What should I have in my Cattle First Aid kit?

SandyB · Nov 7, 2013

Being new to the cattle I figure I best get a "must have" first aid kit for them. While I am lucky to have my vet just down the street I do a lot of my own basic vet work on my horses and have worked as a surgical Vet Tech so I have some good basic knowledge(with horses). I already have on hand: lots of different sized needles and syringes, suture materials, Iodine & Iodine Scrub, Gauze pads, telfa pads, vet wrap, Elastikon, thermometer, stethoscope, Penicillin, LA200, Ace, Banamine, Bute, Lidocaine, Probias and SMZ's. Not sure if some of this stuff applies to cattle?? Can someone give me a basic must have medications list to have on hand and what they are used for? Also if I am missing any supplies besides what I have listed and halters and ropes of various sizes.
Thank you!

DL · Nov 7, 2013

SandyB said:
Being new to the cattle I figure I best get a "must have" first aid kit for them. While I am lucky to have my vet just down the street I do a lot of my own basic vet work on my horses and have worked as a surgical Vet Tech so I have some good basic knowledge(with horses). I already have on hand: lots of different sized needles and syringes, suture materials, Iodine & Iodine Scrub, Gauze pads, telfa pads, vet wrap, Elastikon, thermometer, stethoscope, Penicillin, LA200, Ace, Banamine, Bute, Lidocaine, Probias and SMZ's. Not sure if some of this stuff applies to cattle?? Can someone give me a basic must have medications list to have on hand and what they are used for? Also if I am missing any supplies besides what I have listed and halters and ropes of various sizes.
Thank you!

Cattle, unlike horses in the US, are considered food animals and as food animals the use of drugs is regulated by the USDA. Therefore although you may have all these drugs for your horses, if none of the prescription drugs are labeled by your veterinarian for cattle - their use in cattle is illegal. The label must include (among other things) the dose, route of administration, duration of treatment and the meat (and milk) withhold. Of the drugs you listed Ace, Banamine, Bute and SMZs are prescription drugs and if you use either Pen G or LA200 off label in cattle that use is illegal unless you follow the ELDU rules and AMDUCA. Furthermore, the use of Bute in cattle is strongly discouraged. You are raising food - know the rules regarding drug use in cattle

This is from an earlier post
For those of you unfamiliar with the rules governing the use of drugs in the animals we raise for food - incredible that you missed it

http://www.steerplanet.com/bb/index.php?topic=37866.msg327932#msg327932

Re: ACEPROMAZINE
« Reply #9 on: March 09, 2012, 12:06:29 PM »

Quote from: GoWyo on March 09, 2012, 10:42:00 AM
JDM said it was a "sale heifer." If it is one for sale, then there is a question of whether it is ethical to tranq it and not disclose to buyer that the animal goes nuts in the grooming chute. That being said, with as many cattle as ACE has been used on it would seem that it has been thoroughly tested enough to pass AMDUCA and ELDU by now. Have there ever been clinical studies on ACE in cattle? Maybe it is the variability of dosage that prevents labeling for use in cattle.

DL, can you enlighten us on why ACE is not approved for cattle from a vet medicine standpoint rather than the legal labeling standpoint, which most people are aware of?

GOWYO The rules on drugs used for the animals we produce for food are complicated, unevenly enforced, and often not intuitively sensible. The vet med standpoint and the legal standpoint are pretty well intertwined. Drugs approved for use in cattle have been tested, withhold and withdrawals determined, and efficacy assessed. Once they meet certain requirements they are approved for the specific species tested, for the route of administration, the dose and the conditions used. So if you look at Banamine it is not approved for pain management in cattle, but it is approved for for fever, if we use it for pain management technically we need to meet all the requirements for ELDU and AMDUCA. Since it is approved (for a different use) in cattle we know that if we give it in the approved manner (which happens to be IV) then we know exactly what the meat withhold is for the drug and we will not end up with violative residues.

The bottom line is that some drugs are approved for use in cattle - for example over the counter tetracycline - if it is used exactly according to the label there is no problem HOWEVER, if the farmer decides to increase the dose above the label does that falls under the Extra Label Drug Use policy (ELDU) which (by law) required certain things.

Any drug approved for use in human or equine or canine etc that is not approved for use in cattle can only be used if the ELDU requirements are met - medical grade DMSO, acepromazine, etc are NOT approved for use in cattle and therefor can only be used (legally) if ELDU requirements are met - you will note that drugs can be used only for therapeutic purposes (animal's health is suffering or threatened) - tranquilizing a heifer in a chute to clip her does not meet ELDU requirements and is therefor technically illegal.

ELDU REQUIREMENTS FOR USE
ELDU is permitted only by or under the supervision of a veterinarian.
ELDU is allowed only for FDA approved animal and human drugs.
A valid Veterinarian/Client/Patient Relationship is a prerequisite for all ELDU.
ELDU for therapeutic purposes only (animal's health is suffering or threatened). Not drugs for production use.
Rules apply to dosage form drugs and drugs administered in water. ELDU in feed is prohibited.
ELDU is not permitted if it results in a violative food residue, or any residue which may present a risk to public health.
FDA prohibition of a specific ELDU precludes such use.

There are also record and label requirements

RECORD REQUIREMENTS

Identify the animals, either as individuals or a group.
Animal species treated.
Numbers of animals treated.
Conditions being treated.
The established name of the drug and active ingredient.
Dosage prescribed or used.
Duration of treatment.
Specified withdrawal, withholding, or discard time(s), if applicable, for meat, milk, eggs, or animal-derived food.
Keep records for 2 years.
FDA may have access to these records to estimate risk to public health.

LABEL REQUIREMENTS

Name and address of the prescribing veterinarian.
Established name of the drug.
Any specified directions for use including the class/species or identification of the animal or herd, flock, pen, lot, or other group; the dosage frequency, and route of administration; and the duration of therapy.
Any cautionary statements.
Your specified withdrawal, withholding, or discard time for meat, milk, eggs, or any other food.

There are also drugs absolutely positively forbidden to be used in food animals (ie ELDU NOT ALLOWED)
Drugs Prohibited for Extralabel Use in Food Animals (Current as of June 2003. Check for updates on the FDA Web site at www.fda.gov/cvm)

Chloramphenicol
Clenbuterol
Diethylstilbestrol (DES)
Dimetridazole
Ipronidazole
Other Nitroimidazoles
Furazolidone, Nitrofurazone, Other Nitrofurans
Sulfonamide drugs in lactating dairy cows (except approved use of sulfadimethoxine, sulfabromomethazine, and sulfaethoxypyridazine)
Fluoroquinolones
Glycopeptides (example: vancomycin)
Phenybutazone in female dairy cattle 20 months of age or older
Adamantane and neuraminidase inhibitor classes of drugs that are approved for treating or preventing influenza A are prohibited therapy in chickens, turkeys, and ducks (Effective: June 20, 2006)

I know people do it - that doesn't make it right. I have heard the argument that we want to protect the kid or the public and I think it is bunk - I saw a tranquilized bull sleep through the sale - because the owner didn't want him to hurt anyone - IMHO he should have been burger.

You guys were all over Jody for his approach to youth and here you are teaching your kids to cheat and to use drugs that are illegal in food animals - we are producing food for human consumption - one would think that we would take the rules about drug use seriously - but apparently not when we might win a belt buckle.

Hope that clear it up a bit - it is a complicated, confusing conundrum and that doesn't even take into account the ethics of tranquilizing animals for show or sale

PS - don't shoot the messenger - I don't make the rules but I abide by them

https://www.avma.org/KB/Resources/Reference/Pages/AMDUCA.aspx

https://www.avma.org/KB/Resources/FAQs/Pages/ELDU-and-AMDUCA-FAQs.aspx

frostback · Nov 7, 2013

I would have something on hand for bloat. Maybe mineral oil and a drench gun to administer it. Or a bloat go of some kind but make up your mind which on you are using first as you cant use both at one time.
http://www.shanestack.com/shop/index.php?page=shop-flypage-11419
There are a couple other products but I cant seem to find any quickly this am.

vc · Nov 7, 2013

DL, what would suggest they have then, it's great you can tell them what they should not have now what should they have?

We have A thermometer, LA200, Syringes, gloves, nose tongs, Mineral oil, Fluid Film (ring worm) Kopertox (foot rot) probiotic paste, Blue -kote wound spray, Corona ointment, Teat balm, Vet wrap, a roll of gauze, Drench gun, bolus gun, empty bolus capsules, there may be more can not remember off the top of my head.

kanshow · Nov 7, 2013

Tack box first aid kit... Resflor, tube for bloat, vetricyn, - for the cattle...
Also always carry a small human first aid kit for the 2 legged critters...

chambero · Nov 7, 2013

Do you have cows running around in pasture, show calves, ... (and how many)? Makes a big difference to what you need to keep on hand. For example, if you are going to have bred heifers and more than just a couple, you really need to buy a set of calf pullers. You might not need them very often, but you when you do, you don't have time to find one from somebody else. But, they don't do you any good if you don't have a chute to put one in.

If you are going to have stocker calves, you really need to talk to your vet and go ahead and keep a bottle of a good, general purpose antibiotic around (something stronger than La-200 - for example we use Resflor and Draxxin). There again, time makes all the difference in the world for a sick calf.

RyanChandler · Nov 7, 2013

Throw the la200 and pen away. Both are trash. Get you a quality antibiotic w/ a long ester- nuflor, excede, baytril, etc. I've saved more calves with banamine than I can count; calves that couldn't even lift their head w/ dry eyes and noses come back to life full force.

Obviously it depends on what type of operation you have, but a drench tube is a life saver too. Pair of pulling chains is huge, various gauge needles and syringes, dexamethasone, clotting powder, scour guard, knife, rope- sure there's more but that's just a brainstorm of what's in mine.

vc · Nov 7, 2013

I assumed they have 1 steer and 1 heifer based off of her recent post. The most important thing to have is a thermometer, if you have a calf that is off and you call the vet the first thing they are going to ask is do it have a temp. I have found with most livestock if it is easy to get their temp chances are they need medical attention, especially hogs, cant get near a healthy hog long enough to get a temp. More than what you have is knowing the animal, recognizing that there is something different or wrong, my kids fed but I always went up and checked on the animals, catching something early and taking care of it or monitoring it to make sure it does not escalate is key.
When I was in high school I had a Quarter mare she was about 10 years old, I always fed in the morning prior to school, on this one day I was running late so I asked my younger brother to feed, how hard is it to give 5 horses a flake of hay each. When I got home from school, they had just rushed the mare to the vet hospital, she did not make it out of surgery, she had developed stones it had blocked her intestine. My brother then told us that that morning she did not come to eat, had I fed I would have know she was off, not his fault it was mine.
The things I posted prior where the things we used most with the show calves, and hogs. It will deal with ring worm, foot rot, scrapes, cuts and and minor stuff, for bigger issues I call the vet.
I have called him with an issue and if not life threatening I can tell him the symptoms and answer his questions and he will have me pick up the medication he thinks best for the situation, if any.
Everytime so far, we have been right on with diagnosis and treatment. He charges me at cost for the medication and I pay no visit fees.
I used to keep all kinds of medication on hand, seems like everytime I needed it is was past expiration date, plus the wife did not like it next to the butter in the fridge. I keep the La200 on hand and banimine paste, like X-bar it has come in handy in an emergency. Sons ewe went down and looked near death, hit her with banamine and up next day like nothing ever happened. I was figuring I would be digging a hole that morning.

SandyB · Nov 7, 2013

Cattle, unlike horses in the US, are considered food animals and as food animals the use of drugs is regulated by the USDA. Therefore although you may have all these drugs for your horses, if none of the prescription drugs are labeled by your veterinarian for cattle - their use in cattle is illegal. The label must include (among other things) the dose, route of administration, duration of treatment and the meat (and milk) withhold. Of the drugs you listed Ace, Banamine, Bute and SMZs are prescription drugs and if you use either Pen G or LA200 off label in cattle that use is illegal unless you follow the ELDU rules and AMDUCA. Furthermore, the use of Bute in cattle is strongly discouraged. You are raising food - know the rules regarding drug use in cattle

I am not exactly sure how to take your reply, its almost on the verge of insulting if you do not think I know the difference between horses and cattle. I also know the difference between prescription drugs and OTC ones as obviously the prescription drugs I got through my vet. On top of that, I have enough common sense and use my brain. I do not play with drugs or administer for the fun of it or without a chat with my vet first.

cowman 52 · Nov 7, 2013

Of course we get into what you cant do, I swear some would see one die before trying to save one.

Epinepherine, dexamethosome, ban amine, bloat hose, antibiotic of some sort, use what you are comfortable with. Sulfa pills and you are ready for emergencies. After that everything is useful but if you don't have it one ain't gonna die.

SandyB · Nov 7, 2013

Yup I also have Epinephrine, Dex, Mineral Oil, Kopertox, Vetricyn, Corona, fungicide topical's, Blue Kote, gauze, gloves and various other topical's and already have pulling chains(we were mini horse breeders).

What I see that I need is: Drenching Gun, Bolus gun, Nose tongs, Scour Guard, Empty Bolus Capsules, clotting powder(think I have that too, need to check) and a better antibiotic.

Couple questions: What are screw worms (think that was the term used) and what do you use Dex for? Also, back in the days LA200 was the go to drug for everything. I see that has changed. Is there a reason or is it just that better longer acting antibiotics have started being used.

Thank you all so much for your help and suggestions. This forum has been a wealth of knowledge for me. It is people like you all that help newbies and even old timers keep a better and healthier cattle herd. Oh and yes, our herd is small. We have a steer and a heifer. We plan to increase our heifer (or cow) herd by a few more as something catches our eye.

DL · Nov 7, 2013

SandyB said:
Cattle, unlike horses in the US, are considered food animals and as food animals the use of drugs is regulated by the USDA. Therefore although you may have all these drugs for your horses, if none of the prescription drugs are labeled by your veterinarian for cattle - their use in cattle is illegal. The label must include (among other things) the dose, route of administration, duration of treatment and the meat (and milk) withhold. Of the drugs you listed Ace, Banamine, Bute and SMZs are prescription drugs and if you use either Pen G or LA200 off label in cattle that use is illegal unless you follow the ELDU rules and AMDUCA. Furthermore, the use of Bute in cattle is strongly discouraged. You are raising food - know the rules regarding drug use in cattle

I am not exactly sure how to take your reply, its almost on the verge of insulting if you do not think I know the difference between horses and cattle. I also know the difference between prescription drugs and OTC ones as obviously the prescription drugs I got through my vet. On top of that, I have enough common sense and use my brain. I do not play with drugs or administer for the fun of it or without a chat with my vet first.

Take it any way you want to, but by asking the question and listing your drugs on hand it is clear that you don't know about ELDU and AMDUCA - if you chat with your vet first before administering drugs perhaps you should chat with your vet about what you should have in your first aid kit.

I agree with vc - you need to know your animals well enough to know what is normal and what is not - this may be the most important thing in your first aid kit. Cattle as prey animals spend their life trying to hide what ails them - so that often by the time an unobservant human thinks they. are sick - they are very sick. Next you need a thermometer. After that it depends on what you have and if they stay on the farm or head off to shows.

If your vet is truly down the street you might not want to spend the big bucks for w whole bottle of antibiotic for cattle - ask his/her advise about that as well as what you should use dex for. Just because you have a drug for horses doesn't mean it is safe or legal to use in cattle. Gentamicin is used frequently in horses - use is discouraged in cattle as it has an 18 MONTH slaughter with hold.

The use of antibiotics and other drugs in animals we raise for food is under huge scrutiny by the FDA as well as scientists and the lay press - if we do not follow the rules we stand to loose the ability to use many of the drugs that are important in treating our animals. I just follow the rules - I don't make them

SandyB · Nov 7, 2013

DL said:
SandyB said:

Cattle, unlike horses in the US, are considered food animals and as food animals the use of drugs is regulated by the USDA. Therefore although you may have all these drugs for your horses, if none of the prescription drugs are labeled by your veterinarian for cattle - their use in cattle is illegal. The label must include (among other things) the dose, route of administration, duration of treatment and the meat (and milk) withhold. Of the drugs you listed Ace, Banamine, Bute and SMZs are prescription drugs and if you use either Pen G or LA200 off label in cattle that use is illegal unless you follow the ELDU rules and AMDUCA. Furthermore, the use of Bute in cattle is strongly discouraged. You are raising food - know the rules regarding drug use in cattle

I am not exactly sure how to take your reply, its almost on the verge of insulting if you do not think I know the difference between horses and cattle. I also know the difference between prescription drugs and OTC ones as obviously the prescription drugs I got through my vet. On top of that, I have enough common sense and use my brain. I do not play with drugs or administer for the fun of it or without a chat with my vet first.

Click to expand...

Take it any way you want to, but by asking the question and listing your drugs on hand it is clear that you don't know about ELDU and AMDUCA - if you chat with your vet first before administering drugs perhaps you should chat with your vet about what you should have in your first aid kit.

If your vet is truly down the street you might not want to spend the big bucks for w whole bottle of antibiotic for cattle - ask his/her advise about that as well as what you should use dex for. Just because you have a drug for horses doesn't mean it is safe or legal to use in cattle. Gentamicin is used frequently in horses - use is discouraged in cattle as it has an 18 MONTH slaughter with hold.

Wow! So I guess every person that has posted on this topic clearly does not know what ELDU & AMDUCA and that cattle are intended for human consumption?? I do not believe I listed Gentamicin as a drug I have on hand. I only listed the stuff I had as an example of what I already had on hand for my HORSES.

It is people like you that make me sorry for ever posting this topic and asking experienced cattle people what they recommend.

cowman 52 · Nov 7, 2013

You have to be at least as old as me to know screw worms, they were a problem, any exposed cut would have maggots and would eventually eat the host alive. The smell is something you never forget, catch anything with it, there was a smear that would kill the maggots and let the wound heal. You took samples and sent them off, about a week later sterile flys would be dropped from planes.

As for the rest of the discussion, you better be prepared to take any actions you know to be in your cow and your best interest. The vet is never around when you need to act and having a dead one dragged out of your stall is not a real good deal.

RyanChandler · Nov 7, 2013

Sandy, you have to read through the bureaucracy of DLs post. She has good intentions but reminds me of a Doc I had once who tried to prescribe Tylenol 3 post ACL surgery. Why take a handful of Tylenol 3 if one Percocet will get ya where you're goin? Some Doc's subscribe to a theory that suggest the only way to avoid developing a tolerance or an antimicrobial resistance is to start at the bottom and work your way up. For occasional use, AS OPPOSED TO REPEATED EXPOSE, this theory is overly-cautious and foolish as receptors will upgrade given time.

No one is concerned w/ the legality of ELDU. Whether or not the manufacturer felt it was beneficial/profitable for THEM to assume the additional cost associated w/ getting the FDA to grant additional label use is completely irrelevant to whether or not the drug is safe and or effective in treating 'off label' ailments. Make no mistake, labeled use exist to protect patents; not patients.

I have an aerosol labeled for screw worms - It is very effective in treating/preventing maggots after dehorning.

DL · Nov 7, 2013

-XBAR- said:
Sandy, you have to read through the bureaucracy of DLs post. She has good intentions but reminds me of a Doc I had once who tried to prescribe Tylenol 3 post ACL surgery. Why take a handful of Tylenol 3 if one Percocet will get ya where you're goin? Some Doc's subscribe to a theory that suggest the only way to avoid developing a tolerance or an antimicrobial resistance is to start at the bottom and work your way up. For occasional use, AS OPPOSED TO REPEATED EXPOSE, this theory is overly-cautious and foolish as receptors will upgrade given time.

No one is concerned w/ the legality of ELDU. Whether or not the manufacturer felt it was beneficial/profitable for THEM to assume the additional cost associated w/ getting the FDA to grant additional label use is completely irrelevant to whether or not the drug is safe and or effective in treating 'off label' ailments. Make no mistake, labeled use exist to protect patents; not patients.

I have an aerosol labeled for screw worms - It is very effective in treating/preventing maggots after dehorning.

Actually Ryan - you are wrong - the label - is designed to protect human health - both from violative residues and antibiotic resistance - whether or not it does is not the issue - drug use in cattle used to be a free for all - anything you want you got and used - but things are changing.

You should be concerned about ELDU if you raise cattle - you should be concerned about with hold times and dose and route - I am continuously amazed by what people think they know about drug use in cattle - are you aware that the withhold for Banamine given other than IV is NOT 4 days? That is is absolutely positively forbidden to use Baytril for anything but prevention or treatment of respiratory disease? That using more penicillin per dose than on the label is ELDU? That there are some drugs that ELDU is strictly and absolutely forbidden? That there are new restrictive rules on the use of the cephalosporins (Naxcel, Excenel, Exceed) and that these rules are the direct result of people including producers and veterinarians NOT following the label. Because this class of drugs is used in human medicine there was talk of taking them all off the market so they could not be used in cattle.

Not everything the FDA requires makes sense either scientifically or rationally but ELDU exists so that drugs not labeled for cattle can be used in times when their life is at stake, it doesn't exist to make your life complicated.

Don't think you are immune because you don't raise dairy - the FDA red list has beef cattle on it.

I don't make the rules and some of them are down right silly and without logic but I try to abide by them for myself and my clients - the cavalier handing out of cattle drug use on this site is generally by people who do not have a license at stake - if you have a prescription drug they you must have gotten it from a veterinarian (yes I know people get drugs from their neighbors) so it should be your veterinarian who provides you with guidance about how to use the drug - not a chat room

Not to pick on Sandy but she has dexamethasone, a prescription drug on hand, but she doesn't know what it is used for in cattle - (chances are if it is horse dex it is 4 mg/ml not cattle 2 mg/ml) - so here we have an rxed drug, but not rxed for this species, the owner doesn't know when to use it, the vet lives down the road, but the question is asked on a chat board not of the vet who rxed the drug - doesn't anyone else see a problem with this? OK I've had enough - IMHO if you raise cattle you are raising food and you need to know and follow the rules and I know that many of you disagree and find these conversations ponderous

SandyB · Nov 7, 2013

DL said:
-XBAR- said:

Sandy, you have to read through the bureaucracy of DLs post. She has good intentions but reminds me of a Doc I had once who tried to prescribe Tylenol 3 post ACL surgery. Why take a handful of Tylenol 3 if one Percocet will get ya where you're goin? Some Doc's subscribe to a theory that suggest the only way to avoid developing a tolerance or an antimicrobial resistance is to start at the bottom and work your way up. For occasional use, AS OPPOSED TO REPEATED EXPOSE, this theory is overly-cautious and foolish as receptors will upgrade given time.

No one is concerned w/ the legality of ELDU. Whether or not the manufacturer felt it was beneficial/profitable for THEM to assume the additional cost associated w/ getting the FDA to grant additional label use is completely irrelevant to whether or not the drug is safe and or effective in treating 'off label' ailments. Make no mistake, labeled use exist to protect patents; not patients.

I have an aerosol labeled for screw worms - It is very effective in treating/preventing maggots after dehorning.

Click to expand...

Actually Ryan - you are wrong - the label - is designed to protect human health - both from violative residues and antibiotic resistance - whether or not it does is not the issue - drug use in cattle used to be a free for all - anything you want you got and used - but things are changing.

You should be concerned about ELDU if you raise cattle - you should be concerned about with hold times and dose and route - I am continuously amazed by what people think they know about drug use in cattle - are you aware that the withhold for Banamine given other than IV is NOT 4 days? That is is absolutely positively forbidden to use Baytril for anything but prevention or treatment of respiratory disease? That using more penicillin per dose than on the label is ELDU? That there are some drugs that ELDU is strictly and absolutely forbidden? That there are new restrictive rules on the use of the cephalosporins (Naxcel, Excenel, Exceed) and that these rules are the direct result of people including producers and veterinarians NOT following the label. Because this class of drugs is used in human medicine there was talk of taking them all off the market so they could not be used in cattle.

Not everything the FDA requires makes sense either scientifically or rationally but ELDU exists so that drugs not labeled for cattle can be used in times when their life is at stake, it doesn't exist to make your life complicated.

Don't think you are immune because you don't raise dairy - the FDA red list has beef cattle on it.

I don't make the rules and some of them are down right silly and without logic but I try to abide by them for myself and my clients - the cavalier handing out of cattle drug use on this site is generally by people who do not have a license at stake - if you have a prescription drug they you must have gotten it from a veterinarian (yes I know people get drugs from their neighbors) so it should be your veterinarian who provides you with guidance about how to use the drug - not a chat room

Not to pick on Sandy but she has dexamethasone, a prescription drug on hand, but she doesn't know what it is used for in cattle - (chances are if it is horse dex it is 4 mg/ml not cattle 2 mg/ml) - so here we have an rxed drug, but not rxed for this species, the owner doesn't know when to use it, the vet lives down the road, but the question is asked on a chat board not of the vet who rxed the drug - doesn't anyone else see a problem with this? OK I've had enough - IMHO if you raise cattle you are raising food and you need to know and follow the rules and I know that many of you disagree and find these conversations ponderous

I have Dex on hand for my horses!! Dex can be used several ways on horses, depending on dosage and intensions. I asked a logical question in regards to its use on cattle, That is all. I do believe that you are reading way too much in to my posts and obviously take me for some kind of idiot. Yes, my vet lives about 1.5 miles from me and she would be my first contact before medicating, however as close as she lives, she is not always available to my beck and call. So I asked some experienced cattle breeders/owners what are good medical products to have on hand in case of emergency. There is nothing and I mean nothing like the experience of seasoned cattle owners (same as with horses) who day in and day out live & breathe cattle!! A vet only practices on so many animals and while my vet is an all species vet she does not practice on many cattle or raise them. So YES, I am asking for suggestions from a cattle forum. "Suggestions" is the key here folks.

DL · Nov 7, 2013

SandyB said:
I have Dex on hand for my horses!! Dex can be used several ways on horses, depending on dosage and intensions. I asked a logical question in regards to its use on cattle, That is all. I do believe that you are reading way too much in to my posts and obviously take me for some kind of idiot. Yes, my vet lives about 1.5 miles from me and she would be my first contact before medicating, however as close as she lives, she is not always available to my beck and call. So I asked some experienced cattle breeders/owners what are good medical products to have on hand in case of emergency. There is nothing and I mean nothing like the experience of seasoned cattle owners (same as with horses) who day in and day out live & breathe cattle!! A vet only practices on so many animals and while my vet is an all species vet she does not practice on many cattle or raise them. So YES, I am asking for suggestions from a cattle forum. "Suggestions" is the key here folks.

No Sandy I don't think you are some kind of an idiot but the first person I would contact for suggestions about using drugs for your cattle would be your veterinarian - she would know what kind of cattle you have, what kind of biosecurity your farm has, what the risks are in terms of disease and injury and what drugs you should have on hand and how to use them

RyanChandler · Nov 7, 2013

Well, there you have it folks, Steer planet officially serves no purpose. Going forward, consult your local county extension agent, local co-op nutritionist, and local veterinarian for any and all questions pertaining to beef cattle production.

hamburgman · Nov 7, 2013

Data from ISU D-Lab doesn't show that LA-200 (oxytetracycline) is worthless. Penicillin works well against foot rot and is a cheap broad spectrum antibiotic. Would I use it in respiratory cases, never. You need something faster acting. Banamine is great but have to be careful of ulcers. I seldom use Dex in cattle since it is so hard on their immune system.

What should I have in my Cattle First Aid kit?

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