
VetSouth Blog
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VetSouth was born out of the belief that being rural and far away shouldn't compromise the quality of veterinary services that we are able to provide. Read regular newsletters with vet care articles, tips on animal health, and current deals on animal products.
VetSouth Blog
1w ago
Secure the leg. Clean the foot with a hose. Feel between the claws and all around the foot. Look for trapped stones and cracks, and examine the skin above the hoof for infection or growths. Use hoof testers along all areas of the sole to identify the problem claw and painful spot. If a lesion is identified, ensure all under-running sole is removed by trimming with a hoof knife. Avoid bleeding as it will delay healing! Transfer weight a ..read more
VetSouth Blog
1w ago
New Zealand’s pasture-based dairy farming system, where cows graze in fields in all weather and walk fair distances along lanes to get to and from the milking shed, can increase the risk of lameness. We know farmers work hard to prevent and treat lameness, so we’ve put together a guide to help you determine what type of lame cases you might be seeing on your farm.  ..read more
VetSouth Blog
1w ago
We completed nine reduction tests during the 2023-2024 season. All of the nine participating farms tested dual and triple drenches. Fewer farms tested single-acting and novel drenches. The graph below shows the overall results.  ..read more
VetSouth Blog
1w ago
With such bad weather leading to large amounts of dirty surface water, limited feed and increased stocking densities, overall infection pressure and stress was much higher than usual. This caused a many outbreaks. In sheep, there are two main forms of the disease: 1. Enteric form – caused by Salmonella Hindmarsh and S. Typhimurium: Mainly seen December-June.Cases mainly occur after a period of stress, such as yarding and transport. Signs to look out for are sudden death, sc ..read more
VetSouth Blog
1w ago
Yersiniosis is a highly infectious disease that is characterised by a green, watery scour which rapidly leads to death if untreated. Recently weaned fawns in their first autumn are typical candidates, as the stress from weaning coupled with possible changes in feed, transport, parasite burdens and bad weather all create the ideal ‘perfect storm’ for this bacteria. Around weaning farmers should: Aim to reduce the effects of common stresses on fawns. Vaccinate twice w ..read more
VetSouth Blog
1w ago
It’s caused by a bacteria that damages the gut lining, leading to two main signs: Watery “hose-pipe” diarrhoea. Progressive weight loss. Infection usually occurs in young calves. The bacteria then lies dormant in the cow for a number of years, with these clinical signs often not apparent until they are at least 3-4 years old. These later-staged diseased cows shed the most bacteria leading to a higher risk of transmission. Regular testing for Johne’s ..read more
VetSouth Blog
1w ago
Keeping stock happy, healthy and productive in summer heat requires good preparation, here are some of our tips:  ..read more
VetSouth Blog
2M ago
Christmas treats are something we all look forward to, but for our furry friends, some of these can be extremely toxic, so it is important to keep them out of reach. If you have a pet with a penchant for opening gifts, this may mean not putting wrapped treats under the tree! Some festive foods to be cautious of around pets include: 1. Chocolate Why it's toxic: Chocolate contains theobromine and caffeine, which are stimulants of the central nervous system and heart. They also act as diuretics, wh ..read more
VetSouth Blog
2M ago
The summer brings some heavy workloads on farms and high energy requirements for farm working dogs. Feed them a high fat, high protein diet to reduce musculoskeletal injuries and increase endurance. Burning all that energy creates increased body heat which becomes more difficult for them to regulate in hot weather. They only have a few sweat glands, in the pads and nose, and depend on evaporative cooling of exhaled moist air, panting, and air movements over the body surface. All of these in ..read more
VetSouth Blog
2M ago
In cows, the best time to age a pregnancy accurately is between 42 and 90 days after mating. For this reason, we usually recommend two scanning sessions:A first scan in January to age the earlies and heifers.A second re-check scan a while later to confirm the empties and age the lates. Early age scans are used to figure out accurate calving dates and help you make informed decisions for your herd.If you have used a synchrony hormone programme for your heifers, an early age scan 6 weeks afte ..read more