Vet in the Valley

21/08/2024

A bit going on this week! Actually SOOOO much going on! IKYK.
BUT we have a lovely new car park for people to enjoy!

20/08/2024

Who knows what this is?

16/08/2024

We started the week with extractions and we’ve ended the week with an extraction!

We hope everyone has a fabulous weekend!

12/08/2024

Tooth out Monday! What a start to the week!

11/08/2024

Is there anything more cute than a baby Basset Hound?

We hope you all have a wonderful week ahead!

09/08/2024

Jumping into the weekend with the news that we are whole herd CAE and JD negative. Our tenth year clear.
Thank you to the Vet in the Valley team for looking after us.

09/08/2024

08/08/2024

We are in full calving season in Southern Tasmania! Unfortunately that means we have been called to help out on a few occasions.

So what are the important things when monitoring calving cows?

🐮 PROGRESS is the key! From commencement of labour, the calf should be out in approximately 2 hours! Sometimes it can be slightly longer, but as long as progress is being made we don’t worry. If you notice a problem, go a grab a cuppa, come back and the cow has not progressed further in labour- there is a problem!
Please don’t leave them overnight thinking everything will be fine!

🐄 PRESENTATION- normal presentation should be hoof, hoof, nose! If you can only see a nose, or only hooves or a tail, then it’s a sign that things are abnormal!

🧑‍🌾 FACILITIES - are really helpful if intervention is needed! Unfortunately we can’t do much if we don’t have a crush. Please consider this if you need our help!

🧌Sometimes abnormal things happen like one of the calves in the picture. Below. This calf is suffering Schistosomus reflexus which means that a normal unassisted vaginal birth is rarely possible. Dr. Liam help this cow after hours a few weeks ago!

06/08/2024

Do you know we have a TikTok account? Sometimes we even post on it!

Watch, follow, and discover more trending content.

06/08/2024

It’s castration season!

Mild weather, not too hot or wet and no flies equals the perfect time for colts to loose their 🥜!

04/08/2024

It’s that time of the year again! We are excited to be putting the final touches on our breeding options for 2024!

We will be offering chilled and frozen insemination package at either fee for service, per cycle or per season options.

If you are interested in breeding your mare this year, please don’t hesitate to give us a call!

30/07/2024

How often do you clean out your water troughs?

Clean water is very important for the well being of your animals- no matter the species!

Post a picture of your best and worst water trough! Have you got any tips for keeping them clean? 🧽

29/07/2024

💐🌺 WELCOME 🌺🙏

We are thrilled to add another member to the VitV team! A huge congratulations to Dr. Fenella and her partner Nathan who welcomed little Delilah into the world last week.

22/07/2024

Pregnancy toxaemia is a metabolic disorder that affects sheep and goats during late gestation. It is characterised by anorexia, depression and can progress to recumbency and death. Animals that carry multiple foetuses, or those with inadequate nutrition during late gestation are at higher risk - because of this it’s often called “Twin Lamb Disease”.

Due to difficult seasonal conditions we are seeing more at risk ewes this year than ever before, so it’s vital that we are aware of the rising plane of nutritional demands ewes and does in late gestation and lactation have.

Animals in early stages of the disease can often successfully be treated with oral energy supplementation. Induction of parturition or inducing labour may also be required. Management of advance cases can often be tricky and unrewarding.

So what can we do to prevent this? A key management method is ensuring you can body condition score and identify those ewes that are too thin and also those that are in too good condition, and adjust their nutritional requirements accordingly.

For more information about how to body condition score please see this link:https://nre.tas.gov.au/Documents/SHEEPbodyscore.mlc.pdf

20/07/2024

There is a very real risk of wormer resistance and it’s terrifying.

Treating for intestinal worms needs to have a massive shift. Gone are the days of seasonal worming and rotational worming. If livestock are continued to be treated for worms this way, wormer resistance is going to continue to get worse. This is a world wide problem in multiple species - including poultry.

The recommendation from those at the forefront of anthlemetic knowledge is to have a program of targeted treatment. Which is, to test for worm eggs being shed in faeces and only treat when worm eggs are at a certain level. Then, submit another manure sample 2 weeks later to test how effective your worming protocol was at reducing worm eggs.

These guys are chicken large roundworms (Ascaridia galli). This is the most common type of intestinal worm found in chicken flocks. They are picked up by chickens eating earthworms and directly ingesting worm eggs. Clinical signs of Ascaridia gallis are vague and generalised, so can’t be relied on, but may include poor weight gain, poor egg production, anaemia, blood in faeces, ‘ruffled’ appearance, undigested food in faeces, lethargy, nutritional deficiency and intestinal blockage.

It is quite exciting that a Tasmanian vet clinic now has the capability to test for Ascaridia gallis. Vet in the Valley, near New Norfolk, has Parasight System. Parasight has a specialised laboratory system to test for ascarid eggs in poultry, plus a bunch of other worm species in other animals.

A flock sample can be submitted or individual samples can be submitted. A flock manure sample makes it quite economical.

Piperazine, levisamole and flubendazole are registered for use on chickens in Australia. They are all bendizoles, which is a class of anthlemetic.

Ivermectin is the most modern anthlemetic and was discovered in 1975. It is a macrocytic lactone and is not registered for use in poultry by the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority (despite its wide recommendation on Facebook groups). If a chicken is given ivermectin, it’s regarded as ‘off-label’ and can’t be used as a commercial production animal. A meat or egg withholding period cannot be given as ivermectin treatment in poultry is off-label.

Good coop hygiene is important and feeding off the ground. Coop rotation a couple of days after worming can also help. It’s said that ascarid eggs can remain viable in the soil for 1 year.

14/07/2024

POV - you got unceremoniously yanked into this world after being too big for your mum to push you out. But what a sunset 🌅 to witness as your first.

Happy Monday everyone!

07/07/2024

📣📣📣 Gastroscoping Day 📣📣📣

Our next gastroscoping day is Monday 15th July and we have two spots available if anyone would like to take advantage!

Our next day after that will be Friday 16th August!

🔎 There is no way to tell if your horse has equine gastric ulcer syndrome other than to check.
🔮There are certain behaviours that are highly suggestive of ulcers such as:
- girthiness
- unwillingness to go forward
- bucking
- behavioural changes
😩 Fasting your horse for 12 hours to perform a gastroscope doesn’t make the ulcers (that may or may not be there!) any worse!

Please call 0419306182 if you would like to book in!

06/07/2024

What a week!!

We had a fantastic week with Dr. Josie Hale, Equine Athlete Clinic consulting from our facility in Plenty! Heaps of very interesting lameness cases, clients with happy tears, physiotherapy plans and the most up-to-date treatment recommendations! We loved having Dr. Josie, and we are excited to welcome her back in October. Hopefully it won’t be quite so chilly 🥶 ❄️

04/07/2024

🏆🏆🏆 Celebrate the Wins 🏆🏆🏆🏆

It’s that time again to celebrate your wins with your pet!

Has your puppy mastered a new skill? Have you had a behavioural win? Did you get a great dressage score or the best square halt ever? Let’s us know!

Why? Because the veterinarian industry, in particular equine and mixed animal veterinary practice are plagued with negative media. We would like change that and show case how phenomenal this industry can be!

We would encourage you to celebrate the wins your vets and other members of your animal care team!

01/07/2024

📣📣 Buckland/Orford/Triabunna 📣📣

Due to demand we are planning a run through Buckland/Orford and Triabunna in the coming weeks.

Availability for:
🐄🐂 Cattle pregnancy scanning (via ultrasound), bull testing and herd health.
🐑 Sheep OB accreditation
🦷 Equine dentistry and routine consultations
🥶 Freeze branding
🥜 Equine Castration and field surgery
🐕🐈 Small animal vaccinations, microchips and routine preventative medicine

Please call 0419306182 to book in!

25/06/2024

Earlier this month Dr. Libby attended a Lifetime Ewe Management Training course in Melbourne. This course provides ewe management guidelines, tools and tips, background information and research for ensuring optimal outcome from ewes through out their lifetime. On average participants of this course report increase stocking rates, increased marking and weaning percentages and reduced ewe mortality.

21/06/2024

Hi 👋, it’s been a minute 😮‍💨. What a week!

We know there are people doing it tough out there. We know it’s dry, we know feed is hard to find. We are in the trenches with you.

Please don’t hesitate to reach out and seek help if needed. There is no shame in talking.
Beyond Blue on 1300 22 4636
Lifeline Australia 13 11 14

Here are some puppies to make you all smile!

13/06/2024

Happy Friday! We hope you all have a fantastic weekend with your fur family!

We are a little bias, but how cute is Dr. Libby’s car dog, Teddy?

13/06/2024

Some great information about UC for our goat clients! Thanks Goat Veterinary Consultancies - goatvetoz

13/06/2024

🎉🥳🎈Do you know we like to party? 🎉 🥳🎈

No, not that kind of party!

We LOVE ❤️ a good dental party! Sounds like Dr. Libby’s type of fun! If you want baked goods, a organiser bonus and friends all in one spot how about you organise a dental party?

Want more information? Check it out here:

https://www.vetinthevalley.com/dental-party

Have you got multiple horse, or would you like to host a dental party with your friends and reap the rewards? Check out Vet in the Valley Dental Parties!

11/06/2024

📣📣📣 Dr. Josie Hale Dates 📣📣📣📣

We are very excited to host Dr. Josie Hale, specialist in Veterinary Sports Medicine and Rehabilitation between July 1-5th 2024! This is a very rare opportunity to have a lameness specialist in Tasmania!

An initial consultation includes a full lameness consultation, the use of a lameness locator and imaging (xray or ultrasound) of one region.

Dr. Hale is nearly full, but there are several spots still available! Please call 0419306182, if you would like further information!

07/06/2024

Happy Friday and conveniently it’s international donut day! 🍩🍩🍩🍩

03/06/2024

🤩🤩🤩💪 Celebrate the Wins 🏆🙌 🥇🥈🥉

It’s time to celebrate the wins from last month! Did you have a win from the last month that a vet or animal healthcare professional was involved in? If so, we would encourage you to share it with them!

We know that the language around equine practice and mixed animal practice needs to change in the veterinary sphere - we need to start focusing on all the good things about our wonderful profession not just all the challenges.

Last month definitely had its challenges for VitV, but gosh did we have some wins too!

03/06/2024

Happy Monday!