Westpoint Farm Vets

21/09/2026

🚨FLYSTRIKE - We have had an influx of recent flystike cases.

Flystrike is a rapidly progressing, painful and potentially life-threatening condition that can affect any animal - regardless of whether it has a wool or hair coat.

Flies lay their eggs in wool or fibre because it provides the ideal warm and moist environment for the eggs to hatch. Soiled wool or fibre, as well as wool or fibre that has become damp from rain or morning dew, is particularly vulnerable to infestation.

Once the eggs hatch, the maggots feed on the animal’s flesh. Initially, the animal may experience intense itching, but this can quickly progress to an excruciatingly painful condition as the maggots burrow deeper into the tissue.

Under suitable conditions, the maggot life cycle can be completed in less than 10 days. The first maggots can appear within just 12 hours of eggs being laid, highlighting how rapidly flystrike can develop. If left untreated, an animal suffering from flystrike can die rapidly.

With increasingly warmer temperatures associated with climate change, we are sadly seeing more cases occurring well into the autumn.

🪰Look out for:

· Animals separating themselves from the flock or herd

· Tail twitching

· Reduced appetite or inappetence

· Discoloured or wet-looking wool/fibre

· Intense, repetitive itching or nibbling

· Agitation or restlessness

· An unusual ‘yeasty’ smell

· An animal appearing generally ‘off-colour’

Eggs can be laid anywhere on the body, however the flies prefer to lay in moist and warm areas such as:

· The rump area (where there tends to be soiled wool), including the tail

· The neck (front and back)

· Back and sides

· Can affect feet where footrot/foot infections are present

· Ge****ls

· Underside of abdomen

🔎What should you do if you spot flystrike?

If you suspect an animal has flystrike, prompt treatment is essential.

· Clip the affected area and remove as many maggots as possible.

· Carefully check the rest of the fleece for any other affected areas, including the underside of the animal.

· Bathe the affected area with dilute Hibiscrub/chlorhexidine and rinse thoroughly.

· Ensure the area is dry before applying a topical insecticide following the instructions on the product datasheet - bear min mind these may be off license for goats or alpacas - please call for any advice.

· Provide appropriate pain relief, such as an NSAID.

· If the lesions are severe, please contact your vet. A systemic or topical antibiotic may be required.

❓How can flystrike be prevented?

Prevention and regular monitoring are key to protecting your animals from this painful condition.

· Shear regularly. This may need to be more frequently than you think. With rising temperatures, shearing once may not be sufficient. Where possible, consider shearing areas prone to soiling, such as the rump, more frequently.

· Use preventative fly treatments appropriately at the correct intervals - we can advise you on which products prevent, treat or do both.

· Keep a record of when they were treated to ensure they remain up to date with preventative treatment

· Check your flock regularly. Stay vigilant, particularly during periods of warm weather.

· Know the signs. Early recognition and treatment can make a significant difference.

If you have any concerns:

Flystrike can progress extremely quickly, so if you are concerned that an animal may be affected, or if you have concerns or questions, please contact us.

14/09/2026

☎️ Our amazing admin team at Ashford will be covering the phones for all four practices on the 15th and 16th of September as all teams attend a training event. ☎️

Please bear with us if it takes a little longer to receive and direct your call- we will get to you as quickly as possible.

All of our travelling team members would like to extend their thanks for Ashford’s Admins for their support- and to you for your patience.

12/09/2026

Weald of Kent Ploughing Match 2026! 🚜
Come and find us at the Weald of Kent Ploughing Match, we are on stand 20, pop in for a tea, coffee and some cake and cookies! ☕️🍪

08/09/2026

When you book your scanning in with a vet, you can get more than just a 'yes or no' - we can help with diagnosis of reproductive issues and suggest appropriate treatment to ensure that your herd remains productive and your calving period more predictable. By identifying patterns in your herd data, we can look deeper into issues that affect performance and cost you time and money.

Speak to us about arranging proactive fertility visits, and let's make scanning so much more than a snapshot!

02/09/2026

Pre-breeding fertility assessment can go further than body condition and freedom from infectious disease. Micro-nutrients (including trace elements and vitamins) drive heat expression, conception, and embryo survival in cattle, sheep, and even camelids but blind supplementation presents a risk of toxicity.

Toxicity and blockages of uptake from antagonists in forage mean generic supplementation plans aren’t effective or efficient.

In light of this year’s heat, food scarcity and recent disease challenges, it is more important than ever to understand the patterns in fertility (especially if you have higher barren rates or returns to service). Blood sampling for trace elements can help to determine the presence and extent of deficiencies that could be hindering productivity and welfare, and help us to deliver a targeted plan for your herd or flock.

Speak to the practice today to arrange your trace element screening, which could even be covered by the Animal Health and Welfare Pathway funding.

24/08/2026

Our theory course for overseas graduates is running this Friday from 8.30am, and this is the last call for participants!

We will be closing applications on Wednesday at midnight - please register via our form now. You will then receive a payment link, and you will secure your place on the course once your payment is confirmed.

https://forms.cloud.microsoft/e/qbzc9C4C1Z

To those registered - the meeting link will be released on Thursday evening for a prompt 8.30 start on Friday.

Our 2026 Online Farm THEORY day for overseas graduates is moving online.

On the 28th August, you can join our farm team for bitesize lectures to help you prepare for the RCVS admissions exam for overseas graduates.

Priced at £125, the course offers teaching from front line farm vets to help with your revision. You can register your interest here: https://forms.cloud.microsoft/e/qbzc9C4C1Z

Please note, our Practical OSCE Prep course is FULL.

21/08/2026

Open to all - we are running a castration clinic day at our Chelmsford clinic. Please give us a call to book your spot and get a big job off your husbandry list.

Prices include VAT, medications and surgery (but exclude sedation - we do not anticipate sedating unless absolutely necessary), and the clinic will be run by RCVS Advanced Practitioner in Camelid Practice, Ami Sawran.

Call the Chelmsford practice directly on 01306 628 489 to book.

This service is open to non-clients, but will only be confirmed if we receive written permission from your regular vet practice to prescribe for your animals on the day, as per RCVS code of conduct and VMR legislation.

Happy Snipping!

15/08/2026

Your BTV-3 questions answered with the most up to date advice in August 2026. You have been looking out for signs of bluetongue for a while now, but want to know how best to support infected animals- we are here with some supportive care advice. If you have any urgent BTV concerns - please either report directly to APHA or call us and we can guide you through it. And if you’re wanting to vaccinate, it’s not too late- call us during office hours to be placed on our waiting list.

15/08/2026

Worried about finding reliable vaccine advice online? We gotchu! If you haven’t already vaccinating for BTV-3 and want to- please make sure you get on our vaccine list. We are helping to organise bottle splits for small herds/flocks where possible. It’s NOT too late to vaccinate.

13/08/2026

A very good news story, as Wi******er's Matt helped this lovely replacement heifer into the world with the aid of a Gyn Stick.

This piece of equipment can assist us in the untwisting of a uterine torsion - and in this case, helped avoid a caesarean.

As you can see, the dam is happily tucking in to some restorative feed and is rehydrating herself - a great outcome all round!

11/08/2026

**BLUETONGUE VACCINE UPDATE***

Our teams are working tirelessly to secure more bluetongue (BTV-3) vaccines for those that have yet to start, or who are due boosters.

To make the ordering process as smooth as possible, and to indicate demand to manufacturers - may we please ask that you call or email your practice NOW to tell us:

Your stock species, numbers, and whether you have vaccinated before (and what with) - and we can calculate how much you need.

We will be facilitating bottle splits where possible - so once you have secured a spot on the waiting list, please await our phone call to let you know when it is in.

We do think it is still worth vaccinating, or boosting animals vaccinated last year, as it can significantly reduce the severity of signs and mortality from the disease.

As always, we will endeavour to bring you the most up to date information as we receive it.

Please continue to report any suspicious clinical signs - BTV can look like lots of different notifiable diseases, and with other BTV strains circulating on the continent - it is only by reporting signs that we understand the UK risk profile.

03/08/2026

🐄🐑 Multiple cases of BTV-3 have been confirmed in the UK - Is your flock/herd protected? 🐄🐑
Bluetongue virus can have a significant impact on both sheep and cattle, causing illness, production losses and serious welfare concerns.
Vaccination is the most effective way to help protect your livestock and reduce the impact of the disease.
If you haven't yet arranged Bluetongue vaccination for your cattle or sheep, now is the time to act.
📞 Call our office on 01306 628208 to discuss your options and book your vaccinations.

31/07/2026

It was great to see Tumble Tye Farm and brothers Will and Rob Warnock featured by BBC Kent, highlighting the realities facing dairy farmers today. 🐄🥛
With milk prices under pressure and the rising costs of running a modern dairy farm, the challenges facing family farms are very real. Yet, as Will and Rob demonstrate, there is also a huge amount of commitment, hard work and determination behind every litre of milk produced.
A really worthwhile piece that gives an important insight into the pressures facing dairy farming and the people behind it.
Well done to Will, Rob and everyone at Tumble Tye Farm for sharing their story. 👏

29/07/2026

The National Youngstock Conference! 🐄🌱
Tiff our vet, Liv our vet tech, and Rose a calf rearer, spent the day learning from industry experts, sharing ideas with fellow professionals, and bringing back the latest knowledge to help us continue providing the very best care for our calves and clients.
Continuous learning and professional development are key to improving animal health and welfare, and we're proud to support our team in expanding their skills and expertise.
A great day of learning, networking, and inspiration—we're already putting those ideas into practice!🐄

19/06/2026

A cup of tea can go a long way on farm. ☕🐄
After a busy call, there’s nothing quite like taking a few minutes to stop, put the kettle on, and have a chat. While farming is an incredibly rewarding profession, it can also be a lonely one at times, with long hours and plenty of time spent working alone.
Those moments around the kitchen table are about much more than a hot drink. They give us a chance to catch up, share concerns, celebrate successes, and check in on how things are going—not just with the livestock, but with each other.
A big thank you to the farming community for the warm welcomes, the conversations, and, of course, the tea!

18/06/2026

Animal Health and Welfare Review🐑
Have you booked in your funded Animal Health and Welfare Review yet? Now is a good time because the required FEC reduction testing can be done around your treatment schedule.
Please give Val or Jo a call on 01306 628208 to get this booked in!

12/06/2026

What a fantastic team day out for the Westpoint Farm Vets crew! 🌳🐒
We swapped wellies for harnesses and headed to Go Ape for an action-packed day of climbing, zip-lining, and plenty of laughs. It was a great opportunity to challenge ourselves, and enjoy some well-earned fun as a team.
A huge thank you to our amazing colleagues at Westpoint Wi******er for keeping our phones covered throughout the day, and to Luke from Westpoint Chelmsford for taking care of our emergency calls. Your support meant we could fully enjoy the day and make some brilliant memories together.
We're lucky to be part of such a supportive team across the Westpoint family. 💙

27/05/2026

🚨 FINAL REMINDER 🚨
Our Alpaca Plasma Drive at Westpoint Farm Vets Ashford is almost here! 🦙💉

We only have one space left on Wednesday the 3rd of June, if you would like to get booked in for this please phone the practice on 01306 628208.

13/05/2026

Securing the Future: Proactive Plasma Banking for Your Herd🦙

As unpacking season approaches, every breeder wants the best start for their cria. Weak or compromised newborns can miss the vital “golden window” for absorbing antibodies from colostrum, leading to Failure of Passive Transfer (FPT) and increased risk of serious infection.

Why Plan Ahead?-
Having your own fresh frozen plasma supply provides a vital safety net for your herd.
Farm-specific protection: Plasma from your own healthy, vaccinated donors contains antibodies tailored to the disease challenges on your farm. Sharing plasma is neither recommended nor legal, making your own supply essential.
Immediate access: When a premature, dysmature or sick cria needs urgent care, having plasma ready for your vet to administer can save valuable time.

What a Plasma Drive Involves-
Selecting and screening suitable donor animals
Health checks on the day of donation
Professional collection of one blood unit per donor (yielding two plasma bags)
Laboratory processing, freezing and labelling
Safe return of plasma to your veterinary practice for storage

By banking plasma now, you’re investing in the health and resilience of your next generation of cria.

To book your plasma drive, contact us on 01306 628208.

04/05/2026

🪰Fly strike is one of the biggest seasonal risks to sheep health—and prevention is always better than cure.🪰
As temperatures rise and flies become more active, it’s essential to take proactive steps to protect your flock. Regularly check sheep for signs of soiling, dagging, or wounds, as these can attract flies. Good flock management, including timely shearing and maintaining clean pasture conditions, goes a long way in reducing risk.

Preventative treatments are also a key part of your fly control plan. Products like Clik and Clik Extra provide long-lasting protection by preventing blowfly larvae from developing on the animal. Using these treatments at the right time in the season can significantly reduce the likelihood of strike and give you peace of mind during high-risk periods.

Speak to your vet at Westpoint or Jo our SQP at Farm Supplies for tailored advice on the best fly prevention and treatment strategy for your flock, including when and how to use products like Clik and Clik Extra effectively.

Stay vigilant, act early, and keep your sheep protected this season. 🐑