Introduction
The book aims to provide an easily accessible reference to the information required by practising veterinarians confronted by the emergency care of farm animals. Although information on the provision of emergency care is the prime aim of the book, information is also provided on likely surgical procedures (in the broadest possible sense) that will need to be carried out by clinicians in farm animal practice. Each chapter follows a similar format in consisting of a series of sections, often with subsections, generally with either a brief summary of or introduction to the subject concerned, and with or without accompanying lists of the information relevant to that topic, be it equipment, medicines, disease signs, diagnosis and treatment, or surgical conditions and procedures.
First, there are two general chapters on veterinary equipment and medicines, mostly consisting of practical checklists for use in an emergency. The rest of the book presents information on the medicine and surgery of farm animal species. Cattle, camelids and pigs are addressed in separate chapters, while sheep and goats are linked together in a single chapter, though highlighting the differences between the two. The chapter on domestic poultry is centred on chickens, but waterfowl, guinea fowl, peafowl and quails are referenced when relevant. The chapter on notifiable diseases near the end of the book is mainly for the UK and Europe, but other areas are included if thought to be of note.
The author hopes this book will be useful for veterinary practitioners throughout the world who are treating farm animals. However, it has mainly been written for small animal practitioners who are asked to treat pet farm animals or who are asked by smallholders to treat their animals. The author also hopes that the book will be particularly useful for veterinary students and younger graduates.
Veterinary science is evolving at an ever increasing rate and so some of the information presented here may be out of date before publication. The author apologizes for this and any inaccuracies. He hopes that these can be corrected in future editions and would be really grateful for any contact from readers via email to [email protected]
Dr Graham R. Duncanson,
BVSc, MSc (VetGP), DProf, FRCVS
1
Veterinary Equipment
Introduction
Equipping an ambulatory veterinary surgeon to carry out emergency farm animal practice may appear expensive. However, the author feels that having the correct equipment is vital, and that anything substandard will create unnecessary stress for the veterinarian and be open to criticism by the client. The items in the lists below need not all be carried by the veterinarian but, on the whole, they represent the minimum equipment that should be readily available. Veterinary practices should consider very carefully their position in undertaking emergency work with farm animals if they are not properly equipped to do so.
Equipment for Handling
The items that are listed below for handling animals might not seem to be essential equipment because, except for rubber boots and waterproofs, it is reasonable to expect that the other items will be provided by the farmer. Indeed, established farmers will provide all of these items, particularly as they are well aware of the danger of spreading disease. Hobby farmers and pet farm animal owners will not be so helpful, and so I suggest that the items listed below are carried by the ambulatory practitioner. Compared with so much modern imaging equipment, they are very inexpensive:
• A bucket, brush, farmyard disinfectant, rubber boots and waterproofs.
• Small halter. This is required for calves, sheep, goats and South American camelids (SACs).
• Large halter. This should be strong enough for bulls.
• Lung line. This is for herding SACs.
• Strong rope. A 10 m length of rope is required for casting cattle.
• 4 × 1 m lengths of thin rope are required to help with restraint of sheep, goats and SACs during Caesarean section.
• Bulldog clip.
• A pig snare. A suitable type is shown in Figure 1.1.
Equipment for Diagnosis
These items are very small and inexpensive, except for the centrifuge, McMaster slide and microscope, which it is not necessary to carry. However, the author considers the other items in the list to be essential:
• Arm-length sleeves are required for internal examinations but are probably not used for actual parturition procedures.
• Blood