Bayside Bovine Veterinary Services

22/07/2024

We have learned recently there may have been a national breed association that hosted an online seminar about adding minerals to water tanks to enhance the bioavailability of the minerals.

If you have questions about mineral supplementation we want to help.

We stongyle discourage all of producers who may have been introduced to this mineral supplementation method to forego its implementation. It has the potential to be quite harmful.

Animals should be provided access to fresh water at all times.

We don’t have a lot to share about the details but heard enough information to assume this may have been widely distributed and therefore we want to stay ahead of it to protect our producers and their livestock.

03/05/2024

We understand many still have questions about the new health testing requirements for dairy cattle.

The major change is that all lactating dairy cattle including must have an interstate paper to travel across state lines direct to slaughter or to an auction facility. This is a Federal statute irrespective of any state official decree.

Non-lactating cattle don’t need to be tested for influenza. Non-lactating animals moved direct to slaughter (even across state lines) do not require a CVI.

Cattle (even bull calves) moving from MD to DE for instance require a CVI and this means they require an official ID tag (the only tag we use at BBVS is an 840 RFID tag) to receive a CVI.

Moving animals to a sale facility within the same state does NOT require the producer to get a CVI.

Our clientele who are currently on a herdcheck schedule and utilizing the National (840 tag) ID program will not have market access disrupted. We will have certificates available same day* for these clients. For those who are NOT currently on a herdcheck schedule with us we will attempt to serve your needs after we have taken care of our established clientele and we anticipate in many instances a 2-3 week wait.

*by 8pm when requested by 9am M-F

27/04/2024

In the updated regulations regarding influenza testing of dairy cattle, dry dairy cattle and lactating cattle transferred directly to slaughter facilities are exempt from testing requirements.

Symptomatic cattle are prohibited from transport. Even direct to slaughter.

*major change from norm* all dairy cattle, even direct to slaughter- require a Certificate of Veterinary Inspection.

25/04/2024

Effective 4/29/2024 we will be implementing and complying with the federal order from USDA-APHIS to require all lactating dairy cattle be tested for Influenza A prior to interstate transport. As a reminder: Delaware to Maryland and Maryland to Delaware transport constitutes INTERstate transfer.

This mandate supersedes all present regulatory requirements for export testing.

Testing as a condition of interstate transport falls under the regulatory statutes of the Federal government.

*INTRAstate transport may still represent substantial risk to bovine, avian and likely other livestock species.

Cattle to cattle and cattle to poultry transmission has been reported which is a concerning development.

*Dr Weeman expects this mandate may likely extend to beef cattle and other species in the future. Beef and small ruminant producers are exempt from testing at this time but are encouraged to take similar precautions to protect their livestock and neighboring poultry operations.

*Exhibitors of livestock should consider the emerging disease risks as they make plans for the show season. Animals not crossing state lines may still be tested before and after exhibition.

*An 8 day quarantine of show stock upon return to the farm is recommended. Separate, private milking equipment at shows is recommended.
Nose to nose contact and communal feed and water sources should be avoided during exhibition.

*Producers with poultry are advised to practice heightened biosecurity measures when attending shows- treat exposure to livestock much the way you would treat exposure to another poultry flock.

*Disinfect trailers and tires following transport. Don’t intermingle livestock from multiple sources on one trailer for transport.

*Producers visiting shows should consider wearing different boots and clothing and change and clean those items prior to tending livestock back home.

*Prevent exposure of livestock, barns, feed and water to wild birds and migratory water fowl.

Influenza A in cattle is now a reportable disease. If a cow tests positive for the virus it does NOT mean the animal, herd or market will be disrupted at this time but there will likely be surveillance of the herd to follow.

We can expect additional developments from this situation and we will provide updates at the point they become relevant.

* Represent epidemiological recommendations from us to our clientele/followers

WASHINGTON, April 24, 2024 – To further protect the U.S. livestock industry from the threat posed by highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza, USDA is sharing a number of actions that we are taking with our federal partners to help us get ahead of this disease and limit its spread. Today, USDA’s A...

25/03/2024

https://www.agweb.com/news/livestock/dairy/breaking-mystery-illness-impacting-texas-kansas-dairy-cattle-confirmed-highly

USDA says genetic sequencing revealed the mystery illness impacting Texas dairies is the same strain of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) that's been in the U.S. The virus is carried by wild waterfowl.

27/01/2024

Always happy to allow my colleagues to carry the burden and share the sentiments that apply universally across the profession.

Subtract the support staff part and it could have been me that wrote this. Help us help you. It really is what we want to do.

13/01/2024

Cattle, the original recyclers. Using the environment as a reason to shun beef simply makes no sense. The goats and sheep, bison and water buffalo deserve equal love.

We don’t want to hear any squealing or clucking about this post, today is simply about the ruminants. We can shed some love for our other barnyard friends later.

24/12/2023

We want to wish everyone a joyous holiday season filled with relaxation, reflection and peace.

28/11/2023

When you call us you won’t always get the quick, cheap, easy option.

Dr Weeman is probably NOT going to slap that band on your 2 month old goat and walk away.

Focusing on the sick animal you called for while ignoring the obvious issue headed down the line one pen over is just not who we are.

The across the pasture exam telling you “the goats look good” is not a part of our services menu. It’s simply not how we practice and it never will be.

The reason is simple: we’re actually going to answer the phone when our client has an emergency and we don’t like those calls any more than you do.

We know our approach isn’t for everyone. That’s okay.

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There are options for who provides your farm animals veterinary care in Delaware and the Eastern shore Monday-Friday from 9a-4pm.
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Read. Between. The. Lines. And then call us to get yourself established so we can show you what thorough veterinary care that prevents emergencies looks like BEFORE you have an emergency.

We certainly wouldn’t mind a little fanfare in the comments section to reach more people.

Please,spread this post to your friends: pretend it’s our phone number on Thanksgiving day or Christmas Eve.

23/11/2023

21/10/2023

From the Farm Credit Knowledge Center

Did you know that the milk composition of dairy cows can vary based on various factors? Our updated Dairy Breeds infographic now includes valuable insights into milk fat and protein percentages. However, it's crucial to remember that these averages can differ due to genetics, lactation stage, milk production level, age, environment, disease, and nutrition. According to the University of Nebraska Extension, 55% of the variation in milk composition is influenced by heredity, while 45% is affected by environmental factors like feeding management.

When it comes to dairy farming, choosing the right breed is vital. Each breed has its unique production, milk components, and temperament traits. Other factors like economics, tradition, and current herd genetics also come into play.

06/08/2023

We really do want everyone to know we appreciate you. Truly we do, we are making changes that will enhance and improve our care to you. These are frustratingly slow processes but include: hiring staff, hiring veterinarians and providing a brick and mortar hospital to you!

We are trying to do this the right way to prevent doing what so many veterinarians are forced to do as they grow: jacking up prices. Be patient with us, we are here for you and we don’t think you’ll find a veterinarian more committed to you.

Stay tuned for these changes and developments as they arise and are announced over the next 12-24 months.

In the meantime, PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE heed the requests to respect the business hours. If there is a TRUE EMERGENCY: the animal is legitimately dying, there is lots of blood, there is a new, serious problem that just happened contact us. If not, we want you to hold your questions, your drug orders, your inquiries until business hours.

Sometimes we will touch base with you after hours to check up on cases etc. The thought here is that we want to know all is well so we can relax about your case we were thinking about. When we reach out after hours it’s because we need to either get you your test results as soon as we got them or we simply know it’s the right timing to check progress and we don’t “clock out” and go home at the end of each day. Your good, committed veterinarians are seemingly always clocked in- at least mentally.

When you have a compassionate veterinarian on the other end of the line- every text, every call, every interaction spikes the cortisol at least momentarily. Imagine working for someone with access to you 24/7 who could call you away from your friends, family, mental break at any minute of any day, every day. Now imagine that boss sometimes texts for important things and other time texts for random things as s/he thinks of it out of convenience. You know it’s important to pay attention-you can’t just silence the phone and ignore it. Not even when you’re sleeping.

Now imagine having about 1000 bosses.

The shortage of food animal veterinarians is both real and getting worse. Burnout is the number one cited factor for leaving this segment of practice and if good boundaries are not created we will never find an associate willing to work for us. Dr Weeman will eventually go insane as well (some argue he’s already there). We need to work together!

We want to be responsive and there’s no way to do that consistently if we simply hold or ignore the after hours unimportant inquiries. We will forget about and lose them, then we will develop a bad reputation for ignoring calls. We don’t want to share that reputation that has become so common. We want YOU to hold your inquiries so that it doesn’t create constant after hours tasks for us. Like setting a reminder to respond on Monday morning….

If we can not come to an agreement here we are going to be forced to assess the true value of these weekend and night and holiday inquiries with very real fees. Basically taking us back to the 90s where you pay per text message and per phone minute but not at phone company prices…it will be at emergency, concierge medicine prices.

We do care about you, we are compassionate about giving you great care and we want to be responsive. Please don’t take advantage of that. Let us continue to care a lot by allowing us a small break when it is rightly deserved and there is not a true emergency.

Sometimes it may not be clear what is or is not an emergency and we get that. We aren’t going to ever yell at anyone for calling but one simple way for you to personally assess whether it is important enough to pick up the phone and contact your veterinarian about it is whether you squarely believe it would be appropriate if you received a sizeable invoice for the time to answer the question. If your thought is absolutely I need my vet- then send the call, text, email, inquiry.

If your thought is wow, what a jerk, when did they become all about the dollar to answer a simple question: HOLD that inquiry to business hours when we will be more than happy to answer it for FREE!

Please, share this and help us, help you. While we don’t speak for our colleagues and other veterinary practices there is a 99.99% likelihood your other vets all agree! There’s just an 89.9% likelihood their management would never allow for such honest client communication; we like honesty, you like it too. If we never really explain anything how can we expect anyone to understand.

Please show us you understand.

02/08/2023

Almost everything we do as a mobile veterinary provider involves knowing your physical mailing address. The GPS does not take us to “town” Maryland or near the old church on the corner west of the retired power plant outside of Dover. If you do not know your address, unfortunately we can’t look it up for you (and we still need it).

Emergencies happen-not knowing the address where your animals are located or at least the driveway closest seems dangerous and irresponsible.

A Veterinary Client Patient Relationship requires we know our client, therefore the address of their animals.

To answer billing questions, potential dates of service or literally almost any veterinary related question for you we MUST know your address.

A perk of being established with us is that we will know your address and probably won’t make you keep telling us.

For those who wish to get established we will need your address- in all of its glory; if the information given us would lead to mail sent there being returned to us for incomplete information…that’s not an address.

We try to be clear; voicemails from new contacts without addresses won’t be returned. Sometimes, out of compassion, we break the rule and call back anyway. One rule we’ve yet to break is that if we ask you for your address more than twice via email, text, phone call… we will simply wait for your reply and ignore any future correspondence from you until we have it.

Just give us your address, we aren’t going to spend time extracting this information anymore, we don’t have time to show up unannounced, we don’t care who or what you’re hiding from and we know full well you won’t pay any bills we choose to randomly send you.

If you’re annoyed just thinking of the word “address” now….imagine how we feel.

30/07/2023

The natural inclination to manage calf diseases solely with a needle and a bottle is trumped by a host of other care methods that can guide calves on the road to recovery.

30/07/2023

With no end to the higher feed cost trend in sight, farmers are looking at ways to get the most out of their rations while minimizing wasted feed.

15/07/2023

Due to the popularity of the program we have closed future enrollment in the small ruminant care plans until such time that we will be better able to meet the capacity with exceptional service you expect.

Re enrollment of our loyal clients in the plans will be allowed to continue so for those who love the plan: don’t fret!

The plans may in the future be re-opened and we will make an announcement at that time.

We are still accepting new clientele HOWEVER we are going to continue prioritizing current clients who have emergencies or routine needs.

The number of veterinarians providing large animal services are DECREASING, while our commitment to this endeavor is increasing, so are the wait times to get established as we struggle to meet demand. We are committed to increasing capacity but it is not going to happen over night. This is a reminder again that if you have livestock and you have not seen a veterinarian within the last 12 months you don’t have a vet (including us). A Veterinary Client Patient Relationship expires, by law, after one year.

Regardless of the laws, if you aren’t seeing the vet annually what needs to be done isn’t getting done to prevent problems.

Preventing emergencies with preventive medicine is what we do to make sure you keep your vet bills low, your animals healthy and preserve our ability as a veterinary provider to serve this region efficiently…emergency care is not efficient care.

For some, who aren’t clients of ours, it would be wise to reach out to the vet currently servicing your herd to find out if you have an unexpected emergency if and when you could expect to be seen. The time to meet us is BEFORE you have an emergency. If you believe a vet can’t help you prevent emergencies (particularly in small ruminants) let us be clear: you are wrong.

Friends don’t let friends have livestock without a vet. We appreciate the referrals and sharing our contact with friends when they have emergencies is fine but sharing it BEFORE they have an emergency is best.

Priority for emergency care is as follows:
Established clients
Small Ruminant Plan clientele
….a very distant third- those we’ve never heard from (and when we take non-client ER cases all of the standard emergency fees are doubled)

We think honesty is important, people need straight forward communication. That’s what you have here and it’s what you will expect when we show up to keep your herd in top notch shape.

Thank you so much to all of you for trusting us to provide care to your herd, flock and pets.

14/07/2023

If you own a pot belly pig and live in Delaware, don’t skip this post.

DOVER – A new regulation was published in the Delaware Register of Regulations on June 1 listing potbellied pigs and feral swine of any kind as invasive. The Delaware Department of …

13/07/2023

Drop shipments will be interrupted, delayed or unavailable IF UPS were to strike. Order enough essentials now to carry you through the second week of August if you are concerned.

In stock supply chain will be interrupted as well.
Meaning we won’t likely be able to hold you over if you don’t have something you need.

This is a message about business and your herds health NOT politics. Don’t, comment about the politics on this page.

Dr Weeman

30/06/2023

The lung of a cow, sheep, pig, goat, cat and a dog are essentially the same and if it bothers the lung of a human it should be considered a potential risk to all of them.

They all can’t come in but eye discharge, dry coughing and increased risk of pneumonia are things we must look out for.

Wildfire smoke drifting across Canada and the US can irritate pets' eyes and respiratory system and make it difficult for them to breathe, and pets with flat faces as well as those with chronic conditions are at particularly high risk, says AVMA President Dr. Lori Teller. When air quality is poor, l...

10/06/2023

Dairy farmers recycled before recycling was cool.

Dairy farmers use water responsibly in their milking parlors and in manure management and storage. Typically, wastewater is recycled to flush barn alleys and irrigate fields. 🐮♻️ bit.ly/3qnvfb3

14/05/2023

Check up today! We have a few ideas of what might be going on, but otherwise he’s doing fairly well and very bright! Thank you Bayside Bovine Veterinary Services for taking care of our little guy so thoroughly!

30/04/2023

Psssst- tell your friends, their vet they haven’t called in the past 2-5 years is probably no longer in practice. Perhaps the vet they do have doesn’t see emergencies?

We’d love if you could pass our contact info along before they have a problem. If you haven’t seen your vet in the last year…you don’t actually have one.

If we can meet your friends more regularly and not during a crisis, we can reward everyone with more efficient, less costly service and maybe another vet!

We will reward your friend by preventing the emergency from happening in the first place (most of the time).

Also by sparing them the really costly “non-client” emergency fee that we are introducing MAY 1st. It will DOUBLE the already costly ER fees for those who call during emergency hours and haven’t been seen by us in the past year.

We think everyone should spread the word to help us avoid adding that to any of our upcoming invoices!

Let’s work together to prevent emergencies and care for the critters.

30/03/2023

Wear gloves, wash hands and prevent scratches and bites. When animals large or small have abnormal skin lesions it is always important to protect yourself.

The zoonotic disease cat-transmitted sporotrichosis, first identified in Brazil, has since spread to neighboring countries and, more recently, the United Kingdom. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention warned it has the potential of spreading to the United States.

25/02/2023

We haven’t been here posting much for about the past year because, quite frankly there isn’t time. We are incredibly grateful to our clientele. Our commitment to provide access to responsive veterinary service, same day treatment and veterinary advice has never been stronger.

We know we have a reputation as the veterinarian that 1. Will return your calls 2. Won’t ignore your calls 3. Will actually arrive to your farm to treat the animals-in a reasonable timeframe. We will continue to maintain that. It is time for some reminders to help us help you.

Please check our listing at

https://www.google.com/search?client=safari&hl=en-us&sxsrf=AJOqlzVuXfDJf4et3M5YWka_HwBiUJwS5Q:1677329307854&q=Bayside+Bovine+Veterinary+Services&ludocid=18287662303114062314&gsas=1&client=safari&ibp=gwp;0,7&lsig=AB86z5WTRYDYVa6APeR2WJRky3Wc&kgs=54c24677a3304c20&shndl=-1&shem=lssle&source=sh/x/kp/local/3 =cid:CgIgAQ%3D%3D

Take note of the hours. While you know you can reach us 24/7 those hours tell you when you SHOULD. Outside of those hours if your animal is not experiencing a life-threatening emergency or if you would be upset if the veterinarian taking your call requested payment for emergency services or even payment for the after hours phone/text discussion we ask you to hold your phone call for the business hours listed.

The clients and animals we serve our still a top priority and we want to be here for them for decades to come. Please continue to allow us the opportunity to do so, and allow us the opportunity to be mentally and physically present with other, more personal things that matter as well.

The number of after hours texts/calls and life interruptions for non urgent issues has increased substantially. If there is a true emergency please call, if not, please wait.

14/01/2023

Did you know cattle provide important services to the environment? 🐮🌎 This includes ecosystem benefits like: mitigating the risk of wildfires, water regulation and purification on grazing lands, carbon sequestration, and providing wildlife habitat. bit.ly/2RQ89Kh

04/12/2022

Congratulations to Amy and the gang Four Oaks Farm for officially kicking off their direct to consumer marketing!

29/05/2022

The exact geological center of the nation- on a remote dirt road in rural South Dakota surrounded by black angus cattle, rolling plains and untouched by the sights or sounds of civilization stands an American Flag. May God Bless all of those who gave everything to allow us to continue to enjoy all of these things.

17/04/2022

Happy Easter from all of us at Bayside Bovine Vets and some of our favorite patients.

14/04/2022

01/04/2022

Small ruminants are increasing in numbers. Sheep and Goats are not the same. Feeding them depends on what you’re doing with them. Managing parasites is critical to both and it’s important to remember neither are “easy” or “low-maintenance” if you’re raising them correctly.