News & Advice

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   Stay up to date with the latest news and advice for pets and farm animals from our team of dedicated vets.

LATEST ARTICLES

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Nutritional Care of Working Dogs in Colder Weather

Working dog looking out from between two fence posts

TeamMates specialist During colder temperatures our farm working dogs require more calories than normal to maintain their bodyweight, especially inland and in high-country regions. Ideally, choose high-quality, balanced working-dog foods which are formulated with higher fat and protein levels to maintain heat production, provide sustained energy and promote optimal tissue repair. Of the 628 dogs […]

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Looking after Drench Efficacy in Youngstock

Drench resistance is one of the biggest challenges currently facing the sheep industry, and we are now seeing the effects in our intensively-reared calves, such as replacement heifers. Risk factors for drench resistance are: Frequent drench use – drenching monthly or even more frequently Ineffective chemicals – resistance is when the product kills less than […]

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From Chaos to Clarity: Handling Health Alerts in Spring

Health Alert Triage flow chart

Spring calving is an exciting, but often chaotic, time on farm. With cows springing up, milk starting to flow and pastures bouncing back, there is a lot to juggle. And if you are using wearable technology, you have probably noticed the health alerts start coming in thick and fast. The alert avalanche: a blessing or […]

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Pre-Lamb Treatment Considerations: BIONIC® Plus Control Release Capsules (CRCs)

sheep in paddock by river

Bionic Plus CRCs are back after being unavailable for the last couple of lambings. For some sheep farmers, this absence removed an important tool from the toolbox for managing the effects of parasitism. Many of these farmers filled the void with persistent anthelmintic injections, e.g. Exodus LA, but a productive and sustainable sheep-breeding and lamb-growing […]

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Ensuring Herd Health and Fertility: The Importance of Bull Soundness Testing

A bull and two cows in a field

While much attention is given to the health and fertility of cows, the breeding bull is equally crucial in minimising the empty rate in the dairy herd. Thinking of the seasons where you have had unexplained poor heifer in-calf rates or a high empty rate following a good 6-week in-calf rate, it is more than […]

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Vaccination Reactions

happy cat and dog rolling in grass together

While vaccine reactions are rare, they do sometimes occur. The benefits of vaccinating far outweigh the risks of any side effect from a vaccine that is easily treatable and much less severe than the disease itself. Just like us, each pet is different, and yours will have varying risk factors based on their breed, age […]

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Vaccination Titre-Testing

cat blood test

The routine administration of vaccinations to pets has been one of the most significant factors in the reduction of serious dog and cat infectious diseases in New Zealand. This approach has resulted in excellent disease control for infections that were once considered important causes of sickness and death. Although all veterinarians agree vaccines are necessary, […]

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Vaccination Guidelines for Rabbits

Overseas, there are several highly infectious and potentially fatal diseases that can affect your rabbit. Fortunately, in New Zealand (NZ) there is only one major disease we need to vaccinate for A vaccine has been produced that will protect your rabbit against the NZ form of viral haemorrhagic disease (calicivirus). To ensure that your rabbit […]

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Vaccination Guidelines for Cats

happy cat stretching onground

Most core cat vaccinations aim to help prevent at least three diseases in kittens and cats: Feline Panleukopenia (FPV), Feline Herpesvirus 1 (FSV1), and Feline Calicivirus (FCV). Feline Panleukopenia Virus (FPV, also called Feline Distemper or Feline Enteritis) is a highly contagious virus of the parvovirus group, with a high mortality rate. It is extremely “hardy” […]

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Vaccination Guidelines for Dogs

A dog running through barley grass

There are many diseases which can be fatal to dogs; however, we can aid in the prevention of these diseases using very effective vaccines. The core vaccine helps to protect against the dreaded Parvovirus, which is the most commonly known virus to affect puppies. Distemper and Hepatitis are also covered by the core vaccine but […]

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Arthritis in Pets: What Every Pet Owner Needs to Know

As the weather cools and winter sets in, many pet owners notice subtle changes in their animal companions. These changes—like stiffness, reluctance to move, or increased sleep—could be signs of arthritis, a common but often overlooked condition in both dogs and cats. Arthritis isn’t just for older pets While arthritis is more common in senior […]

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Insight for a Smarter Spring

A CowSmart report

Making the most of the dry period to reflect, review and reset As the season winds down and most cows head off to winter grazing, there is a natural sense of relief. But while the cows rest, your collar data is still working. This stretch is the ideal time to press pause, dig into the […]

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