Aorangi Vets

04/09/2026

A strong scanning result is great news, but what really counts is how many lambs make it to weaning.

The stretch from late pregnancy through to weaning is where the small calls add up - ewe condition, feed quality, those first few hours after birth. They shape lamb survival and how those lambs perform for life...

Read the rest in our Spring Drystock newsletter. Subscribe free at aorangivet.co.nz

02/09/2026

We're hiring a Clinic Manager at our Highfield Vet Clinic in Timaru.

It's a full-time leadership role running the day-to-day - rostering, recruitment, training, budgets, and keeping the clinic humming so our vets and nurses can do what they do best.

You don't need a vet background. You do need to be a people person who listens, backs their team, and genuinely likes animals.

The team here is already motivated. They're ready for someone to lead them.

If this sounds like a bit of you, apply here 👉 https://tinyurl.com/AorangiClinicManager

01/09/2026

We’re really pleased to be supporting Explore with Me Geraldine, especially knowing our sponsorship is helping create a wee book corner for local kindy kids.
We love being part of our local community, and it’s pretty cool to see an awesome idea like this turning into something the kids can enjoy, explore and learn from ❤️

Aorangi Vets Geraldine is a team who spends their days caring for the animals that make up our farms, paddocks, and homes... turns out they also care deeply for their community.

A huge thank you to Angela and the crew at Aorangi Vets for jumping on board as sponsors of Explore with Me Geraldine. From companion pets to the farm animals that keep this district ticking, this team understands the deep connection rural communities have with their animals. It's that same spirit of looking after one another that makes this place so darn special.

Angela, thank you for backing my children's book and everything it's helping to create. Whether it's a poorly lamb, a beloved family dog, or the creation of a wee kindy book nook - it's clear this team shows up for the community in every way that counts.

Ngā mihi nui 💛

31/08/2026

Colostrum only works if the timing lines up. A calf's gut can only absorb those protective antibodies for a short window after birth - once that closes, the quality of the colostrum stops mattering as much.

Three things tend to make the difference:
Speed - the earlier that first feed happens within the 6–12 hour window, the better the antibody uptake.

Quality - first-milking colostrum varies a lot farm to farm. A Brix refractometer reading above 22 is what separates the good stuff from the average.

Quantity - around 10% of the calf's bodyweight in that first feed is the benchmark. For a 40kg calf, that's roughly 4 litres.

Calves that miss out on one of these tend to get sick more often, grow slower, and produce less milk over their lifetime - small margins early on add up to a lot later.

We've got a Brix refractometer on hand if you ever want to check where your colostrum's landing.

27/08/2026

Louise left us this review recently, and it's a good reminder of what we're aiming for every day - from the vets through to the nurses and the front desk.

"The vets are caring, knowledgeable and professional. Diagnoses, prognoses and treatments are fully explained. End of life is compassionate and sensitive. Nurses and office staff are helpful and efficient. Very highly recommended."

Thank you, Louise.

25/08/2026

Bringing home a new puppy is exciting, but it's also the perfect time to set them up for a healthy future. 🐶

Here are four things every first-time puppy owner should remember:
✔️ Book an early health check – make sure they're off to a healthy start and get advice tailored to your puppy
✔️ Keep vaccinations on schedule – young puppies are particularly vulnerable to serious diseases, so staying on track with their vaccinations is important
✔️ Start parasite protection early - puppies can be affected by worms, fleas and other parasites, so ask your vet about the right protection for their age and lifestyle
✔️ Chat with your vet about nutrition and desexing - the right diet supports healthy growth, while discussing desexing early means you can make an informed decision about what's right for your puppy.

Our team is here to guide you every step of the way. Get in touch to book your puppy's first visit.

25/08/2026

Good hygiene isn't glamorous, but it makes a real difference to calf health.

A sterilised shed, bedding and gear before calves arrive (and a disinfect twice a week once they're in) goes a long way toward keeping things on track 🐄

Worth keeping an eye on the water too - muddy pooling water is often where infection gets a foothold, so good drainage pays off.

21/08/2026

That stiffness after they've been lying down, the hesitation before jumping on the couch, not wanting to play like they used to - it's easy to write off as just getting older.

A lot of the time it's arthritis. Cats especially are good at hiding it - they don't limp, they just quietly do less.

We're running half price Senior Pet Mobility Assessments through July and August if you want to get your pet checked out properly. Everyone who books before the 31st of August also gets an AVS travel mug filled with hot chocolate & marshmallows ☕ ️Winter comfort for you and your pet!

17/08/2026

As a general guide, if a cow shows no real progress after approximately thirty minutes of active labour, and you don't feel confident assisting yourself, veterinary assistance may be required.

Every calving presents differently, but this timeframe is a useful reference point for deciding when to seek support rather than continuing to wait.

We would always prefer an early call that proves unnecessary over one that comes too late.

Any questions, give us a call.
Timaru 03 687 9378 | Geraldine 03 693 1163 | Fairlie 03 685 8407