Articles

Keep up to date with all our latest news, articles of interest, and case studies from the veterinary world around Hawke’s Bay.

Working Dog Kennels

  Our dogs are not only very hard working members of our farm team, they are also real characters which give us a lot of enjoyment (and strife on a bad day).They hold a special place in our farming community and they are great companions in an often lonely job.   So what can we…

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Working dog bloods 2022

Another successful working dog vaccination run is over for Vet Services in Waipukurau for 2022. Nicole Lansdown, BVSc   This annual run is held from August to October and involves vets and nurses heading out on farm to give working dog teams a check over and vaccination. This year free bloods were also on offer…

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What is acupuncture and how does it work?

Acupuncture for dogs, like acupuncture for humans, is a complementary medical practice that involves inserting fine needles into the skin to stimulate points on the body for pain relief and healing responses. Acupuncture has its origins in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) and has been used for thousands of years. In TCM acupuncture is used to…

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Treat your working dogs like athletes

Working dogs are an asset to any farmer and are becoming an increasingly large investment. The lifetime value of a useful working dog is estimated to be $40,000 with dogs fulfilling roles other staff cannot replace. With this in mind it is important to provide the best care to allow dogs to reach their full…

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Thinking about purchasing a new working dog?

When you buy a working dog, you often find yourself looking in a hurry so you can get on with your day to day activities. Although you may be feeling pressure to purchase a new dog quickly, a little patience and time may save a lot of heart ache in the long run. During the…

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Retired Working Dogs

Retired Working Dogs NZ is a registered charity that works to find homes for working farm dogs if they are unable to work due to age, injury or have no interest in stock. Retired pig dogs and hunting dogs are also included! The charity started in Pahiatua in 2012 and has since grown to a…

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Regional Roundup…

An update from each of the Vet Services Regions. WAIPUKURAU Camille Flack, Production Animal Veterinarian Group Leader We start the year quite differently compared to this time last year. Last year the first cases of Covid-19 were being confirmed in New Zealand and we were starting to get concerned about the dry. This year while…

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dog eating bone

Raw Diets

Raw diets are meat-based diets (including bones and offal) that have not been cooked, this includes foods that have been frozen, dehydrated or freeze-dried. Recently these diets have gained popularity among pet owners who are hoping to provide a more natural option for their beloved companion. Although these diets may be marketed as a better…

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Looking after your working dogs in winter

Working dogs are an asset to any farmer and are becoming an increasingly large investment. The lifetime value of a useful working dog is estimated to be $40,000 with dogs fulfilling roles other staff cannot replace. With this in mind, as the temperature drops and we make sure we have enough firewood and warm socks…

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Keeping Your Working Team Warm This Winter

With the change of season and cooler nights fast approaching it’s time to consider how you will keep your working team warm this winter.   Why it is important to keep your team warm over winter? In recent years there has been a real push to improve kennel conditions and to provide bedding and jackets…

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