What to Do Until the Veterinarian Comes
What to Do Until the Veterinarian Comes

What to Do Until the Veterinarian Comes

by Kelly Klober

What to do until the veterinarian comes has troubled livestock producers since house calls were made by the same doctor on both critters and critter keepers.

The first rule of requesting veterinary assistance is to call while there is still time. Animals caught in the early stages of a problem will often respond rather quickly and with simple treatment. Calls early in a health problem and early in the day will save time, dollars, and a good relationship with the vet. The fear of a costly course of treatment often holds many back from calling a vet, but if the call is delayed too long the treatment may be even more costly or the animal lost.

A sick or injured animal needs to be penned to itself for its own safety and easier and safer handling and treatment. A box stall or house with floored pen to protect the animal from drafts and mud should prove satisfactory. Footing is also of vital importance to both human and animal safety as the animal is apt to be unsteady on its feet. The treatment procedures may also require uncluttered footing for quick movement and solid footing for good leverage for instrument use.

While waiting for the vet to arrive you should also prepare a brief health history of the animal. This should include any recent health treatments the animal has received, a description of the onset of symptoms, the animal’s diet and eating patterns, exposure to new animals or any other stress inducement, age, and any prior health patterns. Time into gestation or recent breeding use will also be important. The veterinarian may need warm water for preparation and clean-up and, if it is a part of your health program, provide a pan of dip disinfectant for shoes or boots.

Restraint for larger animals may often be provided by the vet in the form of a squeeze chute or catch crate, but he or she is coming to you in the role of doctor and not cowboy. Animals should be penned closely; gates, snares or clamp restraints should be available; and, if needed, you should have extra manpower on hand. Round-up, hold-down, and clean-up are work for the producer.

Most veterinarians make too many emergency and not enough service calls to small livestock raisers. They can be invaluable sources of production information and regular maintenance products. They welcome questions about health matters and animal management and realize that they are often on the farm during rather stressful situations for your animals and you.

They are your guests and they are there to help you and your animals and neither are they there to judge you or be your hired hand. The best thing to do then until the vet comes is take a deep breath, get your thoughts in order and your ducks in a row, and be ready to help as much as possible.