Flesh Eating
Flesh Eating Bacteria
Bacteria
After a chance meeting with highly respected Brisbane equine veterinarian JD (Dick) Wright, Lisa Cairns has accompanied a number of sick and injured horses through amazing journeys, but none more so than that of 15 year old Quarter Horse gelding ‘More’. In February 2012 More became seriously ill due to flesh-eating bacteria that literally devoured the soft tissues in his neck.
by Kaye Meynell with Lisa Cairns
L
isa Cairns tells the story of More. “I met Dick, a registered specialist in Equine Medicine (and previously Senior Lecturer in Equine Surgery at The University of Queensland, School of Veterinary Science) in 2000. Dick had decided to start an equine consultancy practice and asked if I would like to assist with the nursing and to play a role in the management of the practice; this was the birth of JD Wright Veterinary Consultancy Pty Ltd, which was located in the Gold Coast hinterland of SE Queensland,” says Lisa. When the 2008 outbreak of Equine Influenza in SE Queensland brought the equine industry to a near standstill, Lisa and Dick reduced their veterinary practice commitments and both decided to further their studies at The University of Queensland. It was here, whilst living at The University of Queensland Veterinary Science Farm in Pinjarra Hills that Lisa met More (so named because he was of the opinion that a bucket of feed was never enough – he always wanted more!).
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