What is in your animal emergency medical kit?

[crazyfarm]

I'm wondering what everyone keeps. I have an emergency kit for the dogs that has transferred to horses well but that's it. I'm finding I should have started an emergency kit for the poultry and I'm now contacting a vet to find Corid (I'm still hoping it's not cocci but dosing just in case).

So since I'm hoping to expand my animal repertoire what should I be purchasing to care for their medical needs?

[collegeboundgal]

What type of animals? If large, I say this with softness, keep a gun handy. A .22 should suffice. When it comes to medications, that is totally dependent on type of critter and purpose.

[BlackFeather]

My father had several veterinary books written for farmers to use. I would probably get one of these and figure out what to keep based on the animal. Large animals are worth calling in a vet for, but chickens for example aren't. If the problem is serious it's cheaper to buy a new chicken then spend too much money on medicine or a vet.

[watcher]

Most everything in my ER kit can be used on any critter; dog, horse or human.

The two biggest ERs are broken limbs and deep cuts. Neither require a lot of skill to fix but do require a bit of knowledge, training and a lot of "I know this hurts but it has to be done" attitude.

[Wolf mom]

I'm pretty much of a minimalist and know my limitations so don't keep a lot of stuff on hand.

If it's something like my Dalmatian getting kicked in the jaw by a horse and having to have teeth extracted - it's vet time.

Otherwise it's:
Betadine
lots of gauze pads
sterile water
Vet wrap
antihistamine
small battery operated electric shaver
small needle nosed pliers (easier than tweezers on cranky animals)
Bute (phenylbutazone) tablets
Underwood Horse Medicine www.underwoodhorsemedicine.com with baking powder great stuff!

I used to have a lot of other "stuff" like Corona and Furazolidone but now if I can get to a wound I'd rather isolate the animal & wash it out a few times a day with diluted Betadine or using Underwoods, keeping it clean and unwrapped (if possible) to heal from the inside out.

Chickens? Never had an issue with them the 5 years I had them.

[slingshot]

There are only 2 things in my kit....

Cell phone

Gun

Lol I couldn't resist, I don't have have horses but I do have black angus cattle, pigs, turkeys,chickens of various kinds meat and egg layers. All of my animals are for food purposes so other than routine vet checks they are not getting much help with any serious injury.

If I had a steer down with a broken leg, I would winch him in to the trailer as gently as possible and take him to the packers. The cost of the vet bill would not be worth it. Same with chickens they can just go in the pot.

Just to be clear, I'm not talking about pink eye or worms but serious injuries that would require emergency medical attention to keep the animal alive.

[frogmammy]

Originally Posted by watcher

...... and a lot of "I know this hurts but it has to be done" attitude.

Try telling THAT to a cat as you push a fishook on through its lip!

Mon

[crazyfarm]

No worries on the attitude or the ability. I was determined to be a veterinarian before I found out needles make me faint. Had a fair amount of training with cats and dogs so wounds don't bother me too bad. It's not so much the chickens but the peacocks I'm giving meds to right now. More valuable.

Anyway, for the dogs I keep wound care items and wrap. I was just wondering what my other animals may required.

Hopefully we will have pigs, goats and cows either next year or the year after. I was betting there were standard supplies for each so was wondering.

P.S. Have the gun, not a problem.