First Aid Kit for Cattle
Just as you keep a first aid kit in the house, a well-stocked kit should be placed in the barn as well. Place the contents in a large plastic fishing tackle box as sold in most discount stores. Or you can improve and use any other large container as long as it is sealable. You need a tight seal so that dust and moisture can be kept out of the kit. For safety reasons, be sure to label it with tape in a red cross configuration. Keep it in an elevated location that is secure from children and/or any animal intruders. The following list is a suggestion of items to keep in your first aid kit for the barn:
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- Plastic digital rectal thermometer with an 18 string tied through the hole in the end (normal temp. is 100 +/- 1 and for foals the normal temp. is 101 +/- 1).
- Bandage scissors or plastic protective bandage knife.
- Stethoscope (normal heart rate is 40 +/- 6 beats per minute a count of one beat sounds like lub-dub and normal respiration is 16 per minute).
- Vetrap 3 rolls.
- Gauze squares. We offer Gauze Sponges 4″ x 4″ x 12 Ply for your convenience.
- Vaseline (for oozing below wounds).
- Antiseptic wound ointment spray. We recommend Fungisan spray.
- Hydrogen Peroxide.
- Betadine Scrub.
- Betadine Liquid.
- Biocaine First Aid Lotion (with Lidocaine to relieve pain).
- Latex gloves.
- Flashlight with extra batteries.
- Saline solution (to make your own mix one tsp. salt in one pint sterile water).
- Sterile cotton (minimum of 1 roll).
- Isopropyl Alcohol (rubbing alcohol).
- Forceps and/or tweezers.
- Epsom Salts (may be used for food abscesses add to warm water until it no longer easily dissolves).
- Disposable diaper or sanitary napkins.
- Farriers rasp.
- Duct tape.
- Bute Paste or Banamine Paste. Banamine Paste is only available through a prescription. It alleviates musculoskeletal-related pain.