One of the best team members a farmer can have is a great working dog. How much thought do you give to the quality of the food you provide that valued asset?

Much like humans, dogs will perform better and be healthier if they are fueled with good nutrition. Check out our article on performance diets for working dogs to make sure you're on the right track. 

Continuing our thread from previous newsletters we again discuss risk of zoonotic disease - this month it's leptospirosis and the why and wherefore's of vaccination.

With summer rain comes the increased risk of Barbers Pole worm infestation in sheep - make sure you know the signs and the best worm program for your situation. 

Finally we welcome a new vet to the OVH family - see our first article.

• Nutrient dense diet with a high level of fat.
• Animal based protein source, with high levels of crude protein.
• More than meat – meat is not a balanced food.
• Cooked – food borne infection is a major complication of feeding fresh meat. If you are not prepared to cook the meat, freezing before feeding is important to kill tapeworm cysts in the meat.
• All dogs should be fed at least once per day and have access to fresh clean water. Hungry dogs tend to scavenge.
• Dogs doing hard work and in cold weather require extra food.
• Female dogs in whelp or lactating require extra food.
• Sheep meat purchased from butcher shops, meat plants or abattoirs cannot be guaranteed free from C.ovis (Sheep Measle) cysts and must always be frozen or cooked before feeding to dogs.

All horses and ponies require dental attention at different stages through their life. With routine dental attention you may avoid the need for extractions and invasive work later in life.

A horse with poor dental health can lose weight and resent the bit. In addition, poor dental health increases the risk of colic as poorly chewed food can block the intestines. Young horses lose their baby teeth as their adult teeth erupt. Retained baby teeth, called caps, can trap food in the mouth causing painful gum disease and infections.

Over time, chewing causes sharp points to develop on the cheek teeth, which can cause painful ulcers on the gums, cheeks and tongue. Damaged teeth and gums can allow infection to develop and spread to the root of the tooth, causing painful abscesses.

Signs of dental disease to look out for in your horse include: dropping feed, weight loss, foul breath and swelling of the face or lower jaw.

The safest and most effective way for us to conduct a detailed dental examination and treatment involves the use of sedation, pain relief and X-rays (where required). If you have any questions or concerns regarding the dental health of your horse or pony please give us a call.

With an increased vigilance around zoonotic diseases, it’s worth reviewing the key reasons cattle producers are utilising Ultravac® 7in1 to protect the workforce on their farm.

In the human version of the disease, Lepto causes flu-like symptoms with a high proportion of people requiring hospitalisation.

Human infections can occur:

• While assisting during calving without proper protection
• From urine splashing from infected cows during milking or calving
• Indirectly via contaminated water, food or soil
• By handling an aborted foetus or afterbirth
• Through contact with floodwaters

The bacteria can live in the environment for months in moist conditions and stagnant water before infecting an animal. Once infected, cattle can subsequently shed Lepto in their urine for periods greater than 12 months after their initial infection.

Ultravac® 7in1 contains the two strains of Lepto hardjo and pomona which have been sourced locally and manufactured in Australia. The Australian Lepto hardjo strain used in Ultravac® 7in1 elicits a strong cell mediated immune response, which is necessary to prevent infection of the kidneys of cows and subsequent urinary shedding. When used prior to natural exposure, Ultravac ®7in1 prevents urinary shedding of Leptospira, breaking the cycle of infection in cow herds and stopping the spread of new infections.

Ultravac® 7in1 can be given to calves from as early as four weeks of age and the vaccine works in the presence of maternal antibodies. Given only a tiny number of bacteria are required to cause infection and disease in both cattle and humans, Ultravac® 7in1’s unique mode of action is the only way to stop new infections occurring and clear the disease out of the herd.

To provide protection to cattle, it’s essential to begin vaccination early in life. The image above gives a good representation of this.

With many regions of Australia experiencing significant summer rain, the worm burdens are quickly on the rise. Anywhere in the country with significant summer rain, or anyone who is buying lambs out of these regions, need to be on the lookout.

Sheep are fine one week, and severely ill the next. The lamb pictured above is suffering from Barber’s pole worm infection. The most notable issue is the swelling under its chin referred to as bottle jaw. Barber’s pole worm is not only production limiting, but in severe infestations will cause death, anaemia, lethargy and collapse. All classes of stock are susceptible but, as with all parasites, the youngest and the oldest stock are particularly susceptible.

Drenching using combination drenches will be the most effective, and if you are unsure what is working on your farm, DrenchTests are important. Zoetis have recently released SHEEP TRAX, which is a database of drench efficacy tests that allows you to filter by region and worm species.

Remember, all new stock, including rams, coming on the farm require a quarantine drench to prevent you bringing resistant worms onto your farm. With a quarantine drench, it is recommended to use a combination of no less than four unrelated drench actives, with at least one being the newest drench actives (monepantel e.g. Zolvix™ or derquantel e.g. Startect™). Make sure not to mix different drenches unless it is stated on the label. Co-administering drenches generally involves up the race with one product then up the race again with the next.

The best source of information on all things sheep and drench related is found at Wormboss.

During the drier months we see an increase in the number of coughing horses. Regular or severe coughing, coughing during riding or over a long period of time suggests an underlying problem.

There are many causes of coughs in horses ranging from mild viral infections or allergies to severe bacterial pleuropneumonia. Coughing is often accompanied by a watery or yellow nasal discharge. An elevated temperature may be present and the horse may be inappetant and lethargic in more severe cases.

A veterinary examination is necessary to determine the severity of the underlying cause. Usually, mild viral infections will resolve without medical treatment. Allergies to environmental dust may require inhalant medications. Only coughs caused by bacterial infections will respond to antibiotic treatment.

Seek veterinary advice first if you have a coughing horse. Accurate diagnosis and treatment is most effective in avoiding using a merry-go-round of expensive and ineffective remedies.

Calf scours are nearly all caused by a handful of infectious agents, these are:

1. Rotavirus
2. Coronavirus
3. E.coli
4. Salmonella
5. Cryptosporidium

In years gone by, it has been difficult to prevent these diseases. However, with progress in vaccinations, we are now able to prevent the first four very effectively! Whilst there are no vaccines against crypto, one important way to reduce the severity of the disease crypto produces, is to prevent co-infection with other pathogens.

Remember, calves are born with poor immunity! Most immunity they have in the first six weeks of life comes from their colostrum intake after birth. These ‘colostrum vaccines’ supercharge the dams colostrum with specific antibodies against the bugs mentioned.

Vaccines around dry off need careful consideration. We recommend no more than two at a time, and to avoid vaccination in heat waves. We are happy to help design a vaccination program for you.

If your herd has not previously been vaccinated, and you are calving cows in Autumn, you must be doing the first dose now. If you have already implemented the vaccine on your farm, then it’s just an annual dose at dry off.