From the archives

Iain Fairweather – hanging speys (of dogs and cats) were a common practice in the 1970’s – anaesthetic top-ups (all injectable, usually dilute pentobarb), were given in the handily placed sub-lingual vein. 

Dargville Vet Clinic and cars - no company cars then and massive white aerials for the RT. The clinic is the small building on the right. It was inside the dairy factory in Dargaville and occasionally milk tankers would take a few bricks off the vet building. There were also occasional floods as it was across the road from the Northern Wairoa river.

Standing horse surgery – mid 70’s Manaia

Horse plaster – 1976 Dargaville.

Horse plaster - 1976 Dargaville – sheltering from a Northland shower

Horse plaster - 1976 Dargaville – horse recovering in the paddock

Pregnancy testing – Bob Gumbrell manually pregnancy testing 400 cows in 1969

Learn about the role veterinarians and the NZVA play in New Zealand society in this video from the 1990s. Warning: This video includes content that some viewers may find disturbing. Viewer discretion is advised.