The Vet Chat NZ thevetchatnz

Host turns guest as Matt Wells, Technical Services Manager at Virbac NZ, joins the Vet Chat this week and shares his wisdom on the diagnosis and closed reduction of dislocated hips in cattle. During his 13 years in clinical practice, he was able to develop his skills in this area and has presented at the NZVA conference, and still regularly talks on dislocated hips to recent graduates at the Supergrad Day. Matt shares tips and tricks that have helped him in the past, as well as resources he has created that have helped others be successful in their attempts.
Closed reduction of dislocated hips: Getting the clunk
Dislocated hips: Open reduction
Dislocated Hips - Diagnosis & Reduction

Winston is a veterinary epidemiologist who has recently set up EpiVets Ltd in collaboration with colleagues Emma Cuttance and Greg Chambers. Winston joins Ellen to discuss lameness in dairy cows in New Zealand, and offers practical advice which stems from the extensive research he has done whilst completing his PhD. The episode includes lots of tips to help clinicians promote early identification on farms, streamline treatment and management of lame cows, and also reiterates that we are doing well in NZ in terms of prevalence and recovery rates.

Laurinda Oliver is a specialist equine surgeon and intern coordinator at Waikato Equine Veterinary Centre.  She and Matt discuss how a non-equine vet can improve the care of horses and reduce their stress levels by having clear plans for treatment, referral and even euthanasia. They focus on colic and wounds, but also cover foalings, eye conditions, acute lameness and sick foals.  
Equine Emergencies Textbook
Haygard Mobile Formulary
Liphook Equine Hospital Lab
BEVA Apps

Martin Earles shares great recommendations for handling, examining, and treating rabbits. From the ideal combination of male and female rabbits in a household to performing an oral examination, antibiotics that are safe, best desexing practices, and general husbandry tips to boost the confidence of vets when they encounter rabbits in-clinic.

Katie Denholm's research on colostrum and calf health during her time in NZ will be familiar to many vets. She is now completing her PhD while teaching at Glasgow University, and joins Matt to discuss what we now know about the full effects of getting colostrum wrong, and what to focus on to improve calf health. They cover the best practice of ideal timing and volumes, storage, and assessing passive transfer, and include the latest research and updates.

Exotic animal diseases are a threat to New Zealand’s farms and economy. While FMD is the most obvious concern, there are others on the radar for Biosecurity New Zealand. Mark Eames is a Biosecurity New Zealand Incursion Investigator. He joins Matt to discuss what vets should be looking out for, how we can monitor animals for these diseases, and what the process looks like for a practitioner if they report something unusual.