• Red top – serum – routine serology and biochemistry
• Green top – heparin – glutathione peroxidase (selenium)-BVD (bovine virus diarrhoea) antigen
• Lilac top – EDTA – haematology
• Grey top – oxidase/fluoride – glucose
• Blue top – acid wash – special ions e.g. Zn (must be non-rubber top for Zn).
• Biopsy punches of the small 8 mm disposable type are useful for skin biopsies. There are sophisticated biopsy gadgets available, which are vital for certain biopsies, e.g. liver biopsies. These need not be taken as a routine in the vehicle by an ambulatory clinician.
• A digital camera is important so that the clinician has the ability to download the photographs, label them, store them and send them as attachments to emails.
• Faeces sample bottles of sufficient size are required. Clinicians should be aware that quite large amounts of faeces are required for certain examinations. At least 70 g should be collected.
• Haematocrit centrifuge tubes can be used without a centrifuge to get a quick idea of packed cell volume (PCV). However, a mini centrifuge is useful and relatively inexpensive. A hand-driven centrifuge for larger tubes is very cheap and can give adequate results. This need not be taken in the vehicle as a routine by an ambulatory clinician.
• Labels, notebook and a pen are all required for recording cases and sample taking.
• A magnifying glass is useful in skin examination.
• A ‘McMaster’ slide is required for carrying out faecal worm egg counts. Great care should be taken when handling the coverslip (with the squares), as they are delicate and expensive. These need not be taen as a routine in the vehicle by an ambulatory clinician.
• A microscope is a delicate piece of equipment. It is not recommend that it is routinely carried in the vehicle. However, the use of a microscope at the base is vital. It needs to be equipped for oil immersion. ‘Diff-Quik’-stained slides are also useful. Gram stain, Giemsa and methylene blue are important.
• Sample bottles containing formalin are required for preserving biopsy material. They should be stored separately from swabs required for bacteriological sampling.
• Small strong polythene bags are useful for skin samples and for double sealing various other samples, e.g. faeces sample bottles.
• A stethoscope is a vital piece of diagnostic equipment. Ideally it needs to be slim so that auscultation is possible under the muscles caudal to the shoulder, and both a bell and a diaphragm should be present. Obviously, there are sophisticated stethoscopes available, e.g. ‘Litmans’, but the inexpensive models are quite adequate.
• A thin stomach tube is required with a rectangular piece of wood to act as a gag with a hole to pass the tube through. This is useful for relieving bloat in calves, sheep and goats. It can also be used for obtaining samples of the rumen contents.
• Various types of swab are required. Some should have transport media and some should be plain. Sometimes a very narrow swab will be required.
• A clinical thermometer is vital. The traditional glass thermometers will last for years if kept carefully in a plastic case, but they are hard to acquire in the UK because of their mercury content. However, there are digital thermometers available. The clinician needs to choose whether the thermometer reads Celsius (Centigrade) or Fahrenheit – this is just a matter of which the clinician is happy with.
• Urine dipsticks are useful occasionally.
Equipment for Treatment
Practitioners might consider a force pump (an ‘Agger’s pump’ is recommended) to be too expensive to be supplied to all ambulatory veterinary surgeons. Indeed large volumes of liquid can be administered to cows with a funnel, but this very time-consuming and does not look very professional. In these days, when farmers are charged by the minute, the author considers that most of them will not be impressed with such old-fashioned methods of treatment. The other items listed are essential and very inexpensive:
• force pump for administering large volumes of fluid to cows (e.g. an Agger’s pump)
• calf rehydration bag
• non-disposable 30 ml syringes
• hypodermic needles (Luer fitting)
• disposable syringes (Luer mount)
• spinal needles 15 cm
• 25 cm Seaton needle with uterine tape
• 6 inch curved cutting edged suturing needle
Equipment for the Feet
Cattle hoof trimmers are not cheap, but there is no realistic alternative and so the author considers them to be essential equipment, together with the other inexpensive items that are described below.
Hoof knife
The type of knife is a very individual choice. Obviously, there are knives for left and right hands. Equally, there are double-sided knives which can be used in either hand. Looped knives are useful for removing the softer parts of the hoof.
Hoof trimmers
The large size is required for adult cattle.
Gutter tape
A roll of this tape is very useful for making bandages waterproof in the hoof area. The tape is also useful for covering poultices.
Small sheep-size hoof clippers
These should be kept well oiled.
Equipment for the Limbs
Fractured limbs not only require immediate immobilization but also, in the eyes of both farmers and the public, need immediate stabilization. Splints and bandages are, therefore, essential; they should be kept in a sturdy case to avoid damage from pressure and liquid contamination.
Oscillating saw
This might be considered not to be essential as a hand-held plaster saw can be used. However, with modern plastering materials it is seriously hard work. An oscillating saw is quick and accurate. These need not be routinely taken in the vehicle by an ambulatory clinician.
Splints
Where funds are tight there is no need for sophisticated splints. Smooth lengths of wood and plastic guttering are quite adequate. Any sharp ends can be rasped smooth and covered with gutter tape.
Bandages and dressings
Sufficient materials should be included to cover a very large leg wound on a cow. An adequate amount of hydroponic gel is required. There should be enough bandaging to put a ‘Robert Jones’ splint on a cow.
Equipment for the Eyes
There is no doubt that eyes will need urgent attention and consequently the two items described below are essential for the ambulatory clinician.
Fluorescein strips
These are inexpensive and vital not only for revealing the presence of deep corneal ulcers but also for testing the patency of the tear ducts. It should be remembered that it takes up to 30 min for the fluorescein to reach the nasal end of the tear ducts in ruminants after instillation in the eye.