A farm vet ’s world is relatively smooth between mid - November and about mid - February except for the obligatory emergencies , of course . Here ’s a sample distribution of some herd wellness issue that seem to rise up in insensate weather condition . But let ’s make it a bit gay , shall we ?
On the first day of Christmas , a customer gave to me :
A Goat That Ate An Azalea Tree
Azaleas are toxic to sheep and butt . Even ingesting a small amount of the plant cause abdominal annoyance and vomiting . There ’s no counterpoison , so we regale them symptomatically with pain reliever for the worried stomach and fluids and electrolytes to combat drying up .
One the 2d 24-hour interval of Christmas , a client gave to me :
2 Bloated Ponies
The dead of winter , with its famine of pasture , is an enticing time to burglarize the feed elbow room . Gorging on grain is dangerous — even life - threatening — for knight , as cereal overburden can cause griping and laminitis , an highly painful lighting of the hoof . We administer mineral oil and anti - inflammatories in these grammatical case to assay to concentrate the amount of excessive saccharide that are take in in the intestines .
On the third twenty-four hours of Christmas , a node gave to me :
3 Dead Hens
Oh , domestic fowl . They can be so fun yet so intriguing . Fowl frequently die with no outward preindication of trouble . ( I call it fowl period of play . ) I ordinarily recommend the farmer send the bodies to the local county diagnostic science lab to determine drive of death in case we need to treat or otherwise supervise the eternal sleep of the flock .
On the fourth day of Christmas , a client gave to me :
4 Lame Horses
When atmospheric condition is unsettled — lead from dry toilsome footing to wet mud — this get a sawhorse ’s hoof to expand and foreshorten repeatedly . If there are tiny cracks in the sole of the hoof , this set aside bacteria to get into the tissue , have ahoof abscess . While very atrocious , it is well treated by douse in Epsom Strategic Arms Limitation Talks or have your vet or horseshoer pare it out with a hoof knife .
On the 5th solar day of Christmas , a node give way to me :
5 Ringworm Rings
tinea — actually a fungus , not a parasite — is common in cattle and small ruminants during damp stipulation and in crowded environments . It can be a challenge to treat if conditions are n’t friendly , but the samara is to keep the lesions teetotal so that they crust over and heal . Remember ringworm is zoonotic , signify homo can catch it , too .
On the sixth twenty-four hours of Christmas , a node gift to me :
6 Holsteins Calving
Dairy cows calve any time of year , as opposed to beef cattle cattle , which run to be more seasonal . Calving is n’t needs an emergency , but it is something that inevitably tends to occur in the centre of a really , really inhuman night .
On the seventh day of Christmas , a client establish to me :
7 Steers A-Squinting
Pinkeyeis a common infectious disease in cattle triggered by bacteria transmitted by flies . Signs of pinkeye range from mild squinting and tearing to corneal ulcer and even blindness . We care for pinkeye with antibiotics , and in herd where it is a frequent trouble , a vaccinum can be used .
On the eighth sidereal day of Christmas , a customer gave to me :
8 Alpacas Spitting
Alpacas and llamas sometimes spit to communicate malcontent . It ’s a veterinary emergency only in that we are on occasion in the crease of fire .
On the 9th day of Christmas , a client gave to me :
9 Hogs A-Coughing
Respiratory disease is a frequent happening in hog barns . Proper ventilation , sanitation and vaccination can prevent most outbreaks .
On the tenth day of Christmas , a client gave to me :
10 Does Lactating
Goats can have funky hormonal abnormalities happen every once in for a while . One such condition is called precocious bag , where a distaff stooge will bring about milk even though she ’s not meaning .
On the 11th day of Christmas , a client open to me :
11 Steers Circling
Circling disease is sometimes seen in oxen and pocket-sized ruminant due to a sporadic bacterial contagion call listeriosis . This bacterium travels to the brain and causes neurological mark , such as walk in circles . If treated betimes with antibiotic drug , the animal can fully recover .
On the 12th Clarence Day of Christmas , a client gave to me :
12 Donkeys Drooling
When one animal drools , we retrieve of dental disease . When multiple animals salivate , we retrieve of something in the provender . Red clover grass and hay can sometimes be infected with a finical fungus that grow a toxin call slaframine , which causes excessive drooling . Although not lethal , it can be a little disconcerting to owners . Treatment is as easy as removing the offending nutrient .
