Eltham Vet Service

28/05/2026

24/05/2026

A surprising number of heifers pick up mastitis infections before they ever calve, often in the last few weeks before calving when teats are leaking and exposed to mud, manure, and bacteria.

Using an internal teat sealant 4–6 weeks before calving creates a physical barrier in the teat canal, helping stop bacteria entering the udder during this high-risk period.

At a $9/kg MS payout, teat sealing can become financially worthwhile surprisingly quickly. As a rule of thumb, if ~10% or more of heifers are affected at calving teat sealing stacks up economically.

Potential benefits include:
✅ Fewer mastitis cases around calving
✅ Lower SCC in first lactation
✅ Less antibiotic use after calving
✅ Better early milk production and lifetime performance

If you’re seeing more than 1 in 10 heifers calving with mastitis, it may be time to run the numbers and discuss whether heifer teat sealing could pay on your farm.

21/05/2026

Gastric Dilatation-Volvulus (GDV), commonly called “bloat”, is a life-threatening emergency seen most commonly in large, deep-chested dogs, including many working farm dogs.
GDV occurs when the stomach quickly fills with gas and then twists on itself. Once the stomach twists, blood supply is affected, and the condition can quickly become fatal without urgent veterinary treatment and surgery.

Dogs at higher risk include:
- Older dogs
- Large or giant breed dogs with deep, narrow chests
- Feeding once a day
- Large meal size
- Dogs that eat very quickly
- Nervous or anxious dogs

Things that may increase risk:
- Heavy exercise followed by eating straight away
- Drinking a large amount of water after work
- Gorging on food, including getting into a lamb carcass or afterbirth
Ways to help reduce risk:
- Delay feeding after a big day of work
- Avoid allowing dogs to drink a large amount of water at once after exercise
- Feed smaller meals where possible
- If your dog has scavenged something of a large quantity, monitor them closely and avoid working them that day.

Signs to look out for:
- Restlessness or distress
- Excessive drooling
- Retching without bringing anything up
- Bloated or tight-looking abdomen
- Difficulty breathing
- Weakness, collapse, or struggling to stand
Time is critical. The earlier a dog with GDV is seen, the better the chance of survival. If you suspect bloat, contact your vet immediately. Early treatment and surgery is vital.

18/05/2026

Drying cows off isn’t just about stopping milking—it’s about doing it in a way that minimises stress, reduces mastitis risk, and sets cows up for a strong calving and lactation.

✅ Low producers (10 L/day):
These cows need a bit more planning. About a week before dry-off, gradually reduce the “milk-driving” part of the diet (lush pasture, PKE, high protein feeds) and replace it with more fibre such as hay or lower quality silage. The goal is to reduce milk volume while keeping cows full and settled—not hungry.

💡 Golden dry-off rules:
• Don’t use every-second-day milking—it greatly increases mastitis risk
• If moving to once-a-day milking, make changes at least 10–14 days before dry-off
• Keep cows in clean, dry paddocks for 1–2 weeks after dry-off
• Avoid muddy paddocks, effluent areas, or reverse grazing immediately after treatment
• Keep cows well fed, with plenty of clean water
• Have a wet-weather backup plan

A smooth dry-off means healthier udders, less stress, and cows better prepared for next season. If you’ve got high-producing cows heading toward dry-off, now’s a good time to chat with your vet about a plan.

15/05/2026

Flowchart for internal teat seal application

11/05/2026

11th of May 2026
LAST SPORE COUNTS OF THE SEASON ARE BELOW

08/05/2026

Planning for next season - inshed blends, macro and trace element discussion and information.

Holly can offer tailored macro and trace element seasonal planning for your dairy herd, including drystock where requested. Bring along your current inshed mineral blend and she will assess and explain what’s in it, why it’s included, and whether it’s meeting your herd’s needs.

As an impartial and qualified ruminant nutritionist, Holly's recommendations are based on sound nutritional principles and your farm’s specific requirements. Where available, blood or liver test results will also be incorporated into the assessment to give a more accurate picture of your herd’s mineral status and help fine-tune your plan. Charging is based on an hourly rate.

04/05/2026

Spores for this week 4th May 2026

29/04/2026

Hi everyone! I’m Paige, the newest member of the Eltham Vets Customer Care team. I’m born and bred in the Naki and have been dairy farming in Riverlea for the past five and a half years. In my free time you’ll find me spending time with friends and family, out walking, at home in my craft room or spending time with my flock of birds. I’m really excited about this new opportunity and, while I know quite a few faces already, I’m excited to meet plenty of new ones too.

29/04/2026

We’ve seen spore levels drop with the colder weather, which is encouraging. That said, it’s important to keep treating until your farm’s spore count is below 10,000. We also recommend doing your own spore counts so you can keep a close eye on what’s happening, as levels can still rise again during warmer days.
Once your spore counts are consistently at or below 10,000 for three weeks in a row, and temperatures remain cool, you can consider stopping zinc treatment.