Eltham Vet Service

11/12/2025

Don't forget to pop this in your calendar! Come on down next Wednesday to have a drink and BBQ dinner with us to celebrate Christmas and the end of the year!

11/12/2025

Christmas has come to Eltham Vets! We had one of Santas helpers pop in this morning to visit Teresa! Gus and Teresa both look great in their Christmas outfits! 🧑‍🎄🎄

10/12/2025

With the Christmas season beginning, here is a timely reminder of what treats NOT to give your pets. These can be highly toxic for our fur babies. If you are concerned that your pet has gotten into anything listed please give us a call to chat to a vet.

10/12/2025

21/11/2025

Is this your very friendly happy female pup. Hanging around the vet clinic after hours tonight. No microchip. If she’s your please ring 067648196 to arrange pick up

20/11/2025

Congratulations to our Bravecto Pack winner Jane. We hope you enjoy your Ashley & co pamper pack.
This month we are giving away a Barkers Giftbox, purchase any Bravecto product to be in the draw to win!

16/11/2025

Fonterra farmers can apply to receive customer funding up to $1500 for solutions designed to drive on-farm efficiency gains and reduce emissions intensity as long as they achieve the Co-operative Difference in 2025/26. Many of you will be eligible for this with Fonterra expecting 85% of its farmers to qualify. The end date for applications is the 30th November so get in quick.
Some of the included services are listed below. Contact us to discuss BVD tissue testing for your calves or to discuss booking in a milk Johnes test (limited spots available)

Animal performance – through LIC & CRV
• 4th and subsequent herd tests
• BVD tissue testing for animals less than 12 months
• Johne’s disease testing carried out on milk samples
• Genomic testing
• Sexed semen services

07/11/2025

Weaning Time – Setting Your Calves Up for Success!
Weaning can be a challenging time for your calves — they’re transitioning from milk to pasture and being exposed to new bugs and environments. With the right prep and management, you can set them up for success.
Before you start weaning, ask yourself:
➡️ Is the calf eating enough meal?
➡️ Has the rumen developed properly?
➡️ Is it meeting weight targets?
➡️ Is it the right age?
➡️ Can it hold its own with the rest of the group?
Rumen development is the big one.
Don’t rush it — give calves at least 2 weeks to adjust as you slowly cut back milk. Keep meal going for another 2 weeks post-weaning to help them through the change and avoid growth checks. They should be eating more than 1kg of meal/calf/day. Keep an eye on how they’re eating and behaving — pick up on any that might be struggling early.
MINIMUM weaning weights:
🐮 Jerseys – 70 kg
🐮 Friesian x Jerseys – 80 kg
🐮 Friesians – 90 kg
Heavier calves at weaning grow into better, stronger heifers. It’s a good idea to weigh again 1–2 weeks after weaning — they should still be gaining. If not, keep offering meal a bit longer.
Couple of extra tips:
✅ Pre-weaning drench: Drenching them before starting the weaning process will ensure they do not get overwhelmed by intestinal parasites. A drench like Turbo Initial is a great option — it’s got a coccidiostat to help protect against coccidiosis too.
✅ Trace element boost: Weaning’s a stressful time! A Multimin injection pre-weaning helps keep trace element levels (especially copper for growth) up and gives their immune system a good boost.
A bit of extra care now means smoother weaning, better growth, and stronger heifers in the long run.