Wildlife services

West Coast Vets work closely with the local Department of Conservation to treat wildlife that have been involved in an accident or who require emergency care. Some kiwi may require fluids prior to being flown to Massey or the Wildlife Centre in Dunedin for ongoing care.  A Caspian Tern was found lost and not eating, an x ray confirmed a fractured wing. Moreporks, Penguins Tuatara and Woodpigeons are also common wildlife to be Vet checked and prescribed medication before being looked after on the West Coast by local wildlife rehabilitation volunteers prior to their release back into the wild. Those that are less fortunate and can’t be released due to the nature of their injuries, will have a forever home at various Wildlife Sanctuaries such as Willowbank Wildlife Reserve in Christchurch.

FURTHER READING

Latest news

Caring for pets over the holidays

The Christmas holidays are fast approaching. If you are heading away, now is a good time to start thinking about what plans you need to make for your pets.   Will you leave them at home and getRead more

Careful with pets and Christmas treats

Christmas treats are something we all look forward to, but for our furry friends, some of these can be extremely toxic, so it is important to keep them out of reach. If you have a pet with a penchantRead more

A lame cow is a cow in pain

A lame cow eats less, which means she then produces less, and she’ll be more likely to struggle getting in calf. Good prevention and early action when you do have a case saves you time and money, aRead more

The benefits of heat detecting before mating

Pre-mating heat detection has several benefits – and they make up for the amount of tail paint used! By observing and recording your cows’ heats before the start of mating, you can make moreRead more

Preparing for reproduction

There are a lot of ways to try to optimise your cows getting back in-calf as quickly as possible.  Firstly, make sure your herd is on a rising plane of nutrition. For a nutritional consultation, getRead more

Trace elements: Are your results normal?

Our advice as vets is to check your stock’s trace element levels before mating, even if your mineral supplementation hasn’t changed or you tested cull cows at dry off.  Unfortunately each seasonRead more

Keeping your pets safe and calm during fireworks

Fireworks can be a beautiful sight, but they can also be stressful for our pets. Here are some simple, practical tips to help keep your animals safe, comfortable, and calm as possible during fireworkRead more

Understanding ear infections in dogs 

The most frequent type of ear infection canines experience is called otitis externa, which simply means inflammation of the outer ear canal. While dogs with floppy or hairy ears (think cockerRead more

Why is my pet so itchy?

Itching, also called pruritus, is a sensation that makes your dog or cat want to scratch, rub, lick, or chew their skin. While occasional scratching can be normal, persistent or severe itching oftenRead more

When the proverbial hits the fan: Calves with scours

As a great farmer – and we know you are – your colostrum management is ideal, with quality (>22 measured on a Brix refractometer), quantity (4-6 litres), quickly (fed within 12 hours of birth),Read more

When to step in and assist a calving

Assist cows if there’s no progress within 30 minutes of the waterbag showing. Assist heifers if there’s no progress within one hour of the waterbag showing. OR assist if you see: Only one leg. OnRead more

Mastitis in dry cows

Did you struggle with mastitis cases amongst your non-lactating cows this winter? Here are a few tips to help keep your herd healthy during the dry period:    Keep cows that have been dried offRead more