The Vet Clinic Wairarapa Production Animal

The Vet Clinic Wairarapa Production Animal We’re a rural veterinary team supporting farmers to keep livestock healthy & productive.

From FE & FEC monitoring to on-farm visits & advice, we share practical tips, seasonal updates & real insights from vets & techs working alongside you.

It’s fair to say that when you live right across the road from the cattle yards, calf weaning season means one thing… ve...
05/05/2026

It’s fair to say that when you live right across the road from the cattle yards, calf weaning season means one thing… very little sleep 😅

The calling, the pacing, the unsettled nights — it’s all part of the process. Weaning can be a stressful time, not just for the calves and cows, but for those of us nearby too. You feel for them, hearing that bond being tested as they adjust to the change.
It’s a tough few days (and nights), but it’s all part of raising strong, independent stock.

Have a listen to tomorrow’s video from Dr Sara, who will explain some health issues that you may see during the weaning process — it’s a great way to better understand what’s going on during this time.

On Farm. On Call. On Your Side!

🚨 REMINDER! 🚨TVC Vet Freight 2 Gate kicks off tomorrow WEDNESDAY 6 MAY! 🎉📦 Spend $150+ = FREE delivery straight to your ...
05/05/2026

🚨 REMINDER! 🚨

TVC Vet Freight 2 Gate kicks off tomorrow WEDNESDAY 6 MAY! 🎉

📦 Spend $150+ = FREE delivery straight to your farm gate! No driving into town, no stress—just your goods delivered where you need them.

✅ Drench ✅ Vaccines ✅ Minerals ✅ Dog Food ✅ Guns & Needles ✅ Supplements ✅ Miscellaneous Items

⏰ Get your orders in & let us do the heavy lifting! 🚚💨
Call the clinic NOW 📞 06 378 2662 and get your supplies on the delivery list!

Bull sale season’s coming up—don’t just turn up and wing it. A bit of prep now can save you money and set your herd up f...
04/05/2026

Bull sale season’s coming up—don’t just turn up and wing it. A bit of prep now can save you money and set your herd up for the next few years.
Start by taking a hard look at your cows:

▶Are they the right type and size for your country? Bigger cows eat more, and with tighter conditions, efficiency matters more than ever.
▶How’s fertility really looking? If things are slipping, is it genetics—or are feed, minerals, or animal health playing a bigger role? The Vet Clinic can help sort that out.
▶Weaning weights up to scratch? Calves should be doing close to 1kg/day on the cow. If they’re not, think feed, milk, and growth genetics.

Next, don’t forget the bulls—they’ve done the work, now check them properly:
▶Anything odd at pregnancy testing that could point to bull performance?
▶Are they sound and in good nick, or have they knocked themselves around?
▶Young bulls drenched after mating?
▶Plan ahead for winter—copper and lice treatments are often needed.

Once you’ve worked through that, you’ll have a much clearer idea of what you actually need in your next bulls—and where you can make real gains.
And one tip that pays: go and see your breeder before sale day. You’ll get a better feel for the bulls, make calmer decisions, and you’re far less likely to get carried away when the bidding starts.

On Farm. On Call. On Your Side!

Ⓕⓤⓝ Ⓕⓐⓒⓣ ⒻⓡⓘⓓⓐⓨDid you know that Flamingos are pink on the inside, not just the outside?These flamboyant birds are adap...
01/05/2026

Ⓕⓤⓝ Ⓕⓐⓒⓣ Ⓕⓡⓘⓓⓐⓨ

Did you know that Flamingos are pink on the inside, not just the outside?
These flamboyant birds are adapted to collect and metabolise caroteniod pigments - the chemicals found in algae, crustaceans and microscopic plant materials that form tones of orange, red, yellow and pink. The pink colouration is most obvious in a flamingo's plumage - what we do not see is the impregnation of the birds tissues, skin, blood and even it's egg yolk.
Our animal world is truly an amazing place!

30/04/2026

**Sorry for the 'technical glitch'. Let's try again this time with Dr Sara's video attached 🤞

We've had a couple of cracker questions roll in this week after last week's video and Dr Sara will answer them this week.
Remember, there's no silly questions. If you're wondering about it, chances are your neighbour over the fence is too.... they just haven't asked yet 😉.
So, don't be shy - flick your questions through. We'd rather answer them now than see you trial and error your way into a "learning experience" out in the paddock!
Keep them coming in by dropping them in the comments below ⬇️.

On Farm. On Call. On Your Side!

🐄🐑 All creatures big and small – we love them all. 🐶🐱As animal lovers ourselves, we know just how stressful it can be wh...
29/04/2026

🐄🐑 All creatures big and small – we love them all. 🐶🐱

As animal lovers ourselves, we know just how stressful it can be when one of your farm animals is unwell or your beloved pet isn’t quite themselves. They’re not just animals — they’re your livelihood, your companions, and part of the family. 💚

Whether you have sick animals out in the paddock or at home on the couch, we’re here to support you every step of the way.

📞 The Vet Clinic is just a phone call away whenever you need us.

On Farm. On Call. On Your Side!

Before opening day of duck season, make sure your four-legged mate is just as prepared as you are 🦆🐕Pop into The Vet Cli...
29/04/2026

Before opening day of duck season, make sure your four-legged mate is just as prepared as you are 🦆🐕

Pop into The Vet Clinic and grab a Pet First Aid Kit — small, handy, and packed with essentials for those unexpected moments.

And don’t forget to worm your dog, at least 48 hours before heading out onto farm properties. It’s a simple step that helps prevent the spread of sheep measles — something every farmer will appreciate.

Good preparation keeps everyone safe — happy hunting!

On Farm. On Call. On Your Side!

Wairarapa farmers & lifestyle block owners — we want to hear from you 👇We often get called out to tend to sick or injure...
28/04/2026

Wairarapa farmers & lifestyle block owners — we want to hear from you 👇

We often get called out to tend to sick or injured animals, and all too often there are no holding yards — or the setups in place have the potential for disaster, putting both stock and people at risk.

Safe, practical handling facilities make a huge difference. Not just for us as vets, but for you and your animals too.

We also know that for many smaller blocks, permanent yards aren’t always realistic — whether it’s due to space or the cost. Having access to mobile cattle yards could be a practical, cost-effective option when you need them.

With that in mind, we’ve heard there may be an option for a third party to hire out a small set of mobile cattle yards locally. We’re really keen to know — is this something you’d use?

Would having access to portable yards make those tricky jobs easier, safer, and less stressful on your place?

Drop a comment below or flick us a message. Your feedback could help bring a really practical solution to the region 👍

𝔸𝕟𝕥𝕚𝕗𝕣𝕖𝕖𝕫𝕖 𝕒𝕟𝕕 𝕐𝕠𝕦𝕣 𝕎𝕠𝕣𝕜𝕚𝕟𝕘 𝔻𝕠𝕘𝕤🚜 Antifreeze Poisoning – Important Warning for Farmers & Pet Owners 🚜Antifreeze might se...
27/04/2026

𝔸𝕟𝕥𝕚𝕗𝕣𝕖𝕖𝕫𝕖 𝕒𝕟𝕕 𝕐𝕠𝕦𝕣 𝕎𝕠𝕣𝕜𝕚𝕟𝕘 𝔻𝕠𝕘𝕤
🚜 Antifreeze Poisoning – Important Warning for Farmers & Pet Owners 🚜

Antifreeze might seem harmless, but it can be deadly – even in tiny amounts. It contains ethylene glycol, a chemical that causes severe kidney damage and can quickly lead to death.

🐾 Why is it so dangerous?
Antifreeze has a sweet taste, which makes it very appealing to dogs and other animals. They’ll often lick it up if given the chance.

❄️ Higher risk during frosty weather
In winter, this risk increases. Normal water puddles freeze, but antifreeze puddles stay liquid – sometimes making them one of the only available water sources for animals.

⚠️ Real risk here in New Zealand
This isn’t just overseas – there have been cases here where entire flocks of birds have died after drinking from a single contaminated puddle.

🐕 Signs of antifreeze poisoning
* Vomiting
* Wobbliness or unsteady movement
* Lethargy
* Increased drinking and urination (as kidneys fail)
* Seizures/convulsions

💔 Sadly, once kidney damage occurs, it is usually irreversible.

💉 Can it be treated?
If caught very early, a vet may be able to prevent kidney damage. But timing is critical.

👉 What you can do:
* Never leave antifreeze puddles on the ground
* Clean up spills immediately
* Dispose of used antifreeze safely
* Keep pets and stock away from areas where vehicles are serviced

If you suspect your dog has ingested Antifreeze call your vet as soon as possible - DON'T DELAY MAKING THAT CALL!
A small spill can have devastating consequences — please take care and spread the word.

On Farm. On Call. On Your Side!

ⒻⓊⓃ ⒻⒶⒸⓉ ⒻⓇⒾⒹⒶⓎThe world can throw us some strange things… but this one takes the cake 🤯🐸Ever heard of the Suriname ...
24/04/2026

ⒻⓊⓃ ⒻⒶⒸⓉ ⒻⓇⒾⒹⒶⓎ

The world can throw us some strange things… but this one takes the cake 🤯🐸

Ever heard of the Suriname toad? It’s a flat, fully aquatic frog from the South American rainforest, and it’s got one of the wildest ways of raising young ever seen.

Instead of laying eggs and leaving them, the female actually carries them in her back — literally. The eggs settle into little honeycomb-like pockets in her skin, where they stay for 4–5 months. When they’re ready, fully formed baby frogs pop right out. No tadpole stage swimming around… just straight to frog life!

They’re ambush predators too, sitting still and snapping up prey with those strange star-shaped fingertips.

Makes you appreciate the usual farm critters a bit more — though I reckon if one of these showed up in the trough, it’d give the stock (and me) a proper scare 😂

Nature never runs out of surprises.

And just like that, the Facial Eczema spore REPORTING season has come to an end.Overall, it’s been a kind year for the W...
23/04/2026

And just like that, the Facial Eczema spore REPORTING season has come to an end.

Overall, it’s been a kind year for the Wairarapa, with no major spikes in spore 🦠 counts. That said, don’t get complacent—FE hot spots can still pop up, even in a “good” season like this.

These lower-pressure years can actually be trickier to manage, so it’s important to keep investing in your pasture and prevention every year, not just when risk is high.

Also, remember that photosensitivity isn’t the only cause of skin peeling in stock. If you notice anything unusual or have concerns, give the clinic a call 📞 06 378 2662 and have a chat with one of our farm vets.

On Farm. On Call. On Your Side!

23/04/2026

Why am I vaccinating/drenching my sheep 🐑 more often now?

It's a question we're hearing more these days "I've been farming for 40 years and never had to vaccinate or drench this often - what's changed?"
You're not imagining it. Our sheep and their risks aren't the same as they were decades ago. Shifts in breeding, weather, pasture management and stock intensity have all played a part in changing disease pressures on farm. What use to be occasional is now something we're seeing more regularly - and prevention has to step up to match it.

Vaccinating and drenching are two of the most reliable tools we've got to protect animal health and avoid bigger losses down the track. It might feel like "more than we use to do" but it's about staying ahead of what's in front of us now, not what things looked like 20 or 30 years ago.

👂 Listen to Dr Sara as she explains what's driving these changes and why vaccinating and drenching are playing a bigger role on farm today.
If you've got questions about your own programme or want to make sure you're on the right track, get in touch with the clinic - no question is a silly question!

On Farm. On Call. On Your Side!

Address

24 Lincoln Road
Masterton
5810

Opening Hours

Monday 8am - 5:30pm
Tuesday 8am - 5:30pm
Wednesday 8am - 5:30pm
Thursday 8am - 5:30pm
Friday 8am - 5:30pm
Saturday 9am - 1pm

Telephone

+6463782662

Website

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