News & Advice

On most New Zealand sheep farms there are “normal” pregnancy losses of around 1-2% from scanning to birth; any pre-lambing losses higher than this are abnormal and should be investigated to identify the cause of abortion. In any one year, up to 5% of the farms in New Zealand can experience an “abortion storm” with […]

Plan well ahead (1-2 years) with Vetlife so that your NAIT number qualifies on animal health requirements. The live exporting of both dairy and beef cattle to destinations such as China continues. Part of the strict legal requirements is for the exporting farm (NAIT number-based) to have suitable animals, based on the health status of […]

When it comes to pasture parasite contamination, we usually think of lush pastures, with moist conditions that allow worms to thrive. But unfortunately, drought conditions present a significant risk, especially after rain. It is well known that intestinal parasite eggs require moisture in order to hatch and develop into infective larvae. The larvae tend to […]

Bloat in dogs, medically known as Gastric Dilatation and Volvulus (GDV), is a life-threatening condition involving the bloating and twisting of the stomach. It most commonly affects large, deep-chested breeds such as Great Danes, St Bernards, Weimaraners, Setters, German Shepherds, and Boxers. In GDV, the stomach fills with gas, food, or fluid and then twists on itself. […]

With only 15% – 20% of pets insured in New Zealand (NZ), it is part of our duty of care within veterinary teams to encourage our clients to consider their options (Money Hub, 2025). Companion Animals New Zealand recently reported that an estimated 63% of households share their home with a companion animal. There are […]

Do your pets get scared when they hear fireworks? While holidays like Guy Fawkes Night and New Year’s Eve are perfect for celebrations with family, friends, BBQs, bonfires, and fireworks, they can cause anxiety for both pets and pet owners alike. It’s not unusual for dogs, cats and even livestock to become extremely frightened by […]

  Around April/May, we begin seeing working dogs ‘slow up’. Common causes for early retirement of working dogs are cited as “slowing down, getting old, unable to jump on the back of the truck anymore…”. These behaviours of “slowing down” can be a sign of your dog being in pain and discomfort. Dogs with chronic […]

From Christmas through the autumn – does a bit of green on the rear end mean anything? Every year we support some clients dealing with scouring calves through the 0-3 month period. However, calves that scour from Christmas onwards through the autumn are often ignored, invariably on the basis that “this is normal, the grass is […]

  Meeting target live weights of heifers, from weaning through to their first lactation, can mean more milk in the vat. Research conducted by Rhiannon Handcock from Massey University in 2019 is represented in the graph below. The blue line on the left shows how much milk heifers produce in their first lactation in relation […]

Numnuts are coming! A new and novel rubber ring applicator is set to adorn our stores by spring 2021. This will be good news for lambs, as the world-first device has been shown to deliver close to 70% pain reduction in lambs after ring application, leading to faster mothering-up, less mismothering and smoother paddock return […]

Drenching calves early in the season is a crucial practice that can significantly impact the health and productivity of your herd. The first drench given to calves should not be viewed merely as a treatment for the animals themselves, but rather as a strategic measure to prepare the paddocks for the entire season. By administering […]

Non-cycling cows in dairy herds can have a significant impact on the reproductive and economic viability of a herd. It is important to identify and treat these cows early as they often have reduced submission and conception rates, and these can result in reduced in-calf rates, a prolonged calving period and fewer days in milk […]