This post contains Amazon affiliate links. I will make a small commission if you make a purchase through one of these links, at no extra cost to you. See our full disclosure and disclaimer policy.
Please note that I am not a vet. Always consult your veterinary for medical advice.
When you have farm animals, you naturally want to have a vet nearby for routine checkups or if an emergency arises. However, sometimes this isn't possible. If you live in a rural area sometimes there aren't any vets that are trained in helping your livestock. Times like this requires you to become your own vet for simple issues.
When taking care of your animals, please use caution (I know this can be hard when you're in full panic mode!) and common sense if you must perform any veterinary procedures. While Facebook is good for seeking out knowledgeable people for quick questions, use your own discretion for following any advice that isn't specifically from a qualified vet.
Put together a medical bag with the basics: latex gloves, gauze, self adhesive bandages, and medications.
In the few short months we've had our Babydoll sheep, we've had a few issues arise, with the first being within the first two weeks. Our oldest German Shepherd managed to get out of his collar and went after our sheep. While this is their natural instinct to go after them, their breed being made to specifically herd sheep, he hasn't been trained for this and he caused some minor damage to our ram, Platinum Dark Woods (aka Dark, or as my husband likes to call him, Brown). Upon realizing he was bleeding, we had to find out where it was and how badly he was injured. In a pinch a man's razor like this one can be used to remove the wool around the area (Do I really need to tell you not to use the razor after this?)
We used Betadine solution to clean the wound, applied some gauze and used the shelf adhesive bandage to loosely wrap around the gauze to hold it in place. After a few weeks of checking and keeping the area clean, Dark healed up just fine with minor scaring that won't be visible beneath all that wool.
One of our ewes had a minor eye irritation and after a few doses of Terramycin Antibiotic ointment, she also healed up nicely. At the time we felt we didn't need a deck chair for sheep, we quickly changed our minds and bought one. The webbed "chair" allows you to maneuver the sheep into a reclining position so that they won't struggle when you need to work with them.
Our chickens have also need tending to, as we have had several health issues creep up with them over the years. Blue-kote is a dark blue liquid that when applied to wounds discolors the blood so that it "hides" it from other animals who would be attracted to the blood. It also helps keep the wound from becoming infected as it is germicidal/fungicidal.
Another useful medication to have on hand is Vet RX for poultry. This is commonly used for respiratory issues, but can also be used for croup, scaly leg mites, and eye worm.
Having a local vet is crucial to your animal's health, but sometimes it isn't possible. At times like that, keeping basic medical supplies on hand could be the difference between life and death for your livestock.
Comentários