Recent rain and humid weather have provided ideal conditions for a suite of issues that can impact animal health, including Barber's pole worm, flystrike and an associated increase in toxic weeds.

Agriculture Victoria senior veterinary officer Jeff Cave said during warm humid conditions Barber's pole worm eggs hatch into larvae and are consumed by sheep during grazing.
"Barber's pole worm is a potentially harmful roundworm parasite of sheep that sucks blood from the lining of the stomach, causing anaemia.
"Often the sheep go from looking fat and healthy to dead very quickly with few symptoms.
"The adult female worms are prolific egg producers leading rapidly to heavy pasture contamination," he said.
Dr Cave said as with other internal parasites, drench resistance to Barber's pole worm was becoming increasingly common.
"Producers need to look out for sheep going down during mustering with pale eyelids and gums.
"Sheep don't scour with Barber's pole worm as they do with other worm burdens – often the first sign is sheep dying.
"It takes about 21 days for the lifecycle of the worm, so around 3-6 weeks after the rain event is when we expect to see clinical signs in sheep,' he said.
Dr Cave said Barber's pole worm outbreaks could lead to high mortalities in a short space of time.
"The best way to be sure your worm control program is working is to have faecal egg counts done.
"After recent rains and humid conditions, sheep producers need to check their stock more regularly than normal in order to detect health problems early.
"Flystrike is also a major problem when you have these humid conditions and needs to be identified and treated swiftly.
"If a fly-struck sheep is found, the affected area should be immediately treated by clipping close to the skin, dressed to prevent a re-strike, and the sheep should be moved to a hospital paddock to reduce the risk to the rest of the flock.
"Any maggots should be collected and killed to help reduce the build-up of fly numbers.
For further advice and information on fly strike visit websites flyboss.com.au/ and wool.com/sheep/welfare/breech-flystrike
"Heliotrope is one of the toxic weeds that grow with summer rains, along with panic grass which can lead to liver damage.
Dr Cave said panic grasses will thrive in some crop stubbles and other pastures with recent summer storms.
"The best prevention is to avoid grazing risky paddocks. If this isn't possible never put hungry sheep straight out onto risky pastures but give them a good feed of hay first. Lambs are particularly vulnerable to panic grass toxicity," he said.
For further information or advice contact your local veterinarian or Agriculture Victoria veterinary or animal health officer.