Wildlife services

West Coast Vets work closely with the local Department of Conversation 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

Joining the herd: Kate

Hi there, I'm Kate.  Originally from Wellington, I first left to pursue a career with horses, initially in NZ, then further afield in Australia and the UK. I was fortunate to work across various equRead more

Tackling liver fluke

Liver fluke (fasciola hepatica) is a parasite of the trematode family. It affects a whole range of animals - not only cattle and sheep, but also people and horses!  It has a very complex life cycle,Read more

Managing nutrition during the transition period

Although this season has officially not ended yet, we must look to next season already. There are diet changes ahead and every change requires time for the rumen to adjust.  The first upcoming dietRead more

Scours vaccines

Before we have even finished drying off, it is time to start looking ahead and getting prepared for next season. At an already stressful time of the year, sick and scouring calves is frustrating andRead more

Growing great girls!

As the dry period looms, it is important to be thinking about how to maintain or improve the body condition of your herd to meet spring targets. Body Condition Scores (BCS) are a great indication of Read more

Keep your furry friend smiling

Nothing warms your heart more than your happy, smiling dog welcoming you home at the end of the day.  Just like us, to keep that happy smile, cats and dogs rely on healthy teeth and gums for theirRead more

Lameness: Part 3

For the final instalment of the lameness trilogy, we are going to look into the last couple of conditions commonly seen and a procedure to remove incurable toes.Read more

Joining the WCV herd: Molly

Hi, My name is Molly and I’ll be hanging out on-farm with the vets as their new tech. Before I took this job, I was working as a barista in one of the local cafes and as an AB assistant andRead more

Prevent down cows at the works

With cull cow season in full swing, now is a good time for a refresher on some essentials your animals need, before being loaded onto a truck, to avoid down cows on arrival at the works.  The localRead more

Salmonella vaccination

Salmonella is a zoonotic disease, which means it not only affects cattle, but can be passed to humans too. Immuno-compromised or pregnant people are the most at risk of infection. There are four mainRead more

Bulk milk somatic cell count and cow health

The bulk milk somatic cell count (BMSCC) refers to the concentration of white blood cells produced by the entire herd into the vat.  Cell counts above 400,000 cells/ml are regarded as unfit forRead more

The end of an era!

As some of you will be aware, Harold has been reducing his days at West Coast Vets for the last few years and has now decided to step back and retire from his role in the retail team.  He is stillRead more