Northern Valleys Veterinary Services

13/07/2026

This is great news for horse owners. We are very fortunate to have such wonderful equine vets available. If you are needing care I encourage you to support them so this important service can continue 🐴

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

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!