Vets on track in Hong Kong
[ The University of Melbourne Voice Vol. 3, No. 5
14 July - 10 August 2008 ] By Nerissa Hannink
Keeping Australia’s animal Olympians healthy will take University of Melbourne veterinary scientist Dr Kate Savage to China as a treating veterinarian in the Australian equestrian team.
Dr Savage is Head of the Equine Centre at the University’s Veterinary Clinic and Hospital. She works as an internal medicine specialist including cardiology, neurology, and gastroenterology and is also involved in cardiac research.
Her role at the Olympics is as one of about 14 treating veterinarians in Hong Kong. She will provide specialist care in internal medicine and help run equine hospitals at the main venue at Sha Tin and at the cross country venue, Beas River.
“We will see horses if team vets think they require specialist care such as ultrasounds and endoscopy. Treating animals during the Olympics is a fine balance of what the horse needs and what we are able to give which allows it to continue in the competition. For example some treatments mean a horse wouldn’t be able to run – but if they need treatment they’ll receive it.”
She says the veterinarians will be equipped for any situation in their purpose-built isolation barns and hospitals.
Dr Savage describes the horses and the humans in the Olympic three-day equestrian events as “great performance artists”.
“It’s emotionally charged, as always in equine medicine, but has an extra intensity because you don’t often see the horses that you treat in action. You can treat horses for years and never see them at work – so this is extra-special.”
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