09/15/2026
🐄🐐 FARM ANIMAL AWARENESS WEEK 🐖🐑
This week, we’re celebrating the hardworking animals and the hardworking people who help keep our farms, families, communities, and food systems going.
Farm animals are incredibly resilient, but that also means they may hide illness until a problem has become serious. Whether you care for cattle, horses, goats, sheep, pigs, llamas, alpacas, or a small backyard herd, knowing what is normal for each animal is one of the most valuable tools you have.
🔎 KNOW YOUR ANIMALS’ NORMAL
Take a few minutes every day to notice:
• Appetite and water intake
• Activity level and attitude
• Breathing pattern
• Manure and urine production
• Movement, posture, and gait
• Body condition and weight changes
• Udder, hoof, skin, and coat health
• Social behavior and separation from the herd
An animal standing alone, falling behind, grinding its teeth, repeatedly getting up and down, refusing feed, breathing differently, or simply “not acting right” may be showing an early sign of illness.
🚨 CALL PROMPTLY FOR:
• Difficult or prolonged labor
• An animal that is down or unable to rise
• Severe bloating or abdominal discomfort
• Choking, excessive drooling, or difficulty swallowing
• Trouble breathing
• Significant bleeding or traumatic injury
• Sudden neurologic behavior, weakness, circling, or seizures
• Repeated straining or inability to urinate
• Sudden loss of appetite, especially in ruminants
• Multiple sick animals, unexplained deaths, or unusual abortions
• A newborn that is weak, cold, not nursing, or not keeping up with its mother
When in doubt, call. Early communication may allow us to provide guidance, prepare the proper equipment, and decide whether your animal needs a farm call or can safely travel to the clinic.
🩺 PREVENTION IS PART OF GOOD FARMING
Every herd’s needs are different, but preventive care may include:
✅ Species- and risk-appropriate vaccinations
✅ Routine examinations and herd-health planning
✅ F***l testing and targeted parasite control
✅ Hoof and dental care
✅ Nutrition and body-condition evaluation
✅ Reproductive, pregnancy, and newborn planning
✅ Castration or other routine procedures
✅ Testing before breeding, purchasing, or introducing animals
✅ Health certificates and travel preparation
✅ Emergency and disaster planning
Parasite control should never be one-size-fits-all. Repeatedly deworming without a plan may contribute to parasite resistance. Your veterinarian can help develop a program based on species, age, pasture conditions, clinical signs, and testing.
🦠 BIOSECURITY PROTECTS THE WHOLE HERD
New, borrowed, show, fair, or returning animals can bring disease home even when they appear healthy.
Help reduce that risk by:
• Separating new and returning animals before mixing them with the herd
• Using separate buckets, tools, clothing, and footwear when possible
• Cleaning and disinfecting trailers and shared equipment
• Avoiding shared feed and water containers at events
• Limiting unnecessary farm traffic
• Isolating sick animals promptly
• Keeping accurate identification, health, treatment, and travel records
USDA guidance recommends isolating new, borrowed, or returning animals for at least 30 days and closely watching for signs of illness.
🌾 SUPPORT GOOD HEALTH EVERY DAY
Provide continuous access to clean water, safe shelter, suitable fencing, adequate ventilation, dry resting areas, and nutrition appropriate for the animal’s species and stage of life. Check pastures, barns, feeders, and water sources regularly for toxic plants, moldy feed, sharp objects, loose wire, mud, standing water, and other hazards.
Avoid sudden feed changes whenever possible, especially in ruminants and horses. Changes should be made gradually and with species-appropriate guidance.
📞 HELP US HELP YOU DURING A FARM CALL
Before we arrive, please:
• Safely contain the animal in a suitable working area
• Have halters, gates, chutes, panels, or other restraint ready
• Arrange for capable adult help when needed
• Provide clear directions and accessible parking
• Keep dogs and unrelated animals secured
• Gather relevant records and medication information
• Tell us about any safety hazards before we arrive
Safe restraint protects the animal, the owner, and our veterinary team—and allows us to provide care more efficiently.
Amazia Veterinary Service is proud to care for the farm animals who mean so much to our local families, youth exhibitors, homesteads, and agricultural community. Our large-animal veterinarians provide preventive care, in-clinic appointments for animals able to travel, farm calls, herd-health support, and emergency services based on availability.
Farm animals may not be able to tell us what hurts but attentive owners, thoughtful prevention, and a strong veterinary partnership can speak for them. ❤️
Questions about your animals’ preventive-care plan or need to schedule an appointment? Give Amazia Veterinary Service a call!
