Northern Valleys Veterinary Services

02/04/2026

𝗜𝗺𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁𝗮𝗻𝘁 𝗨𝗽𝗱𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝗡𝗼𝗿𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗻 𝗩𝗮𝗹𝗹𝗲𝘆𝘀 𝗩𝗲𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗿𝘆 𝗦𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗶𝗰𝗲𝘀

I would like to let clients know about an upcoming change to the services provided by Northern Valleys Veterinary Services.
Over the coming months, the practice will be 𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗻𝘀𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗼 𝗮 𝗳𝗮𝗿𝗺 𝗮𝗻𝗶𝗺𝗮𝗹–𝗳𝗼𝗰𝘂𝘀𝗲𝗱 𝘀𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗶𝗰𝗲. As a result, I will no longer be providing small animal mobile veterinary services to 𝗻𝗲𝘄 𝗽𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀.

For companion animal care, I encourage clients to establish with a local veterinary clinic or alternative mobile service to ensure their pets continue to receive consistent veterinary support.

Northern Valleys Veterinary Services will remain committed to supporting the local farming and lifestyle communities to provide veterinary care for 𝗰𝗮𝘁𝘁𝗹𝗲, 𝘀𝗵𝗲𝗲𝗽, 𝗴𝗼𝗮𝘁𝘀, 𝗮𝗹𝗽𝗮𝗰𝗮𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗼𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝗳𝗮𝗿𝗺 𝗮𝗻𝗶𝗺𝗮𝗹𝘀.

𝗘𝗺𝗲𝗿𝗴𝗲𝗻𝗰𝘆 𝗰𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗶𝘀 𝘂𝗻𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝗯𝗲 𝗴𝘂𝗮𝗿𝗮𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗲𝗱, 𝗯𝘂𝘁 𝗽𝗿𝗶𝗼𝗿𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝘄𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝗯𝗲 𝗴𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗻 𝘁𝗼 𝗲𝘅𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗰𝗹𝗶𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀.

Thank you sincerely for the support and trust you have shown me and my practice.

Kind regards,
Vanessa
Northern Valleys Veterinary 🐂🐖🐑🦙

Send a message to learn more

23/03/2026

I’m unavailable this week as traveling interstate to attend the Australian cattle vets conference and spend time with our east coast family.
Back next week, apologies for delays in responding to enquiries. For all emergencies, please seek alternative care

07/02/2026

It's been busy here juggling kids, life and all that gets thrown at us. We are taking a short break and won't be taking any new appointments over the next week. Please seek alternative care if you require anything urgent. Thanks 🌻

30/01/2026

The future is looking bright ✨
Molly has just completed two weeks of prac with us before heading back for her 4th year of uni. It’s been a jam-packed fortnight full of learning, laughs (a few tears), and great cases.
Thank you to all our patients and their owners for being so kind and supportive — we’re lucky to have you 💛
(Photo of Marley, the handsome alpaca)

20/01/2026

Why do ewes and cows seem to fall apart around lambing and calving?

If you’ve ever noticed more sickness, lameness or worm problems around birth — you’re not imagining it.
In the few weeks before and after lambing or calving, the immune system takes a hit. The body is putting everything it has into growing a baby and making colostrum and milk. Something has to give, and that “something” is immune function.
This drop in immunity is normal — but it leaves animals more susceptible to problems.

What does that look like on farm?
1. Worm burdens creeping up ➡️ drop in body condition, bottle jaw etc
2.More mastitis and uterine infections.
3. Feet flaring up (footrot, abscesses, lameness)
4. Higher risk of metabolic issues
5. Ewes that just don’t seem to bounce back

In sheep, this is the reason ewes suddenly shed more worm eggs around lambing. That contamination is what young lambs pick up early, even before they look “at risk”.

What can you actually do about it?
You can’t prevent the immune dip — but good management makes a huge difference:
1. Keep nutrition up in late pregnancy (especially twins)
2. Minimise stress — unnecessary yarding and handling
3. Be strategic with worm control
4. Keep an eye on udders, feet and body condition. Treat early.
5. Make sure newborns get on and suck early

The healthier the mum is through this period, the better start her lamb or calf gets and the quicker she will bounce back to full capacity.

16/01/2026

This is incredibly important with many areas of WA affected. Please see DPIRD website for more info.

🔈livestock owners – watch out for signs of annual ryegrass toxicity (ARGT)

ARGT occurs when livestock consume hay or pastures containing annual ryegrass seed heads infected with a bacterium. This can cause serious illness and death in sheep, cattle, pigs and horses.

Signs to watch out for 👇🏽
❗Muscle tremors
❗Walking unsteadily
❗Inability to stand / death

12/01/2026

Green leaves can matter more than we realise. During dry summers, some browse like mulberry can help support vitamin A intake in sheep, goats and cattle when paddocks have dried off.

Unlike some vitamins, animals cannot make vitamin A themselves – they rely on green feed to supply beta-carotene, which is converted to vitamin A in the body.

If it’s green and growing → good vitamin A source
If it’s dry, brown or stored → assume vitamin A is low

If they aren't eating anything green, consider supplementation.

09/01/2026

Urolithiasis - or urinary calculi often called “water belly”, is one of the most serious and often devastating emergencies seen in male goats and sheep. Without fast treatment, it can quickly become fatal.

What is urolithiasis?
Urolithiasis occurs when mineral stones form in the urinary tract. These stones can block urine flow, causing severe pain and rapid deterioration.

Male goats (especially wethers) and male sheep are most at risk because they have a long, narrow urethra that easily becomes blocked.

Why does it happen?
Urinary stones develop due to a combination of factors, including:
• Imbalanced diets (especially high grain or pellets)
• Incorrect calcium to phosphorus ratios
• Limited or poor-quality water intake
• Early castration, which limits normal urethral development
• Changes in urine pH
However, even well-managed animals can be affected.

Where do stones get stuck?
Stones commonly lodge in narrow sections of the urethra, especially the urethral process, a small, hair-like extension at the tip of the p***s. This is often the first site of blockage. See attached photo of a tiny stone lodged at the end of the process.

Why this is an emergency?
Once urine flow is blocked, pressure rapidly builds in the bladder. Without urgent treatment, the bladder or urethra can rupture, which is fatal.

Treatment
• Early cases may respond to dietary changes and medications
• Amputating the urethral process may provide some benefit but many stones remain in the bladder and they may re-block.
• Almost all completely obstructed animals require surgery to survive (which is expensive)

Prevention
1. Castrate later in life
2. Increase water intake
3. Diet modification - avoid grains as they are high in phosphorus and low in calcium
4. Acidify the urine - stop sodium bicarbonate supplements, in animals with a history of urinary calculi, supplementation with ammonium chloride may help dissolve stones and prevent recurrence.

24/12/2025

We wish everybody a safe and happy holidays.

We are available for emergency appointments only over the festive season.

Returning to regular business on the 5th of January 2026!

18/11/2025

I am aware that my voicemail is not playing the game with many people saying they have left a message but I am not receiving them. If you haven't heard back from me, please send me a text message as well. I am often on the road and in and out of reception. Thanks 🌻

24/10/2025

We’re taking a short break and will be back on the 3rd of November! 🐾
During this time we won’t be booking new appointments and replies may take a little longer than usual.
If your pet needs urgent care, please contact your nearest alternative vet.