Veterinary Guide for Animal Owners: Caring for Cats, Dogs, Chickens, Sheep, Cattle, Rabbits

473 Pages·2010·12.9 MB·English

by  C. E. Spaulding, Jackie Clay

Veterinary Guide for Animal
Owners, 2nd Edition
Caring for Cats, Dogs, Chicken, Sheep, Cattle, Rabbits,
and More
C.E. Spaulding, D.M.V.
Jackie Clay
Copyright © 2010 by C.E. Spaulding and Jackie Clay.
Reprinted by arrangement with Rodale, Inc.
All Rights Reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any manner
without the express written consent of the publisher, except in the case of brief
excerpts in critical reviews or articles. All inquiries should be addressed to
Skyhorse Publishing, 555 Eighth Avenue, Suite 903, New York, NY 10018.
Skyhorse Publishing books may be purchased in bulk at special discounts for
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For all the animals and for the veterinarians, animal health professionals, and
owners who love and care for them.
Table of Contents
Title Page
Copyright Page
Dedication
INTRODUCTION
CATTLE
GOATS
SHEEP
HORSES
PIGS
POULTRY
RABBITS
DOGS
CATS
SOME BASICS FOR THE LAYPERSON
GLOSSARY OF COMMONLY USED TERMS
RECOMMENDED READING
INDEX
NOTES
INTRODUCTION
According to statistics, nearly every family today owns at least one animal,
whether it is a cat or small dog in an apartment in New York City or a hundred
milk cows on a farm in Nebraska. Couple that with a tremendous movement
toward rural, or at least semi-rural living and we see even more animals enter the
picture. People are stressed by too-hurried lives, worried about just where their
family’s food is coming from and the care it received along the way and seeking
a more self-reliant lifestyle. Suddenly, living a more simple life, like Grandma’s
and Grandpa’s in a quiet rural area, having a large garden, raising a few goats, a
milk cow, a flock of chickens and perhaps a horse looks very attractive.
However, many of these people (and maybe you’re one of them) have had
little or no experience raising animals at all. Unlike Grandma and Grandpa, who
were raised up from children, taking care of farmstead animals. They were
taught what to look for, guarding against sickness and what to do, should it
happen. But, along the way, even Grandma and Grandpa picked up a few old
wives’ tales and what I call “helpful untruths,” which, unfortunately, still prevail
today in some areas. How does a person, even an experienced farmer, sort out
the solid veterinary information from the sometimes ineffective untruths and
downright harmful old wives’ tales? The new rural dweller often asks, “How do
I know how to keep my animals well?” and “How do I know when I can take
care of animals myself and when I should call my vet?”
A Veterinary Guide for Animal Owners attempts to answer these questions by
providing an easy-to-understand book, giving animal owners a quick, illustrated
reference to help prevent many pet and livestock health problems, to quickly
spot and treat developing conditions before they get serious and to correctly
handle a crisis situation. This book covers most common pet and farmstead
animals, from dogs and cats through goats, sheep, chickens, and cattle. As
veterinary care can be costly, the book also teaches you to perform routine
animal care procedures, such as dehorning, castrations, and giving medication.
In addition, it aids your decision of when to call your veterinarian.
CHOOSING THE RIGHT VETERINARIAN
If you live in an area where there are several veterinarians, it is usually relatively
easy to find one that you believe in. Veterinarians, after all, are people, and like
people in any profession, some are better at it than others. When trying to pick a
veterinarian for your animals, ask around. If several neighbors recommend one
veterinarian over others, you might consider this choice first. Try not to let
personality or bedside manner (stallside manner?) affect your choice. A good
veterinarian doesn’t necessarily have to cuddle your cat or hug your goat to do
an excellent job doctoring it. On the other hand, you wouldn’t trust someone
who kicks your dog or swats your steer with a 2 ✕ 4, vet or not.
It’s a good idea to pick a veterinarian just as you do a family doctor: by results
and attitude rather than by superfluous details. A million-dollar clinic can house
a poor veterinarian. Those impressive banks of stainless-steel operating lights,
X-ray units, and counters full of scary-looking instruments and testing devices
are no good if they are used more to impress clients than to help sick or injured
animals. But you can’t have much luck with a veterinarian who uses only a
stethoscope and a bottle of penicillin, either.
Look for a veterinarian who seems interested in your problems and who will,
when you ask, explain the trouble and tell you what he’s doing. Keep in mind
that many veterinarians will not explain things without being asked, for the
simple reason that a lot of people won’t bother to listen.
Watch out for a veterinarian who tries too hard to be superprofessional. His
every word sounds like a tape-recorded medical dictionary; his clinic and office
help are an exact copy of an M.D.’s office; he wants to run tests for everything,
on every visit; everything is perfect. Fine—he may well be a supervet, but
usually his fees are super, too.
Better this type, though, than a veterinarian who is a slob. Very, very few
modern veterinarians use dirty needles, obviously reused syringes, or unwashed
surgical instruments, but occasionally you may be unfortunate enough to run into
one. Don’t make the mistake of judging a veterinarian by the inside of his car or
truck, however. Eighty percent of the busy large animal practitioners’ rigs look
pretty cruddy at times, mine included. Rough, dusty roads, rutted fields, and
bumpy driveways can quickly shake loose those neatly packed bags and boxes,
dump drawers upside down, and spill used throwaway syringes, empty vials,
bags, and boxes all over the place. An hour’s ride can dust-cover the outside of
bags and boxes that were previously clean and shining.
Throughout this book you’ll notice that I refer to veterinarians as “he” (rather
than the awkward “he/she”) to make the text easier to read. However, this is in
no way meant to imply that all veterinarians are men. In today’s veterinary
fields, there are nearly as many women veterinarians as men. And these
dedicated women make just as good veterinarians as their male counterparts—
not just in small animal clinics but in large animal practices, as well. I personally
know of several women who specialize in treating large animals, and they excel
in their field. So, do not let the sex of a veterinarian influence your choice!
In brief, you should look for an interested, honest, up-to-date veterinarian who
works on your animal as if it were his own. By honest, I mean a person who, if
he doesn’t know the answer, will say so and try to find out—not snow you with
medical jargon and bypass the question. Veterinarians are called to treat such a
wide variety of animals that it is impossible to be totally informed on all species.
One day it may be cattle and sheep; another day, a canary, deer, and llama; and
still another day, a goat, monkey, and turtle. No veterinarian knows all animals
equally well. He may be an authority on sheep and cattle yet be in the dark on
llamas. But he can brush up if he knows he’s going to have a client with llamas.
Remember: interested, honest, and up-to-date.
Okay, let’s say you’ve found “your” veterinarian. Now, when you have a
problem with one of your large animals and make arrangements for the vet to
come out, have the animal in the barn or tied up, and be there yourself. It is
frustrating for a veterinarian, late on rounds, to have to wait while a cow is
herded in from a hundred-acre pasture by a neighbor who doesn’t know anything
about the animal or the signs of illness that it has shown.
Next, let your veterinarian diagnose the problem, choose the method of
restraint, and treat the animal. This is why you called him. Offer help, such as
describing symptoms and temperature or assisting in restraint. Ask any questions
you have, and listen to the answers. Most veterinarians are overjoyed to go to a
place where the owners are truly interested in learning and in following care
instructions closely. After all, good nursing can be as important as drugs or
surgery. It’s truly a pleasure for a vet to go through a rough operation or serious
illness with an animal and then return the next day to see everything just the way
he had told the owner to have it, with the animal munching its feed and on its
way to a good recovery.
It’s always a good idea to have your veterinarian refer you to another
veterinarian you can call in case yours is out of town or ill. This eases the panic
you feel when your pet goat is down with milk fever and you find out Dr. Smith
won’t be back until next Tuesday. With a prior referral, you can simply dial Dr.
Jones and know you’re in good hands.
Okay, you say, fine, but I live in the “boonies,” and the nearest veterinarian is
60 miles away. What do I do for veterinary care? In this case make an
appointment, and then take a drive, in advance of any animal problems, to visit
that veterinarian. Explain your distance problem, and ask if you may call for
over-the-phone advice. It is not as good as having a veterinarian out, but it might
save the animal you could lose without help. Many veterinarians are very good
at talking an owner through an injury or illness via phone conversations. (A hint:
When calling long-distance, call person-to-person; since most large animal
practitioners are in and out all day, you could save several dollars by doing this.)
In cases where surgery is needed, most animals can be hauled to the veterinarian,
if necessary.
THE IMPORTANCE OF PREVENTIVE MEDICINE
I can’t stress the importance of preventive medicine and care enough. If more
people practiced preventive medicine, there would be a lot less work for
veterinarians and a lot more healthy animals and happy owners.
The most important “drug” you can give your animals is good husbandry. This
means having a warm, dry, well-ventilated, draft-free shelter in the winter, a
cool, shady, rainproof shelter in the summer, and room to exercise in the
sunshine and fresh air. It also means having different-sized animals separated to
prevent injuries and giving them all the correct amount of the right food.
A daily check of every animal is a key part of good care. If you notice any
problems, such as lack of appetite, listlessness, weight loss, diarrhea,
constipation, noises of pain (grunting, whining, etc.), swellings, or other unusual
symptoms, give the animal a thorough examination at once. Tomorrow may be
too late.
Remember to check things like teeth, ears, eyes, and feet. Cleaning or floating
(filing) teeth will prevent a lot of dental problems that can waste feed, cause
infection, and even eventually kill the animal. Cleaning dirt and wax from the
ear canals can prevent ear mites and discourage bacterial or fungal infections.
While checking the ears, you may also discover, and thus be able to remove,
ticks in the ear canal. The eyes are important, too. Noticing and treating eye
problems right away, such as foreign bodies, white spots, redness, or discharge,
may save the sight in that eye. And it is a lot easier to trim a toenail or hoof
regularly than to teach an animal to walk again after it has been crippled by one
that grew too long, forcing the beast to walk abnormally. Likewise, it’s easy to
remove a stone from a horse’s hoof or a thorn from a dog’s pad in the early
stages. But after it has caused severe pain, bruising, or infection, treatment can
get expensive, lengthy, and frustrating.
To keep your animals in tip-top shape, a good general program of routine
veterinary care is essential, too. Routine fecal examinations by your veterinarian
and worming, if necessary, will increase your profits as well as the health of your
animals. Even with a house dog, you will save money if your dollar buys food
for your dog, not your dog’s worms.
Talk to your veterinarian to find out what routine vaccinations are a good idea
in your area. Don’t be afraid that he will try to sell you a bunch of expensive,
unnecessary vaccinations. But a small investment in the needed vaccinations can
save your animal’s life as well as prevent more extensive veterinary bills later
on.
Also, have your animals tested for any diseases prevalent in your area. Cattle
and goats, for instance, should receive yearly tuberculosis and brucellosis tests,
while dogs should have a yearly heartworm test wherever this parasite is a very
real danger. Horses that are moved about (for racing, showing, or breeding)
benefit from a yearly test for equine infectious anemia. And always test new
animals before adding them to your herd, flock, or homestead. Knowing that you
have a healthy animal not only gives you peace of mind but protects your other
animals (and your neighbors’), too.
It is also smart to isolate any sick or new animals—even your own animals
that have been to shows. This simple precaution will prevent the spread of a
disease like shipping fever.
If you’re new to caring for animals, all this may sound like a lot of work. But
once you get the hang of it, you’ll see it’s mainly just common sense. Regular
attention, good general care, and routine checkups are the keys to healthy,
rewarding animals and happy animal owners.