Blog

Prevent and Manage Disease on Dairy Farms

When it comes to pests and diseases on a farm, every farm and farmer is at risk. Although diseases can be transferred indirectly on clothing, vehicles, and equipment, the main risk to stock is animal contact. SteriGENE is approved by MPI as a surface sanitiser. However, it can have more practical uses for hygiene, disinfection, and disease control and management on the farm. Diseases Spreading Through Farms As diseases can spread throughout the farm and to other farms, it’s important to minimise traffic on...

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Gypsy Day

It’s moving day! Traditionally known as Gypsy Day, 1 June marks the beginning of a new dairy season which brings a lot of movement around the country. On or around 1 June, we might see the following activity around the country, particularly in rural communities: Sharemilkers pack cows into stock trucks and move their families and equipment to new farms around the country. Dairy farmers, contract milkers and employees move to new farms to start their jobs for the...

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What is a good disinfectant?

With so many different cleaning, sanitising, and disinfection products on the market these days, we thought we’d clarify what a disinfectant actually is. What the differences are between cleaners, sanitisers, and disinfectants, they’re not the same and shouldn’t be used interchangeably. We also explore how a disinfectant is best used, and what a good disinfectant is, because they’re not all created equal. What is a disinfectant? A disinfectant is a substance used primarily on non-living objects to kill viruses, bacteria, and other...

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ANZAC Day – New Zealand Veterinary Corps

This ANZAC Day, we’d like to commemorate the veterinarians who served, transporting, treating, and caring for the animals of war. The New Zealand Veterinary Corps (NZVC) was part of the New Zealand Division during the First World War (WWI), formed in 1907. During WWI, NZVC comprised a small number of qualified veterinarians as commissioned officers, along with blacksmiths and farriers, groomers, teamsters and wagoners, and were essential for military operations. They were first required to oversee the purchase of suitable horses, and...

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Keeping pets safe this Easter

  As Easter approaches, you’re probably planning how you’re going to spend the time with your friends and family. Don’t forget to think about how you’ll keep your pets safe from the many toxins that lurk through this holiday period, even in foods that are perfectly safe for us humans to consume.   Chocolate Keep chocolate well away from your pets! Chocolate contains caffeine and a chemical called theobromine, which is toxic for our furry friends. While it’s not often fatal, it can still...

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Preventing Liver Disease and Facial Eczema

Facial Eczema is a common disease in New Zealand caused by the spores of the fungus Pithomyces chartarum. It is especially common during the humid, warm months – December to May. It costs the industry an estimated $200m annually. Infection can lead to reduced fertility as well as reduced milk and meat production. Pithomyces chartarum is a toxin that causes severe liver damage in pasture-fed animals. The toxin makes its way to the animal’s liver, causing severe damage, which presents as...

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Made scientist

The cure could be worse than the disease

There are many examples in the past of the old adage “the cure is worse than the disease”. There are some horrendous stories of remedies, many composed of simple quackery, which did more harm than good, or some harm and no good at all. As well as some of the old human beliefs veterinary science has also had its share of questionable practices. Firing of horses’ tendons was rife before and into the 20th century. This thankfully faded into history but...

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A brown Labrador licking his chops as he looks at the camera

Everything Your Patients Should Know About Dog Dental Care

Dog dental care is an essential practice that, unfortunately, often falls by the wayside! In fact, bad breath is so rampant in dogs that most canine owners think gag-worthy breath is normal! According to the American Kennel Club, most dogs will experience canine periodontal disease by three years old simply because their owners don’t know how to prevent it. CPD goes far beyond bad breath, posing an actual risk to the dog’s longevity, but many canine owners don’t know the...

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A cute grey cat being examined by a veterinarian on a house call

The Veterinarian’s Essential House-Call Tool Kit

The variety of animal wound care products and instruments in a veterinarian’s arsenal is almost endless, and from that there are a few that they must take with them wherever they go. Diagnosing and treating animals is a complex business often carried out in the patient’s home, and the tools needed by these vets must be present to get the best possible picture of the animal’s health. If you’re feeling curious about what vets are carrying around in their begs,...

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A dog sitting on a beach while facing the camera, cocking its head

The Role of Electrolytes in Animal Physiology

Electrolytes for animals are a crucial component of any veterinarian’s arsenal. Now that New Zealand is heading into summer, our pets and animals—from the racehorse to the humble domestic canine—will experience the stress that comes with over-sweating and dehydration. So, there’s no better time to brush up on your electrolyte knowledge: what are they, what do they do, and what happens if animals don’t have enough? What are electrolytes? In essence, electrolytes are salts and minerals we take into our bodies. We...

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