Callide Valley Veterinary Clinic

04/09/2026

CALVING SEASON: WHEN IS IT TIME TO CALL THE VET?

Most calving's go smoothly, but when something goes wrong, time matters.

Keep an eye out for these warning signs:

🐄 Calf presentation doesn’t look right.
You should normally see two front feet and a nose.
One foot, two feet with no nose, a head without feet, or anything else that looks unusual can mean the calf is not positioned correctly.

🐄 The cow is actively straining but making no progress.
If she has been pushing hard and there is no sign of the calf progressing, don't wait too long.

🐄 A calf is visible but isn't coming out.
If the calf appears stuck or the cow is exhausted, she may need assistance.

🐄 Abnormal discharge or bleeding.
A small amount of discharge can occur, but significant bleeding, a bad smell or anything that looks abnormal warrants a call. If there is placenta but no calf, or a 'bag' of fluid hanging out the back end, this could mean the calf is in distress.

🐄 You aren't sure what you're looking at.
If you're standing there thinking "Something doesn't look right...", give us a call. It's much better to call early than to wait until the situation becomes critical.

📞 DON'T FORGET, WE'RE AVAILABLE AFTER HOURS
Monday - Sunday 6AM - 8PM

During calving season, emergencies don't wait for clinic hours.

Call us if you have a calving emergency or you're concerned something isn't right.

📱 Save our number now, before you need it. 07 4992 1814

Calving season is busy! If in doubt, give us a call.

02/09/2026

FOAL CHECK: IS EVERYTHING REALLY OK?

Foals can deteriorate quickly. Sometimes the first signs are small, so it pays to know what to look for.

Some early warning signs include:

• Not getting up or lying down more than usual
• Slow or reluctant to nurse
• Weakness or seeming unusually quiet
• Diarrhoea
• Straining to pass urine or faeces
• Swollen or painful-looking belly
• Trouble breathing
• Fever or feeling unusually hot
• Umbilical stump looking swollen, wet or infected
• Not passing the first stool (meconium)
• Mare not allowing the foal to nurse
• Just looking or acting “not quite right”

👉 Trust your gut. If you’re worried, give us a call sooner rather than later. We would rather check a foal that turns out to be perfectly fine than have a small problem become a big one.

📞 Worried about your foal? Call Callide Valley Vet as soon as possible.

SAVE THIS POST so you have the warning signs handy, and SHARE it with a mate who has a foal on the ground this season.
Contact us: 07 4992 1814 | 26 Gladstone Rd, Biloela QLD 4715

02/09/2026

It’s on again!! Randlab Scoping Day will be happening on Tuesday 15th of September from 1PM onwards. Apologies for the late notice!

Does your horse show any of these signs?

• Changes in attitude
• Decreased performance
• Girthy
• Excessive time spent lying down
• Loose faeces
• Poor appetite
• Poor body condition
• Poor hair coat
• Repeat colic episodes
• Reluctance to train
• Weight loss

Or is your horse currently on ulcer treatment and you would like to see how it’s going?

To book a spot, contact the clinic on:
📞 07 4992 1814

31/08/2026

Make the most of our run days! Whether it's your working dog, family pet, horses or cattle, we can see both small and large animals while we're in your area. Reduced travel costs make it the best time to book.
What can we do on our Run Days?
✔ Reduced travel costs
✔ Small and large animal consultations
✔ Vaccinations
✔ Pregnancy testing
✔ Bull testing and examinations
✔ X-rays
✔ Ultrasounds
✔ Equine dentals
✔ C**t castrations
✔ Lameness examinations
And more! If you're not sure whether your animal can be seen on a run day, just give us a call. We'll be happy to help.
Book ahead to secure your spot and take advantage of our services while we're in your area. 📞 07 4992 1814

30/08/2026

Is it an emergency?

If your cat keeps running to the litter tray but nothing is coming out, don't wait. It could save their life.

A blocked bladder (urinary obstruction) is one of the most common emergencies we see in cats, especially males.

Watch out for signs like:
🐱 Frequent trips to the litter tray
🐱 Straining to urinate
🐱 Crying or appearing uncomfortable
🐱 Licking around the ge***al area
🐱 Small dribbles of urine or no urine at all
🐱 Hiding, becoming quiet or refusing food

A blocked bladder is always an emergency. Without treatment, toxins build up in the body and a blockage can become life-threatening in as little as 24–48 hours.

If you're unsure whether your cat is actually constipated or trying to urinate, it's safest to have them checked. We'd much rather see them early than too late.

If your cat is showing any of these signs, call Callide Valley Vet straight away. Our team is available for emergencies from 6:00 am to 8:00 pm, seven days a week, because when it comes to a blocked cat, every minute counts.

28/08/2026

27/08/2026

**Avian Influenza**
What do I need to know about bird flu?

There is a current outbreak of H5 avian influenza, aka ‘bird flu’ in Australia, including 2 reported cases in wild seabird in Queensland. There remains no detection in poultry or large-scale deaths in any animals in Qld.

Symptoms:
Signs of bird flu usually appear in several or all birds in a flock, including:
• sudden death
• lethargy or reluctance to walk, eat or drink
• droopy appearance or ruffled feathers
• head or limb swelling
• bruising of the wattle, comb, feet or skin
• respiratory signs such as panting, nasal discharge or sneezing
• diarrhoea
• unusual head or neck posture, incoordination, inability to walk or stand
• unusual reduction in egg production.
Avian influenza can only be confirmed through laboratory testing of samples collected by a veterinarian or government animal health officer.

Advice for dealing with wildlife:
AVOID contact with sick or dead wild birds or marine mammals and their environment. Do not touch or collect sick or dead wild birds or wildlife. Don’t touch the birds, their feathers, dropping, eggs, or the area around them. Keep pets away too – don’t let them sniff, touch, or eat the birds.
RECORD what you see if there are multiple sick or dead birds. If safe, record information on the number of dead birds/mammals, species, location, date and time.
REPORT sick or dead wild biords to the Emergency Animal Disease Hotline on 1800 657 888 (24/7)

Advice for poultry:
Take steps to protect your birds
H5 bird flu spreads easily and can infect backyard poultry and pet birds through:
• contact with infected wild birds or feral chickens
• contaminated clothing, shoes, equipment, egg cartons, or vehicles.
If you own backyard poultry or other birds, these simple steps will help protect them:
1. Keep your equipment and enclosure clean
2. Prevent contact between your birds and wild birds
3. Keep feed and water clean
4. Practice good hygiene
5. Limit visitor access
6. Quarantine new birds for at least 30 days

26/08/2026

🐴 Has your foal had enough colostrum? It matters more than you might think.

A foal is born without much protection against disease. That's why colostrum (the mare's first milk) is so important—it gives the foal the antibodies it needs to help fight off infections.

As a general guide:
• A healthy foal should start nursing within 2 hours of birth.
• The first 6–12 hours are the most important, as this is when the foal can absorb those life-saving antibodies.
• If the foal hasn't nursed, the mare isn't producing milk, or you're not sure how much it's had, don't wait.

Did you know we can also test the mare's colostrum quality? A quick milk test can tell us whether the colostrum contains enough antibodies to give your foal the best possible start. If the quality is poor, we can discuss the next steps before it becomes a problem.

The earlier we can help, the better the outcome. We can also perform a blood test on the foal to check whether it has received enough immunity.

If you're worried your foal hasn't had enough colostrum, or you'd like to have your mare's milk tested, give us a call. We'd much rather check early than treat a sick foal later.

Foaling season is an exciting time! Share a photo of your newest arrival in the comments—we'd love to see them!

23/08/2026

Some wake up bright-eyed and ready for cuddles. Others are a little sleepy, a little wobbly, and just want a quiet snooze while the medications wear off.

No matter how they wake up, every patient is closely monitored by our team from the moment they go to sleep until they're safely back on their feet. We keep a close eye on their heart rate, breathing, temperature and comfort, making sure they have a calm and safe recovery.

Fun fact: Just like people, every animal wakes up differently from an anaesthetic. Some are chatting away (in their own way!), some are eager for dinner, and others simply want a cosy blanket and another nap.

We think these sleepy faces are pretty adorable. ❤️

👇We'd love to see your pet's post-vet recovery photos! Share them in the comments, or tell us who's the biggest sleepyhead after a big day out.