When To Call A Vet
• Anorexia 2 days consecutively, or rancid breath
• Weight loss
• Diarrhea or change in fecal consistency in adult more than 1 day; more than 12 hours in a cria
• No Urine or Feces production for 1 to 2 days
• Colic
• Dyspnea
• Trauma
• Hemorrhage
• Floppy limb or unwilling to support weight on one limb
• Ataxic
• Seizures
• Recumbent
• Pregnant female uncomfortable >2 hrs. or if labor not progressed in 1 hour
• Dam doesn’t have any milk after “criating”
• Dam retains placenta for more than 6 hours
• Temp. is greater than 103.5 or Heart Rate is greater than 100 (if >150, likely surgery candidate!)
Again, KNOW your animal. What is his/her normal behavior, posture, feeding patterns? Observe urination and defecation. You can take temperatures, heart rate, and respiratory rate and observe other vital signs. Any deviation from normal could mean the animal is developing a problem that needs to be corrected.
You may be asked some of the following questions: Which animal is sick? Male or female? Is she/he eating? What is the temperature? Any recent changes? What do you think is wrong? How long have you owned the animal? How long since you noticed the signs? How many in herd? Are any others showing similar signs? When was the last deworming? Vaccinations? Current on meningeal worm prevention? Any medications?
Some typical on-farm emergencies might include choke, soft tissue injuries/trauma, obstruction of breathing in newborns, birthing difficulties, and neurologic problems/recumbent animal. In the case of injuries, prevent further trauma to the animal. Sometimes it is better not to move the animal before examination, excessive movement could worsen the injury. If the animal is thrashing, try to move him/her to a place with deep bedding and keep them calm. Bleeding wounds can be rinsed with water and a pressure wrap applied (non-adherent pad + thick pad + vet wrap). Avoid putting ointments in deep wounds. Deep, full thickness wounds (can see fat or muscle) can usually be repaired if treated early, within 12 hours of injury.
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