Agwest Veterinary Group

04/22/2026

Some visits just make you smile a little bigger 🐑😊

We’re pretty sure this little guy was just as excited to see us as Dr. de Bruin was to see him—and honestly, that’s what makes this season so special.

Lambing days, happy faces, and moments that remind us why we love what we do.

04/15/2026

Lambing and kidding season is in full swing—and we know that means long days, late nights, and a whole lot of problem-solving on the fly. 🐑🐐

From slow starters and mismothering to dystocias and neonatal care, this time of year can test even the most seasoned producers.

Just a reminder that Agwest Veterinary Group is here for you—whether you need on-farm support, tailored treatment protocols, or just a second opinion when something doesn’t feel quite right.

Don’t wait until a small issue becomes a big one. Reach out early, and let’s keep your lambs and kids thriving this season.

📞 Call us anytime
Fraser Valley (604) 229-7231
Vancouver Island (236) 800-3089

🚜 24-7 On-call support available

You’re not in this alone—we’ve got your back through every lamb and every kid.

03/13/2026

🚜 Salt Spring Island Farm Visits – March 25 🐄🐑🐐🐎

Agwest Veterinary Group will be on Salt Spring Island on March 25, and we still have some appointment spots available!

If your animals are due for herd health work, pregnancy checks, treatments, or you’ve been meaning to get something looked at, this is a great opportunity to have our large animal team come to you while we’re on the island.

📞 To book one of the remaining spots, please call the clinic at 236-800-3089 and we’ll add you to the schedule.

Spots are limited and tend to fill quickly, so give us a call soon if you’d like to be included!

— Your team at Agwest Veterinary Group

03/08/2026

Today we celebrate the incredible women who keep our clinic — and the farms and animals we serve — running every single day.

From veterinarians in the field to technicians, assistants, receptionists, and inventory managers behind the scenes, their dedication, skill, and compassion keep our team thriving every day.

Large animal medicine takes dedication, resilience, teamwork, and heart, and we’re proud to have so many talented women contributing their knowledge, compassion, and leadership to the care of our clients and their animals.

To the women of our clinic, and to the women across agriculture and veterinary medicine — thank you for the work you do every day.

Happy International Women’s Day! 🐄🐑🐐

02/21/2026

🐄🌱 Gabriola Island Farmers — We’re Coming to You! 🌱🐑

Whether you’re raising cattle, sheep, goats, or other ruminants for lifestyle, food, or family — keeping them healthy is your top priority… and it’s ours too. 💚

Agwest Veterinary Clinic is heading to Gabriola Island on Wednesday February 25, and planning for more dates to come, to provide dedicated services for small-scale and lifestyle farmers. We know island farming comes with unique challenges, and we’re committed to making quality livestock care accessible and practical for you.

From herd health planning and vaccination programs to reproductive services, diagnostics, and disease prevention — we’re here to support your flock and herd every step of the way. 👩‍⚕️👨‍⚕️

Learn more about the services we offer:
👉 https://agwestvet.com/ruminant-services/

📩 If you’re on Gabriola Island and would like to be included in our upcoming visit schedule, send us a message — we’d love to connect.

02/05/2026

Did you know that Agwest has 2 locations and 6 veterinarians?
We have been working to improve animal health & well-being and farm profitability for owners of livestock since 2004!

01/31/2026

Please join Agwest and BC Dairy for the first annual Cow Comfort Symposium, Tuesday February 10th at the Matsqui Hall.

Cow Comfort is the most underrated management factor when it come to running a successful dairy operation. Join Dr. Trevor DeVries as he discusses stocking density and the importance of ensuring adequate space for your cows to flourish, while coming into to period of growth. Dr. Nigel Cook will be discussing all things barn design, from free stall design, alley width, to ventilation. This will be an excellent day with a ton of interaction and practical expertise!

Register now! Tickets are available through the following link:
https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/cow-comfort-symposium-barns-bedding-beyond-tickets-1980184926420?aff=oddtdtcreator

We hope to see you there!

01/30/2026

We hope that you had a chance to see Dr. Melodie Ares-Monast this afternoon at the Islands Agriculture Show and learn everything that you need to know about lambing and kidding.

Missed this opportunity? Don’t worry! Dr. Melodie is giving a hands-on training day for sheep and goat farmers Saturday, February 7th at the Cowichan Exhibition Grounds on Vancouver Island. There are still some spots available to attend.

To learn more about this event and book your spot, see our Facebook post from January 22nd, or call the Agwest office: (236)-800-3089

The Islands Agriculture Show is coming to the Cowichan Exhibition next weekend! Join us on Friday, January 30, and Saturday, January 31, for a dynamic trade show and fantastic conference sessions.

Kidding 101: Preparing for a Successful Birthing Season
📅 Friday, January 30
⏰ 1:00PM–2:30PM
📍 BMO Room
This workshop offers clear, real-world guidance to help local producers prepare for a smooth and successful birthing season.

Speaker: • Dr. Mélodie Arès-Monast - Agwest Veterinary Group
Mélodie is a large-animal veterinarian in the Cowichan Valley. Known for her practical approach and deep passion for small ruminants, she focuses on giving producers the tools and confidence they need to raise healthy, thriving animals. She is dedicated to client education and believes that empowered farmers make stronger, more resilient herds.

Conference Sessions are $25 for the weekend, payable at the door.
Trade Show admission is $5, payable at the door.
Registration for both days starts at 8am.
Visit our website for the conference session program guide, trade show details, and more.
https://www.iashow.ca/conferencesessions.html

01/22/2026

🐐🐑 Kidding & Lambing Field Training Day

Hands-On • Practical • Confidence-Building
Kidding and lambing season doesn’t have to be stressful.

This is the best lambing training day available locally, created for hobby goat and sheep owners who want real skills, calm decision-making, and hands-on practice before birth night arrives.

Led by large-animal veterinarian Dr. Mélodie Arès‑Monast, this full-day, station-based training puts you in small teams rotating through supervised, hands-on learning stations.

You’ll learn how to:
✔️ Recognize normal vs not-normal births
✔️ Assist safely and confidently
✔️ Manage common dystocias (breech, head back, twins)
✔️ Decide when to wait, act, or call the vet
✔️ Care for newborns and moms
✔️ Prepare your barn before the season starts
You’ll leave with practical fact sheets and a certificate of completion.
Lambing/kidding kits will be available for purchase after the event.

📍 Pearmine Room – Cowichan Exhibition Grounds, Vancouver Island
📅 Saturday, February 7, 2026
⏰ 9:00am–4:00pm
👥 Limited spots | 🍽️ Bring your own lunch
💰 $250 – Agwest Veterinary Group clients
💰 $300 – Non-clients

👉 Registration required. Payment reserves your spot.
📞 Call the Agwest office to register.
(If full, a waitlist will be created.)

If you’d like this training offered in your area, contact the Agwest office and we’ll see how we can make that happen.
Calm hands save lives.

12/21/2025

This is going to be a very busy and short work week at Agwest so that we can give our staff some well deserved time off with their families over Christmas!

Please note that the Agwest office will be closed from noon on Wednesday until the following Monday. We anticipate being very busy until Christmas Eve. If you need a vet appointment, supplies or medications to get you and your animals through the holiday season, please try to call in tomorrow so that we can help you out.

Of course, as always, our veterinarians will be available 24/7 throughout the holidays for any veterinary emergencies that you might have.