Eltham Vet Service

29/11/2025

21/11/2025

Is this your very friendly happy female pup. Hanging around the vet clinic after hours tonight. No microchip. If she’s your please ring 067648196 to arrange pick up

20/11/2025

Congratulations to our Bravecto Pack winner Jane. We hope you enjoy your Ashley & co pamper pack.
This month we are giving away a Barkers Giftbox, purchase any Bravecto product to be in the draw to win!

16/11/2025

Fonterra farmers can apply to receive customer funding up to $1500 for solutions designed to drive on-farm efficiency gains and reduce emissions intensity as long as they achieve the Co-operative Difference in 2025/26. Many of you will be eligible for this with Fonterra expecting 85% of its farmers to qualify. The end date for applications is the 30th November so get in quick.
Some of the included services are listed below. Contact us to discuss BVD tissue testing for your calves or to discuss booking in a milk Johnes test (limited spots available)

Animal performance – through LIC & CRV
• 4th and subsequent herd tests
• BVD tissue testing for animals less than 12 months
• Johne’s disease testing carried out on milk samples
• Genomic testing
• Sexed semen services

07/11/2025

Weaning Time – Setting Your Calves Up for Success!
Weaning can be a challenging time for your calves — they’re transitioning from milk to pasture and being exposed to new bugs and environments. With the right prep and management, you can set them up for success.
Before you start weaning, ask yourself:
➡️ Is the calf eating enough meal?
➡️ Has the rumen developed properly?
➡️ Is it meeting weight targets?
➡️ Is it the right age?
➡️ Can it hold its own with the rest of the group?
Rumen development is the big one.
Don’t rush it — give calves at least 2 weeks to adjust as you slowly cut back milk. Keep meal going for another 2 weeks post-weaning to help them through the change and avoid growth checks. They should be eating more than 1kg of meal/calf/day. Keep an eye on how they’re eating and behaving — pick up on any that might be struggling early.
MINIMUM weaning weights:
🐮 Jerseys – 70 kg
🐮 Friesian x Jerseys – 80 kg
🐮 Friesians – 90 kg
Heavier calves at weaning grow into better, stronger heifers. It’s a good idea to weigh again 1–2 weeks after weaning — they should still be gaining. If not, keep offering meal a bit longer.
Couple of extra tips:
✅ Pre-weaning drench: Drenching them before starting the weaning process will ensure they do not get overwhelmed by intestinal parasites. A drench like Turbo Initial is a great option — it’s got a coccidiostat to help protect against coccidiosis too.
✅ Trace element boost: Weaning’s a stressful time! A Multimin injection pre-weaning helps keep trace element levels (especially copper for growth) up and gives their immune system a good boost.
A bit of extra care now means smoother weaning, better growth, and stronger heifers in the long run.

05/11/2025

Hi, I’m Briani, and I’m excited to join the team and be one of the receptionists at the clinic. I’ve worked in the rural veterinary industry before but had a few years away. I am looking forward to being back.
Outside of work, I’m usually spending time with my husband or keeping busy with our three dogs, I love competing with my youngest dog in agility while the other two are enjoying retirement.
I can’t wait to meet you and your animals soon!

03/11/2025

Wanting to upskill yourself or your staff in Lame cows? Contact the clinic to book in your spot. 9.30am-2.30pm, morning tea and lunch included.

03/11/2025

🎆Fireworks Reminder🎆

FIREWORKS

We have tools that can help your pets to relax during fireworks

Sileo is a new to market medication that can be given by the owner before or early on in a fearful event. It’s specifically made to help with acute anxiety and fear associated with noise in dogs. A vet visit is needed to check general health prior to use and it is a prescription only medication

Other products such as Thundershirts, Adaptil collars/spray or diffusers, Calmex capsules or liquid can also help
Come in for a discussion/vet visit to see how we can best help your pet

General tips and tricks to help are

• Make a den - Many pets have a favourite place to go and hide, identify where they like to go in your house and make sure they have access to it. Alternatively build a den for your pet to go,
choose somewhere warm and away from the windows and create a safe cosy hideout with a comfy bed and access to water.
• Background noise - Play music to try to distract them.
• Be cheerful - Be a good role model to them. If you can be with your pet when they encounter the stressful situation, ignore whatever it is that the pet is fearful of.
• Exercise - If possible, take your dog out for a walk to tire them out before they encounter the stressful situation.

28/10/2025

WHEN TO DETECT HEATS
Heat detection is one area where the amount of effort you put in translates directly in to the results you get out. Time and time again we see that people who go the extra mile for heat detection get the best results.

Make a note of cows who may be bulling (cows standing to be ridden, riding other cows, hanging out with other bulling cows):
• When you go to get the cows from the paddock
• As the cows are walking in, and in the yard before milking (cows show more obvious heat signs when moving)
• An hour or two after milking in the morning and evening (paddock checks)
Get staff involved in spotting potentially bulling cows, it is a great opportunity to train them (but make sure it is someone experienced making the final call)

We get it that mating is a busy time and you're all still tired from calving but we consistently see that farmers who go the extra mile in terms of heat detection (ie do paddock checks!) get the best results

"If in doubt - draft her out" - if you are in doubt about a cow draft her out during milking and take a closer look for some of the more subtle signs plus check her record for the last time she was inseminated. It is better to take the time to check a cow closely than waste a whole cycles worth of milk next season (21 days x 1.8 milk solids per cow x $10 payout = $378 per cow cycle missed!)