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Pigs

OUR APPROACH

Our kind of work. We’re like pigs in…..when it comes to pig health

We like nothing more than getting covered in mud and looking after pigs. And it’s important work too, as pigs can carry diseases called Zoonoses. These are nasties that can spread from pigs to humans...with potentially fatal consequences.

Leptospirosis is one such zoonotic disease. Symptoms can range from mild flu to multiple organ failure, even death. Another is Erysipelas rhusiopathiae or ‘Diamond Skin Disease’, a rather horrible nasty that causes infections on human skin.

If your pigs need attention because they aren't well or you would like to talk about keeping them well, please get in touch. We offer a number of other services for pigs, such as putting rings in their noses (using anaesthetic) vaccinations, nutritional supplements, wormers etc...you name it and we can help.

THE BENEFITS

Why VetSouth is a great choice

We're locals

We’ve been in the lower South Island for decades. It’s where we’re from and where we raise our families.

Wide network

We’re plugged into the Veterinary world and our team can call on expertise from all over the world, then deliver it locally.

Handy clinics

We’re close to you for consults, supplements, supplies...whatever you need. Pop on in or organise a delivery.

   

INNOVATION & RESEARCH

A never ending quest for improvement and advancement

Researching animal welfare and pathology is a passion we share, with our work being used by industry bodies such as Dairy NZ, the Sustainable Farming Fund and Beef & Lamb.

FURTHER READING

Latest news

Do you need to do larval cultures?

An LC is when faecal samples are cultured at the lab to see what type of worms are present. They hatch the eggs and count the different types of larvae (e.g. Ostertagia, Trichostrongylus,Read more

Condition counts: Score now for scanning success

Light ewes at mating will have worse lambing performance come spring. Ewes should be at body condition score (BCS) 3-3.5 for tupping.   What does BCS 3-3.5 look like? Well, if there is more than 6Read more

The autumn parasite flush

Over the previous 6-7 months, we have had lots of parasite factories (lambs and calves) grazing our pastures. These young animals do not yet have an immunity to parasites and provide high levels ofRead more

Test trace elements with PP+

Trace element testing can seem like an expensive investment, but it’s an important part of getting the best performance out of a dairy herd. Production Profile Plus (PP+) is our dairy trace elementRead more

Dairy cow nutrition at dry-off

There are a lot of changes that occur in a dairy cow around the time of drying off in order to transition her from a lactating cow into a dry cow, including: Milk production needs to slow down to,Read more

Celebrating three vet-erans

During Southern Field Days 2026, we raised a glass for an awesome large animal vet trio, who have collectively stacked up 65 years of service with us. Fleur Barker freed her diary from fondling ramsRead more

Looking closer with videoscopy

Using a thin, flexible tube with a high-definition camera on the end, videoscopy lets us look inside areas such as the stomach, airways, nasal passages, and bowel. The live images appear on aRead more

Seeing more with ultrasound

Ultrasound is a safe, radiation-free imaging tool that uses sound waves to create live images of your pet’s soft tissues and organs. It’s commonly used to investigate concerns such asRead more

Clear answers with X-rays

X-rays are a fast, non-invasive way for our vets to look inside your pet’s body and understand what might be causing pain, illness, or changes in behaviour. They’re commonly used to investigateRead more

Why an in-house laboratory matters

Our on-site lab allows us to run a wide range of tests without sending samples away. This includes blood and urine testing, cytology, clotting tests, hormone testing, blood gases and more. BecauseRead more

Tina, an unusual kitten

During her examination, the vet noticed a few unusual signs. Tina was unusually subdued, and her body shape wasn’t quite right for her age. Her legs were shorter than expected, and her head wasRead more

What's inside a cow's hoof?

At our recent on-farm lameness training sessions, we’ve been inspecting some live cows’ feet – and also looking at some dead cows’ ones! Being able to look inside a cow’s foot really helpsRead more
 

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