5 Things all Owners Should Know about Vet Care for Their Cows
Whole herd enjoying the summer grass
Know what is normal for cows and for you cow in particular. Do they typically hang out in a certain place, in a certain way. Are they ALWAYS with a buddy, for example. Learning what is normal for your cow will help you identify when something isn’t right. For example, BamBam and Pebbles typically RUN when we call them (in the evening, in the winter), but Captain Jack Sparrow simply, slowly, saunters in. Perhaps he knows we’ll save him some dinner, perhaps he’s just more mild mannered. Either way, it’s important to recognize what is normal and what isn’t.
Know your vet. Find a vet, introduce yourself and be sure to have them out for regular appointments before you really need their emergency services. While vets are kind hearted and want to help all animals, some vets have limited availability for non-client animals when it comes to emergencies. Being on their regular roster is helpful to them and to your animals. This way, when you call in an emergency, they already know which animal you’re talking about and have some situational awareness.
Do preventative medicine depending on your situation. Do you have a closed herd? Are their other cows nearby that are coming and going? Do you have other livestock? What about your climate and locale? What are the common pests for which you should mitigate? In Colorado, we treat once a year with clostridial and respiratory vaccines and an ivermectin pour for lice, worms and flies.
Have some common drugs on hand. Disclaimer: just because you may be able to buy some drugs over the counter or keep a supply on hand, doesn’t mean it’s a replacement for vet care. You should tap your own medicine cabinet when your vet tells you to give them something and only according to their direction. LA 200 (antibiotic) and Meloxicam are probably good ones to have on hand, but ask your vet what they feel comfortable with you having and using.
Learn some simple procedures. Do you know how to restrain your cow safely? Many mini cow enthusiasts don’t have chutes and stocks because are cows are halter trained and generally easier to handle. But do you know how to squeeze them safely in a gate if you needed to? Or tie up a leg to keep them from kicking? Do you know how to take their temperature? These are all simple procedures that you should learn and practice well before you need to do it.