within the horse.

In addition the team is heavily involved in leading research efforts to investigate upper respiratory tract problems that are associated with serious impacts on horse health and welfare. The research includes studies on dysfunction of the recurrent laryngeal nerve which is the most common cause of upper respiratory impairment in the horse. The UQ team has developed a novel surgical technique and prototype device that allows alteration in the laryngeal opening after surgery. This could dramatically alter treatment for this disease which affects up to 30% of horses.

The equine research group has also evaluated a surgical technique to improve understanding of the local guttural pouch environment in horses, which is predisposed to various diseases related to limited airflow. The group assessed a surgical technique to improve ventilation and facilitate treatment of the pouches.he School has well-established strengths in equine health and production.

For contact on equine research: Dr Francois-Rene Bertin