Killarney Vets

31/08/2026

A bit of a tight situation… 😅🐶

Willa found herself in a rather unusual predicament after getting her head well and truly stuck inside a piece of poly pipe! We can only assume she was hot on the trail of something that she was chasing.

Unfortunately, getting her head in proved much easier than getting it back out.

Her owners had already done a great job carefully cutting through the pipe to free enough of it for her to move around, but things became a little trickier as they got closer to her head and ears.

With a little sedation on board, plenty of obstetrical lubricant, a few carefully placed cuts and some teamwork, we were able to pry the pipe open just enough to fold her ears back and slide her head safely out.

Thankfully, she was remarkably well considering her ordeal and was very happy to finally have her head back where it belonged!

28/08/2026

🐾 WE’RE HIRING: FULL-TIME VETERINARY NURSE 🐾

Are you an experienced veterinary nurse looking for variety, professional growth and a genuine country lifestyle?

Killarney Vets is seeking an enthusiastic, capable Veterinary Nurse to join our friendly mixed-practice team in beautiful Killarney, Southern Downs Queensland.

This is a full-time, permanent position in a family-owned practice where no two days are the same. You’ll work across small animal, equine and farm animal cases, with opportunities to use your existing skills and continue developing your career.

What we offer
✅ Salary commensurate with experience
✅ A supportive and approachable team
✅ A varied and interesting mixed-practice caseload
✅ Opportunities to expand your clinical and professional skills
✅ Continuing education support
✅ Generous staff discount
✅ A modern, well-equipped clinic
✅ A great country lifestyle with spectacular scenery right on your doorstep

Our clinic facilities include two consulting rooms, ultrasound, digital radiography, an in-house blood laboratory, dental equipment, two anaesthetic machines and integrated electronic clinical records.

About you
We’re looking for someone who has:
🐾 A minimum Certificate IV in Veterinary Nursing
🐾 A Diploma of Veterinary Nursing or Bachelor of Veterinary Technology, desirable but not essential
🐾 At least two years of full-time veterinary practice experience
🐾 Confidence in general practice, anaesthesia and surgical nursing
🐾 Strong communication and customer-service skills
🐾 Proficient computer skills, including Microsoft 365
🐾 A positive attitude, initiative and a strong work ethic
🐾 The ability to work effectively as part of a team and independently
🐾 Basic bookkeeping experience, desirable but not essential
🐾 An interest in mixed-practice nursing and caring for a broad range of animals

Why Killarney?
Killarney is located in the scenic Southern Downs, surrounded by destinations including Queen Mary Falls, Daggs Falls and Browns Falls. The town has an active community and hosts events including its annual show, rodeo, cutting, campdraft and Killarney Bonfire Night.

If you’re passionate about veterinary nursing and would like a varied role with a supportive country practice, we’d love to hear from you.

📧 Send your CV and a brief introduction to:
[email protected]

You’re also welcome to message us for more information.

📍 Killarney Vets | Killarney, Queensland

Please share or tag a veterinary nurse who might be the perfect fit!

21/08/2026

Reminder, we will be closed until Monday.

Thank you for your understanding
KVS

CLINIC CLOSURE – NEXT WEEKEND

Due to unforeseen circumstances, Killarney Veterinary Surgery will unfortunately be closed next weekend, Sat 22nd and Sun 23rd August.

While the clinic will be closed and we will not have a veterinarian available on site, our phone line will still be attended by one of our veterinary nurses, who will be available to provide advice and redirect urgent cases to the nearest available veterinary service where required.

If your animals require routine medications, food or other supplies, we encourage you to please organise these with us before the weekend.

We apologise for any inconvenience this may cause and sincerely appreciate your patience and understanding.

Thank you for your understanding,
The Killarney Vets Team

18/08/2026

A quick reminder from the KVS team

We kindly ask that clients refrain from contacting staff on their personal mobile numbers for veterinary advice, appointments, medication enquiries or other general clinic matters.

For all veterinary enquiries, including:
• Booking or changing appointments
• Veterinary advice or concerns about your animal
• Medication and prescription enquiries
• Follow-up questions
• Farm visits
• Any other general enquiries

Please contact Killarney Veterinary Surgery directly on the clinic phone 07 4664 1344.

Dr Dave and Dr Jayne are currently unavailable farewelling a dear friend in Canada for the next 1.5 weeks. Our team in clinic are happy to assist you, arrange an appointment, or pass information on to the veterinarian working where required.

Thank you for your understanding and cooperation. 💙
The KVS Team

18/08/2026

Meet Duke, our little miracle patient 💙

A couple of weeks after being involved in a serious accident, Duke presented to us with worsening difficulty breathing. Radiographs confirmed a traumatic diaphragmatic hernia, a life-threatening condition where a tear in the diaphragm allows abdominal organs to move into the chest cavity.

Duke was taken to surgery, where we discovered just how significant his injuries were. Part of his liver, gall bladder and small intestine had herniated through the diaphragm and into his chest, compressing his lungs.

With surgery, we were able to return his abdominal organs to their correct position, repair the tear in his diaphragm before removing the air from his chest and helping his lungs re-expand.

The first 24-48 hours after surgery were particularly important, but Duke continued to surprise us. Each day he became brighter, stronger and increasingly determined to convince us that cage rest was completely unnecessary! 😂

After several days of intensive monitoring, oxygen support, pain relief and plenty of TLC from our team, we were very excited to finally send Duke home to his family.

He still has some healing ahead of him, but he is currently doing incredibly well.

Cases like Duke's are a reminder of just how resilient our patients can be, and we feel incredibly lucky to have been able to give this beautiful boy his second chance.

17/08/2026

20% OFF desexing as part of RSPCA Australia's Operation Wanted.

Only 1 more week left!

OFFER ENDS AUGUST 31st

Places are filling up fast, call us now to book in! 📞

13/08/2026

CLINIC CLOSURE – NEXT WEEKEND

Due to unforeseen circumstances, Killarney Veterinary Surgery will unfortunately be closed next weekend, Sat 22nd and Sun 23rd August.

While the clinic will be closed and we will not have a veterinarian available on site, our phone line will still be attended by one of our veterinary nurses, who will be available to provide advice and redirect urgent cases to the nearest available veterinary service where required.

If your animals require routine medications, food or other supplies, we encourage you to please organise these with us before the weekend.

We apologise for any inconvenience this may cause and sincerely appreciate your patience and understanding.

Thank you for your understanding,
The Killarney Vets Team

09/08/2026

Please be kind to our team.

Over recent weeks, we've experienced an increasing number of difficult conversations when we've been unable to supply prescription medications without first meeting our legal obligations.

The information below explains why these legal requirements exist and what they mean for you and your animals.

We know these requirements can sometimes be inconvenient, however they are designed to protect animal welfare, public health, and ensure medications are used safely & responsibly.

If you're unsure whether your animal needs to be seen before a repeat prescription can be supplied, please give us a call. We're always happy to discuss your individual circumstances and let you know what is required.

Thank you for understanding and helping us provide the best possible care for your animals. We appreciate your patience and understanding.

04/08/2026

Cattle Tick

We've recently seen an increase in cattle tick detections in areas that have traditionally been considered tick-free. Cattle ticks can transmit tick fever (*Babesia bovis*, *Babesia bigemina* and *Anaplasma marginale*), which can cause severe illness and even death in susceptible cattle.

Keep an eye out for:
• Visible ticks, particularly around the ears, brisket, flank, udder, tail and under the legs
• Cattle rubbing or scratching excessively
• Weight loss or poor body condition
• Reduced productivity
• Pale gums, lethargy or weakness in more severe cases

Biosecurity is your first line of defence!

Whether you're purchasing cattle, bringing stock home from agistment, or attending shows and sales, implementing good biosecurity practices can significantly reduce the risk of introducing cattle ticks onto your property.

For properties adjacent to cattle tick areas or known infested properties, a regular cattle tick prevention program is strongly recommended. There are a range of treatment options available, and the most appropriate choice will depend on your management system, husbandry practices and market requirements. Properties at increased risk should consider implementing a prevention program before the spring rise in cattle tick numbers.

For some properties, tick fever vaccination may also be an important part of managing disease risk. The vaccination process requires planning and is not suitable for every herd, with recommendations depending on your property's location, cattle movements and overall risk.

If you'd like advice on cattle tick prevention, biosecurity, or whether a prevention program or tick fever vaccination is appropriate for your herd, give us a call. We'd be happy to help develop a plan that's right for your property.

02/08/2026

Last week, our team was fortunate to welcome the Zoetis team for an update on the latest recommendations for managing pestivirus.

Pestivirus is often called the "silent thief" because many infected herds show few obvious signs until productivity is affected. It can reduce fertility, increase calf losses, suppress immunity, and ultimately have a significant impact on herd profitability.

With reports suggesting exposure in a large proportion of Australian beef and dairy herds, now is a great time to review your herd's pestivirus risk and discuss prevention strategies with your veterinarian.

Pestigard® has been shown to protect breeding cattle against reproductive losses associated with infection. If you'd like to discuss pestivirus testing, vaccination, or developing a herd health plan, get in touch with our team.