The Lifestyle Vet

21/11/2025

Anderson’s Story: A Life Saved

Just a few weeks ago, two 12-week-old goat brothers were referred to our veterinary hospital. Both had been castrated very early, putting them at high risk for urolithiasis.

Tragically, one brother arrived with a complete obstruction that had already caused his urethra to rupture, and he had to be humanely euthanized.

His brother, Anderson, underwent immediate assessment. An ultrasound revealed a large number of stones filling his bladder, meaning he was only moments—or days—away from also suffering a catastrophic obstruction.

Because this was a particularly complex and challenging surgery, it was performed with the assistance of the soft tissue surgical specialists at Animal Referral Centre. Under general anesthesia, a cystotomy was carried out to open the bladder, remove all stones, assess the urethra, and amputate the urethral process, which had adhered to the p***s tip due to early castration.

We would like to extend a huge thank-you to the incredible soft tissue surgical team at Animal Referral Centre, who performed the surgery promptly and expertly as well as The Lifestyle Anesthesia team, whose skill ensured a smooth anesthetic, rapid recovery, and safe return to comfort for Anderson.

Thanks to the collaboration of these dedicated teams—and the commitment of Anderson’s owners—he made a full recovery and was discharged just three days later. Today, he is happy, healthy, and very much adored by his family.

Why Awareness Matters!!!

Understanding the risks of early castration, improper nutrition, and delayed treatment can:

Reduce life-threatening blockages

Help owners recognize symptoms early

Improve the long-term well-being of pet goats and sheep

Save lives—just like Anderson’s

If your goat or sheep is straining to urinate, vocalizing, dribbling only small drops, or repeatedly posturing without producing urine, seek veterinary care immediately. Every minute counts.

The Lifestyle Vet- Providing an exceptional level of veterinary care for your lifestyle block pets

0278385433
[email protected]

18/11/2025

Treatment Options for Urolithiasis in Pet Sheep and Goats

Treatment for urolithiasis ranges from medical to surgical, depending on stone type, severity, and whether a blockage is already present.

Medical Management

Medical treatment is only feasible in early cases, before complete obstruction.

Urinary acidifiers and diet modification may help dissolve struvite stones, which are the only stone type in goats and sheep known to respond to dissolution.

Most stones—particularly calcium carbonate stones—are non-dissolvable, making surgery necessary once obstruction develops. Because many cases present already blocked, medical therapy alone is rarely sufficient.

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Surgical Management- to be carried out by a veterinary professional only.

Most obstructed goats and sheep require surgery to survive. Surgical management may include some or all of the follwoing:

1. Urethral Process Amputation

The urethral process is the narrowest part of the urethra and a common site of obstruction. Amputating this tiny structure:
• Removes the narrowest point
• Can immediately restore urine flow—but only if no additional stones are lodged further up the urethra

Another common site of blockage is the sigmoid flexure.

If no steady urine flow is seen after amputating the urethral process, it indicates either:
• The bladder has already ruptured, or
• There are additional obstructions, which is very common

2. Catheterization and Flushing (Performed During Surgery)

It is extremely difficult—and dangerous—to catheterize the urethra from the outside in male-wethered goats and sheep because of the pronounced S-shaped bend (sigmoid flexure). Blind catheterization can easily perforate the urethra, which is life-threatening.

Therefore, during a cystotomy or tube cystostomy:
• A catheter is inserted from the bladder downward once the bladder is surgically opened
• A second catheter is placed up the p***s after the urethral process is amputated
• Flushing is performed from both directions simultaneously, helping to dislodge stones throughout the urethra

Why Full Surgical Intervention Is Essential

By the time a blockage forms, goats and sheep often have thousands of stones within the bladder. Even if urine flows after amputating the urethral process, more stones are typically waiting to enter and block the urethra.

This is why addressing the bladder itself—via cystotomy or tube cystostomy—is often the only effective long-term solution.

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📣 Tomorrow’s Post: A Real-Life Case

To help illustrate why rapid diagnosis and surgical treatment are so critical, tomorrow we will be sharing a real-life case involving a young goat who underwent urinary surgery. This case highlights how early intervention can save a life and what owners should be aware of when it comes to urolithiasis in goats and sheep.

Stay tuned for this important and educational story.

The Lifestyle Vet- Your Lifestyle Block Vet

Providing an exceptional level of care for your lifestyle block Pets ❤️

18/11/2025

Raising Awareness About Urinary Stone Disease (Urolithiasis) in Pet Male-Wethered Goats

Urinary stone disease—also known as urolithiasis—is one of the most common and life-threatening emergencies seen in male goats and sheep. Early awareness, responsible nutrition, and timely veterinary intervention can truly save lives. The following post series aims to help owners understand what urolithiasis is, how it develops, and why rapid treatment is essential.

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What Is Urolithiasis?

Urolithiasis refers to the formation of urinary stones (uroliths) within the urinary tract. These stones can form anywhere along the urinary system, including the kidneys, bladder, or urethra. Although any goat or sheep can develop urinary stones, the condition is especially common and severe in male-wethered goats and male sheep, primarily because their urethras are naturally long and narrow.

The development of urinary stones is multifactorial. Many factors may contribute, including:

🐐Breed and genetics
🐐Age
🐐Early castration (especially before 12 weeks of age, which prevents full urethral development)
🐐Inappropriate nutrition, such as diets with imbalanced calcium-to-phosphorus ratios, pelleted overfeeding, or high-grain rations
🐐Water access or quality issues
🐐Urine pH changes
🐐A wide range of environmental and management factors

Because so many factors are involved, even well-cared-for animals can be at risk. Early awareness and preventive management are key.

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How Urolithiasis Happens

Stones begin as tiny mineral crystals that form when urine becomes oversaturated with certain minerals. Over time, these crystals clump together and grow. In male-wethered goats and sheep, the stones can easily become lodged in the urethra—especially in narrow areas such as:

🐐The urethral process (a fine, hair-like extension at the tip of the p***s)
🐐The sigmoid flexure (a natural bend in the urethra)

When a stone blocks urine flow, the bladder fills and pressure rapidly builds. Without urgent veterinary treatment, this can lead to bladder rupture or urethral rupture, both of which are fatal.

We have attached some real life case pictures of patients that were diagnosed with urolithiasis. Unfortunately, these particular patients did not survive, which highlights the need for rapid medical intervention and treatment.

TIPS FOR VETS:

🐐exteriorising the p***s can be a nightmare task. We recommend sitting all blocked goat patients on their bum like the picture demonstrates. Sedation is a must! Dont use xylazine!!!
🐐 exteriorising the p***s usually requires 2-3 spare hands (no kidding). You’ll need at least 2 other useful well skilled helpers in order to fully visualise the urethral process where the stones are located. You’ll also need a stitch kit and a handy set of allis tissue forceps to help pull out the p***s, bit by bit.
🐐even blocked goats may present dribbling urine if they have a urethral tear, fistula or rupture from prolonged obstruction

If in doubt, get it out, and check the urethral process to check whether it has become obstructed. A blocked goat with a blockage at the urethral process will have a discoloured and damaged process as per the pictures attached. In one of the pictures you can even see the tiny stones obstructing the lumen of the urethra 😢

Stay tuned for tomorrows story where we talk about treatment options 👆👆👆

The Lifestyle Vet- Your Lifestyle Block Vet

[email protected]

0278385433

14/11/2025

🐐 PSOROPTIC MITE FOUND IN A GOAT’S EAR 🐐

Last week we examined a patient’s goat with a month-long history of ear scratching, head shaking, and irritation. On closer inspection, we found the cause: psoroptic mites living inside the ears.

Look at this gross little bu**er cruising around under the microscope in the ear sample we collected 🧐🤮

These mites are tiny external parasites that live on the surface of the skin and feed on skin debris. In the ears, they can cause intense itching, inflammation, crusting, and discomfort, which explains the goat’s persistent symptoms.

If left untreated, psoroptic mite infestations can worsen and lead to secondary infections and more severe irritation, so early diagnosis and treatment are important. This goat has now begun appropriate therapy.

We’re sharing this video to help raise awareness—if your goats show ongoing ear scratching or head shaking, it’s worth getting them checked ☺️👌

The Lifestyle Vet- Your Lifestyle Block Vet

11/11/2025

🐐 Understanding Granulomas in the Hooves of Goats and Sheep 🐑

Granulomas are painful overgrowths of tissue that can develop within the hooves of goats and sheep as part of the body’s attempt to heal damaged areas. While this is a natural healing response, it can quickly get out of control and cause severe pain and lameness if not properly managed.

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🔍 How Do Granulomas Form?

Granulomas usually occur when there is underlying hoof disease or damage. Conditions such as laminitis can cause intense inflammation, leading to separation of the hoof wall from the sensitive tissues beneath. This separation creates a space—often referred to as “Shelly Hoof”—where dirt, mud, and debris become trapped.

As this material packs in, abscesses can form, and the associated inflammation stimulates the body to produce excessive new tissue, resulting in a granuloma.

Granulomas can also form due to chronic footrot infections, which cause persistent inflammation and damage to the soft tissues of the hoof. Over time, the body’s repeated attempts to repair these areas can lead to granuloma formation.

Another common cause is accidental over-trimming. When too much hoof is removed, the sensitive tissues underneath can become exposed and damaged, triggering this same inflammatory response.

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⚠️ Why Are Granulomas a Problem?

Granulomas are extremely painful and can appear as bright red, strawberry-like masses of tissue. When located on the sole or hoof wall, they make it difficult or impossible for the animal to bear weight on that foot, leading to severe lameness.

If left untreated, granulomas can:
• Cause chronic pain and persistent lameness
• Become infected, leading to deeper abscesses or infection of the pedal bone
• Worsen during warm, wet weather when they are at risk of becoming fly-struck

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🩺 Treatment and Management

The treatment approach depends on the size and severity of the granuloma:

• Small granulomas (less than the size of your pinky fingernail) can sometimes be treated medically.
• Larger or deeper granulomas, or those associated with laminitis or chronic infections like footrot, may require surgical removal to prevent regrowth.

These procedures are veterinary-only because the animal must be sedated to ensure pain-free and precise treatment. Recovery often involves:
• Bandaging the foot for several weeks to promote healing
• Antibiotics to control infection
• Anti-inflammatory medications and, where needed, stronger pain relief

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👨‍⚕️ Take-Home Message

Granulomas are preventable with good hoof care and regular trimming, but it’s vital to understand hoof anatomy and avoid over-trimming. If your goat or sheep has ongoing lameness, particularly if trimming hasn’t helped or you notice abnormal red tissue on the hoof, seek veterinary advice immediately.

📞 If you’re concerned about your animals’ feet, our veterinary team is here to help. Don’t hesitate to contact us for guidance or assistance with lame sheep and goats.

10/11/2025

As the warmer months return, many of us are spending more time outdoors with our beloved pets. However, it's important to remember that not all animals mix well — especially across species, which is often the case on lifestyle blocks.

A recent example is Roger, a much-loved goat who visited the hospital recently following a dog attack. Roger was rushed to us by his attentive owners after they discovered a wound on one of his front legs.

On initial assessment, we identified a moderate bite wound, but we knew from experience that what’s visible on the surface is often only part of the picture.

Roger was placed under general anesthesia so we could thoroughly explore the injury. On closer inspection, we found that the bite wound extended into the underlying muscle. This is a common scenario with dog attacks, while the external wound might seem minor, there can be significant internal damage. Without proper treatment, these hidden injuries can become life-threatening or lead to serious infection.

We performed a thorough debridement and flush of the wound to remove any bacteria or debris introduced by the dog’s mouth, then carefully sutured the site closed. Roger handled the procedure like a true champion! 💪 After a few days of hospitalisation with intravenous antibiotics and pain relief, he’s now well on the road to recovery — and already back to his cheeky self.

🙏 A big thank you to Roger’s owners for their swift action and for trusting us with his care.

This case is an important reminder to our community: please ensure your dogs are securely fenced or kept on a lead, particularly around lifestyle properties where livestock may be nearby. Even the friendliest pets can unintentionally cause serious harm if they stray.

The Lifestyle Vet- Your Lifestyle Block Vet

10/11/2025

🐐✨ Why Regular Hoof Trimming Is So Important for Goats! ✨🐐

Goat hooves don’t stop growing — and just like our fingernails, if they aren’t trimmed regularly, they can grow in all sorts of weird and wonderful directions! When hooves become overgrown or uneven, they start to twist, curl, and place abnormal pressure on the soft tissues inside the foot. Over time, this can cause serious pain 😣.

Add on a carbohydrate or protein rich diet (grain/pellets/ obesity) and this lead to conditions like laminitis — an inflammation of the sensitive tissues that connect the hoof wall to the bone inside.

The goat in these photos has chronic laminitis and very rapid hoof growth. You can see how the hooves have become windswept and misshapen — a classic sign of long-term laminitic changes. There are also small red areas of bleeding between the hoof wall and the white line, showing that the inflammation is still active and painful. This poor goat was sore on all four feet and needed anti-inflammatories, careful corrective trimming, and a diet overhaul to help reduce inflammation and support hoof recovery.

Regular hoof trimming isn’t just about appearances — it’s a crucial part of goat health and welfare. Keeping hooves balanced helps your goats walk comfortably, maintain good posture, and avoid long-term leg and joint problems. Pair that with a balanced diet, regular checks, and early intervention, and your herd will stay happy and healthy on their hooves! 💫

👉 If your goats are due for a trim, or if you’ve noticed uneven or overgrown hooves, now’s the perfect time to book in a visit! Regular maintenance makes all the difference — and your goats will thank you for it with happy, springy steps! 🐐💚✨

The Lifestyle Vet- Your Lifetsyle Block Vet

0278385433
[email protected]

14/10/2025

A couple of weeks ago, we had an unexpected (and very brave!) visitor at the clinic — Bella the goat who got into a headbutting match with another goat and unfortunately came out of it with a serious horn injury.

When we arrived to see Bella, she was bleeding profusely from both horns since they had been snapped off at the base where the join the skull. Clearly, she was in a considerable amount of pain.

On examination, we discovered that the injury wasn’t just superficial but had actually exposed part of both of her frontal sinuses, a hollow area within the skull located just beneath the horn.

Why is that serious?

The frontal sinus is a sensitive, air-filled space that connects to the nasal passages. When it becomes exposed — especially through a traumatic horn break — it can lead to infection, sinusitis, and severe pain. In some warmer months, these frontal sinuses can also become fly-struck! These types of injuries need proper cleaning, surgical intervention, and close post-op monitoring.

Bella was placed under general anaesthesia so we could carefully debride the exposed tissue, clean the sinus cavity, and surgically close the areas as must as possible to prevent infection. Unfortunately, the horn base area was extensive, so the wound had to heal slowly by growing new tissue to bridge the gap.

She stayed with us for hospitalisation, antibiotics, rigorous pain management (opioids, gabapentin, anti-inflammatories and fentanyl patches), and lots of TLC before return home to continue her recovery.

We’re happy to report that Bella is recovering well and is back to her cheeky self.

If you have goats, remember:

Horn injuries can quickly become life-threatening if the sinus is exposed.
Watch for bleeding, swelling, discharge, or behavioral changes after a fight.
Always seek veterinary attention promptly.

💪 We’re proud of Bella’s resilience and glad we could help her heal. Well done to her wonderful owners for going above and beyond for their beautiful goat.

The Lifestyle Vet- Your Lifestyle Block Vet

0278385433
[email protected]

04/10/2025

🐑💞 A Happy Ending for a Brave Little Ewe and Her Twin Girls! 💞🐑

Our team were called out today to help a lovely 1-year-old ewe who had been in stage 1 of labour since 9am, but by 1pm there were still no signs of progress. Her wonderfully proactive owner trusted their gut and gave us a call — and it’s a good thing they did! 🙌

On examination, we found that one lamb had a leg back, which was preventing her from being delivered. Without intervention, both lambs would likely have died in utero.

Thanks to the owner’s quick action and our rapid response, we were able to safely lamb two beautiful female twins 💕🐑🐑

Mum was understandably a bit shocked and quite sore after the ordeal, but she received morphine, Metacam, and antibiotics to keep her comfortable and to help prevent a uterine infection (since we’d been in there helping those babies out).

We’re thrilled to report that both lambs and mum are doing very well — a fantastic outcome and a lovely reminder of how important early intervention can be! 🌿✨

👉 If your ewe has been in stage 2 labour for more than a couple of hours (two hours to be exact) without making progress, please give your vet a call — acting early can make all the difference for both mum and lambs! 💕

The Lifestyle Vet

0278385433

Www.thelifestylevet.co.nz

23/09/2025

Excellent article. Excellent picture 🤣👌🙈🐐🐏🐖🐄🦙

Please don’t rotate your drenches without evidence to do so! This little write up from Wormcheck is a must read ☺️

Spring is here! Therefore, it is time for your annual reminder that
you👏do👏not 👏need👏to👏automatically👏rotate👏wormers👏

There is nothing quite like people saying “I rotate my wormers!” to get my eye twitching. It is mostly the way people tell me, half proud of themselves for doing what they have been told is the right thing. So I cannot slap them as Batman is slapping Robin because it isn’t really their fault.

But the truth is, rotating actives is not always the right thing; you’ve been lied to, with the idea that it will prevent drug resistance and keep your horses healthy.
The “rotating” wormers regime puts people into a system of deworming for the sake of deworming: Oh, I used a “red” wormer in autumn, now that it is spring it’s time for a “green” one.
I have nothing against changing actives when worming, however swapping actives because the wheel on the stable fridge tells you to is very unscientific. And it does not prevent drug resistance.
If you want to prevent drug resistance there are two things you need to do:
1) Get a FEC prior to every deworming treatment. Let the FEC results guide you to choosing what dewormer to use – if you need to use one at all. The choice should be based on age, weather, climate, what worms are present, what drug resistance you have on your property, paddock situation/herd mates. You should always choose your dewormer based on the CURRENT infection, not a past treatment.
2) Find out what drug resistance you have on your property by getting FECs done AFTER treatment as well. If it turns out that the classically labelled “green” drenches (the benzimidazoles) do not work well, then rotating to them in spring is worse than useless.

It does not have to be your job alone to decide if your horse needs to be dewormed, or with what it should be treated with if it does. That’s the job of people like me (a parasitologist!) and vets. That is what we are here for, and I would much prefer you to ask rather than to continue putting unnecessary or inappropriate drenches down your horses’ throats.

Lastly, make sure to get your horses checked via FEC this spring. All details on how to get samples to me are up on the website (link in comments).

NB: This is a respost from Spring 2024.

17/09/2025

Exolt to the Rescue- Treating Red Mites in your Chickens

As we move into the warmer months, parasites are rife amongst many of our lifestyle pets, and our feathery friends are no different. One particularly nasty parasite is the red mite (Dermanyssus gallianae).

These tiny critters (less than 1mm long) spend the day hiding in all the cracks and crevices of your chook house away from the light. At night time the emerge, scuttling up the legs of roosting birds and onto their feathers to suck blood. They are termed red mites, as they turn red as they fill with blood, however the unfed mites are a light brownish grey colour, and are much more difficult to see in the coop. They can survive for up to 10 months with no blood, so will go on living long after the chickens have left the coop!

With heavy infestations these mites can drink 3% of a hen’s blood volume each night. Over a few weeks this can result in anaemia and death from blood loss. Even in low infestations, red mites are a problem, and they carry diseases like Salmonella, Pasteurella, Listeria, E. coli and Staphylococcus. They spread diseases between birds, and as they also suck on human blood, they have the potential to spread diseases from birds to their owners too.

Signs of a red mite infestation may include:

- Noisy or restless birds at night
- Birds reluctant to roost or lay in their hen house
- Increased grooming behaviour
- Drop in egg production
- Pale comb and wattles (anaemia)
- Blood spots in eggs, changes in egg appearance
- Family members/other pets itching

Try visiting your hen house in the night with a bright torch, you may find red mites crawling out of the nooks and crannies to climb onto your birds.

If you are concerned about Red Mites, what can you do to get rid of them?

We are now stocking a fantastic red mite treatment product called Exzolt.
This is the only registered mite treatment product on the market currently for chickens. It is extremely effective, with studies reporting over 97% efficacy. It is easy to treat birds.

We administer 2 treatments, 7 days’ apart. Exzolt can either be added to the drinking water of your flock, or we can provide you with a diluted treatment to give individual birds orally (this can be given on a food treat, or carefully syringed into the mouth). The other benefit is that Exzolt has no egg withholding period, so it is safe to eat the eggs from your hens after treatment. We are able to dispense doses for small flocks or individual birds too!

Get in touch with us to find out more about this product, and how you can get some for your flock this summer!

The Lifestyle Vet- Your Lifestyle Block Vet

027 838 5433
email: [email protected]

www.thelifestylevet.co.nz

15/09/2025

HAPPY BIRTHDAY HAZEL 🥰 🥳 🎉

Hazel is one year old and The Lifestyle Vet team are overjoyed to have been able to get her this far, thanks to her incredible owners who went above and beyond to save her life.

Hazel had the biggest cleft palate we had ever seen. A multitude of specialists came together to create a surgical plan. After two successive surgeries and a number of stints in hospital to treat aspiration pneumonia, she made a fully recovery and is loving life on the farm with her mum.

A big thank to Hawke’s Bay Vet Services for referring this case to us. It’s great to see vets out there determined to find solutions for their patients, even if that means referring them half way across the country ❤️🐐🐏🐖🐄🦙

The Lifestyle Vet- Your Lifestyle Block Vet