http://www.vetsouth.co.nz/blog/ The latest Blog feeds from www.vetsouth.co.nz en-us Fri, 19 Jun 2026 21:00:48 +1200 Rocketspark http://www.vetsouth.co.nz/blog/post/165490/repro-results-round-up/ The highlight of these events was sharing the strong reproductive results achieved by our farms this season.The average 3-week in-calf rate across all VetSouth farms was 50%, against an industry target of 53% (which is what the best herds in New Zealand are expected to achieve).... Wed, 27 May 2026 11:21:25 +1200 http://www.vetsouth.co.nz/blog/#post165490 http://www.vetsouth.co.nz/blog/post/165488/the-case-of-a-locked-leg/ I was recently on-farm for a routine visit, when the farmer mentioned that he had an odd lame cow that hadn’t yet responded to any treatment.When we looked at her, she was dramatically lame, with a back leg that swung to the side wildly as she walked. The lameness seemed so serious, it nearly caused the farmer to euthanise her rather than getting a veterinary exam – but luckily I was already coming out to the farm for another job.On physical examination, I found that the kneecap was locked ... Wed, 27 May 2026 10:34:25 +1200 http://www.vetsouth.co.nz/blog/#post165488 http://www.vetsouth.co.nz/blog/post/165430/are-summer-crops-reducing-worm-burdens/ We’ve seen plenty of lamb fattening crops planted across Southland this season, often driven by the need for ‘cleaner’ feed with lower parasite contamination, increased feed value and a desire for better lamb yields. For some farms, they’ve also been used to help lift ewe performance. Below are three sets of 10 individual faecal egg count (FEC) results. They are from lambs that have been grazing crop (kale and clo... Tue, 26 May 2026 11:11:56 +1200 http://www.vetsouth.co.nz/blog/#post165430 http://www.vetsouth.co.nz/blog/post/165425/pre-lambing-management-strategies/ Lots of you will be scanning soon, which is an ideal time to check on your ewes’ condition and trace element status, and make a plan for spreading them out later in the season. Some of the main opportunities at this time include: ... Tue, 26 May 2026 10:50:38 +1200 http://www.vetsouth.co.nz/blog/#post165425 http://www.vetsouth.co.nz/blog/post/165424/all-bark-sore-bite/ These hard-working animals will often appear ‘normal’ despite having advanced disease processes.Working dogs are at risk of damage to the teeth, whether it be from working with livestock, vehicle accidents, or just wear and tear from gnawing bones and other chewing behaviours. Some of the most common injuries we see are excessive wear of the teeth from chewing, and ‘slab fractures’, where part of a large part of the back tooth breaks away.A tooth root abscess can form when the sensitive ... Tue, 26 May 2026 10:37:21 +1200 http://www.vetsouth.co.nz/blog/#post165424 http://www.vetsouth.co.nz/blog/post/165423/hidden-dangers-around-the-sheds/ Recently, we treated a working dog who had a lucky escape after suspected slug bait ingestion. Her owner noticed she was shaking uncontrollably and rushed her into the clinic, suspecting she had accessed slug bait stored in the shed. She arrived with a dangerously high temperature and severe muscle tremors caused by metaldehyde (the toxic ingredient found in many slug pellets).The dog required intensive treatment, including repeated doses of muscle relaxants, active cooling, intravenous fluids, ... Tue, 26 May 2026 10:31:38 +1200 http://www.vetsouth.co.nz/blog/#post165423 http://www.vetsouth.co.nz/blog/post/164585/how-a-pre-surgery-blood-test-saved-rocky/ Gorgeous Ragdoll kitten, Rocky, came into our Invercargill clinic last year for what should have been a routine desexing procedure. As part of his admission paperwork, his owner opted for a pre-anaesthetic blood test.It’s a simple step we strongly recommend before surgery, as it helps identify hidden health issues that could affect how a pet handles anaesthetic drugs and recovery. In Rocky’s case, that decision may well have saved his life.Prior to this test, everyone thought Rocky was a per... Thu, 14 May 2026 15:18:02 +1200 http://www.vetsouth.co.nz/blog/#post164585 http://www.vetsouth.co.nz/blog/post/164006/salmonella-in-dairy-cattle-on-the-rise/ There are around 2600 strains of Salmonella identified worldwide. The most common strains seen in cattle in New Zealand are S. Typhimurium, S. Give, S. Bovismorbificans (primarily affects the gut) and S. Brandenburg (primarily causes abortions).In spring 2025, numerous outbreaks due to these serotypes were seen on both the South Island and the North Island. Last year, MPI reported the most cases of Salmonella in cattle ever recorded in New Zealand (see Figure 1 below).... Wed, 29 Apr 2026 15:55:13 +1200 http://www.vetsouth.co.nz/blog/#post164006 http://www.vetsouth.co.nz/blog/post/163997/bull-sales-key-considerations-before-you-buy/ Here are a few things to consider to help you select the right bulls for your herd and ensure they’re in top health:  The bull sale catalogues will be in mailboxes and online now. Take your time to read up about the stud breeder you’re looking at and make sure they are focused on the same things you need from your cows. It’s a good time to give them a call to discuss their philosophy and how they go about running their stock. &nbs... Wed, 29 Apr 2026 14:05:41 +1200 http://www.vetsouth.co.nz/blog/#post163997 http://www.vetsouth.co.nz/blog/post/163996/protect-your-pack-essential-vaccinations-for-working-dogs/ Keeping your team healthy, happy, and ready for the job is a top priority. Following a simple vaccination programme is one of the most effective and straightforward ways to prevent serious diseases that can sideline your best animals.  There are two key vaccines that we recommend your team stays up to date with. These are what we call the ‘core’ vaccine and canine cough.    ... Wed, 29 Apr 2026 13:55:50 +1200 http://www.vetsouth.co.nz/blog/#post163996