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Goat vaccination

In goats we recommend using Glanvac 6 as protection against cheesy gland (CLA), black disease, black leg, malignant oedema, pulpy kidney, and tetanus. This product is licensed for goats and requires two 1ml doses under the skin a month apart. You can vaccinate at any age and it’s good to get a first shot in at disbudding. For optimal protection have the dams fully vaccinated before they kid. The other vaccination goats need is against toxoplasmosis.Toxo causes abortion and birth defects, goats...

Pneumonia

The main things that influence the amount of respiratory disease seen in a shed are the temperature, ventilation, animal density and general construction of the shed....

Johnes in goats

Infection: Goats get infected with Johnes by eating contaminated faeces. Young stock are more likely to become infected than old. The bacteria sits in the lymph nodes (often for years) until it is released under a period of stress (entering a new herd, kidding etc) and causes disease.Signs: Unlike cattle, goats do not get diarrhoea. A Johnes goat loses weight, has a rough coat and becomes depressed. You can see swelling under the jaw sometimes. Typically signs are seen at 2-3 years old. Animals ...

Calf scours

Calf diarrhoea (scours) is normal. As newborn calves adjust to drinking milk (rather than being supplied food by the placenta) it is only natural that the gut should begin to function in “fits and starts”. The best assessment of whether or not scours is a problem is to look at the mob or pens of calves; not just considering the consistency of individual faeces, but viewing the whole group and the whole calf (not just the faeces).In any given mob of calves, 10% scouring is no big deal – esp...

Foot care

Feet need trimming about every 6-8 weeks. In the wild goats walk around on hard stoney ground that wears down their hooves. In dairy goat situations their feet aren't worn down. This predisposes them to scald, footrot and skeletal deformities....

Caprine Arthritis Encephalitis Virus (CAE)

Goats are infected as kids when they drink colostrum from an infected doe. Infection doesn’t occur before birth.There are two main forms of the disease: nervous and arthritic.Nervous:Signs are first seen at 1-4 months old. The kids become increasingly weak in the back legs until they can’t walk (over days/weeks).Initially the signs can look like a lameness.The kid is usually bright and alert and keeps eating.Older goats can sometimes get the nervous form too, it looks like listeria- circling...

Body condition scoring

There are two areas to access when condition scoring goats; the lumbar area (short ribs) and the sterna area (brisket)....

Abomasal bloat

Abomasal bloat occurs when there is an overgrowth of bacteria in the stomach of kids (and lambs). This leads to a build up of gas in the stomach which either leads to rupture (like in the picture) or crushing of vital organs. Most kids that get bloat die.There are a few ways to prevent Abomasal bloat, the main two that are used are ad lib feeding (milk is always available) and adding yoghurt to the milk.Ad lib feeding works because it stops the stomach getting too full. The yoghurt works because...

Late Lactation BMSCC

Tips for managing a late-season increase in your BMSCC!
Strip the herd to check for clinical cases - regular stripping (e.g. one quarter per milking) can help detect new clinical cases quickly and reduce the spread of infection.Use herd test information to identify high SCC cows. When considering how to manage these look at:Age of the cowPregnancy statusUdder/teat conformationHow many quarters are affected by Milk production?How long she has been infected?Was she high at the last herd test?Was...

Parasites

Internal parasites (endoparasites )of cattle affect the gut, lungs and liver. Roundworms affect the abomasum (4th stomach), intestine, lungs and liver. Tapeworms parasitise the intestines. Flukes parasitise the liver and rumen.They have a fascinating variety of life cycles. All have immature and mature stages; where the immature stage involves another species that species is called the intermediate host. The sexually mature parasites living in the primary host lay eggs, which must go through a l...

BVD disease

BVD (bovine viral diarrhoea) is a major disease in the Australasian dairy herd. It is caused by the BVD virus (BVDV). BVDV infection is extremely common, having affected 60-70% of our herds, with virus active in approximately 15% of herds at any one time. The disease is very complex, causing a variety of production limiting disease syndromes with a variety of economic outcomes. The total cost to the NZ dairy industry was estimated around $150m (average $220 per cow in infected herds) with the co...

Disease prevention

Some countries in the world have achieved eradication of BVDV. This has not been attempted in New Zealand.Whether considering a country or a herd the strategies are the same: either vaccinate and manage to limit the spread and impact of the disease or test and cull, removing the virus with strict biosecurity to keep it out.Control and Prevention programs are based around a thorough understanding of infection dynamics and a systematic approach. We highly recommend that you undertake a Risk Analys...

Radiography

Our hospital is fully equipped to take radiographs (often called X-rays) of your pet.  Our veterinarians will discuss your pet’s case and conduct a thorough physical examination to determine if your pet requires radiographs. Radiographs are a very important tool to help us diagnose diseases in animals, particularly for conditions involving bones, the chest or abdomen....

Osteoarthritis

It’s tempting to think that our beloved dog or cat is getting slower, sleeping more, and less active due to old age. We all know that old age is not a disease, but osteoarthritis is.Chances are your pet is probably just too sore to run, fetch the ball and jump around as they used to. Inside, their inner kitten and puppy might just be bursting to get out!As 26% of New Zealand’s 700 000 pet dog population are 8 years old or over, it’s likely that many of them are suffering from undiagnosed a...

Nail clipping

Regular nail clipping, or trimming, should be part of the routine care of your pet.  It is essential for elderly and indoor pets, whereas outdoor pets may wear their nails down naturally.The requirement for nail trimming can vary depending on breed, age, level of exercise and the environment in which your pet is kept. Working and herding breeds of dogs are active and generally have compact feet with well arched toes that angle the toenails downwards towards the ground. If these dogs are act...

Microchipping

A microchip is about the size of a grain of rice and is injected under your pet’s skin. It can be done during a normal consultation.The microchip is embedded with a code unique to your pet and is the most effective form of permanent identification.If a pet is ever lost and is handed in at a veterinary clinic or animal shelter a microchip scanner is passed over the animal to reveal the unique code. The vet or animal shelter can then refer to the database to identify the name, address and phone ...

Intestinal worms

Worming is one of the first health care issues pet owners need to address as pups and kittens are the most susceptible. As their name suggests, intestinal worms are parasites that live inside your pet’s intestines.These worms range in size from small to surprisingly large (up to 18cm in length). Regardless of their size however, they all have negative, and potentially deadly effects.Most species of animal, as well as humans, can be infected with intestinal worms including dogs, cats, rabbits, ...

Flea control

Fleas are most often seen during the warmer months but as we keep our homes nice and warm throughout winter, we see fleas all year round.Only a small part of the adult flea population actually lives on your pet. The fleas’ eggs and larvae live in the environment and can survive for up to a year, so it is important to not only treat your animal directly for fleas but also decontaminate the environment as well.  Wash your pet’s bedding using the hottest cycle and regularly vacuum/clean ca...

Emergency procedures

We provide you and your pets with an after-hours emergency service for critical illness or injury. We hope your pet never needs us for an emergency however, common emergencies relate to car accidents, heart conditions, poisoning and a range of injuriesUpon arrival, your pet will be assessed by one of our veterinarians. We will aim to provide an estimate of the costs involved with your case, however, please be aware that with emergency procedures costs can vary depending on what services and trea...

Dog vaccination

Vaccination has revolutionised control of infectious disease in our pets. It is essential that all pets are adequately vaccinated to help protect the pet population as a whole. Responsible pet care requires puppies to be given their initial course of vaccinations, but this cannot protect them for the rest of their lives.Adult dogs require regular vaccination to maintain immunity against disease....

Desexing

Desexing or neutering your pet is a surgical procedure that prevents them from being able to reproduce. In male pets it is commonly referred to as “castration”, and in female pets as “spaying”.This is the most frequent surgery performed by our vets, and generally your pet is home by the evening of surgery.The most common age to desex your pet is between 4 and 6 months, however they are never too old to be desexed.There are many benefits to desexing your pet before 6 months. They include:...

Animal dentistry

Dentistry is a rapidly growing area of veterinary science. We have seen a greater awareness over the last 25 years of its importance to the overall health of the animals we treat.Just like humans, pets’ teeth need looking after too! The health of their teeth and gum's has a significant impact on their overall quality of life. Imagine how your mouth would feel, and smell, if you never brushed your teeth. Imagine having a really bad toothache and not being able to tell anyone about it!Dental dis...

Cat vaccination

Vaccination has revolutionised control of infectious disease in our pets. It is essential that all pets are adequately vaccinated to help protect the pet population as a whole. Responsible pet care requires kittens to be given their initial course of vaccinations, but this cannot protect them for the rest of their lives.Adult cats require regular vaccination to maintain immunity against disease....

Rabbit care advice

Rabbits are great pets that have character, are extremely sociable, enjoy the company of humans and are a great way of introducing young children to pet ownership.They are quiet, clean and are easily toilet trained.While rabbits love company, they can be left alone during the day and are therefore suitable for people who work or are away from home. A predator-proof enclosure to ensure their safety is essential. An appropriate enclosure is a hutch that is divided into two connecting compartments,...

Puppy pre-school

There are many benefits to teaching your puppy to be well behaved at an early age. Young puppies are quite able to learn obedience skills, toileting behaviour and social boundaries. All of these things help make your relationship with your dog more rewarding for the years to come.We provide an effective Puppy Pre-school programme for all of the puppies that visit our clinic. With our progressive and positive learning techniques you will:Develop an understanding of normal puppy behaviour.Learn ho...