Posted by JML755 on April 08, 2014 at 06:19:23 from (97.78.165.187):
On weekends, I take my 2 German Shorthaired Pointers out to our property to run free. It's a pretty much fenced 55A and they have a blast running through the fields, woods, pond, etc. sniffing, running, burning off energy. This weekend, came home after a few hours on the property and daughter noticed a "hole" about the size of a quarter on my female GSP's front leg. Said "this needs stitches". It wasn't bleeding, she wasn't even licking it. Wife and daughter took her to a 24 hr Emergency vet and $500 later she was home. I about flipped. Looked at the bill: $79 office visit (no quarrel there, it was Sunday after all), $103 for 7 stitches (ok, sounded a little high but not outrageous, vet's gotta eat too). But the rest was anesthesia, blood work, meds. Now, don't get me wrong, she got good treatment. We also own a horse who runs up vet bills as well (a house call is $90 but owners at the barn usually get together and use the vet services when he's there to share the house call cost). My concern is this:
We're getting ready to retire in a few years and love animals. Plan to keep 2 dogs and get another horse or two. But I got to thinking that with a reduced income, the "unexpected" vet bills living on property (that has lots of "surprises" like old barbed wire laying around) could be an issue.
Started looking online about "home" treatments thinking I'd learn to stitch up cuts on our animals and found that superglue can be used to close wounds and there's something called Trophy EMT gel that can be applied as well. Wife is very proficient at using Betadine on our horse's minor scrapes/scratches. I explained to her last night that a $500 vet bill every month or two might be in the budget now but would really hurt after we're retired.
So my questions: What do you have in your "animal first aid kit"? What things do you do yourself and what do you leave to the vet? Do you use any local anesthetics that are readily available? What about pain meds?
We sell tractor parts! We have the parts you need to repair your tractor - the right parts. Our low prices and years of research make us your best choice when you need parts. Shop Online Today. [ About Us ]
Today's Featured Article - Listening to Your Tractor - by Curtis Von Fange. Years ago there was a TV show about a talking car. Unless you are from another planet, physically or otherwise, I don’t think our internal combustion buddies will talk and tell us their problems. But, on the other hand, there is a secret language that our mechanical companions readily do speak. It is an interesting form of communication that involves all the senses of the listener. In this series we are going to investigate and learn the basic rudimentary skills of understanding this lingo.
... [Read Article]
Latest Ad:
2022 John Deere 5045E, 4wd, front end loader and 3rd function with grapple. 120 hrs, 55k new, must sell
[More Ads]
All Rights Reserved. Reproduction of any part of this website, including design and content, without written permission is strictly prohibited. Trade Marks and Trade Names contained and used in this Website are those of others, and are used in this Website in a descriptive sense to refer to the products of others. Use of this Web site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement and Privacy Policy
TRADEMARK DISCLAIMER: Tradenames and Trademarks referred to within Yesterday's Tractor Co. products and within the Yesterday's Tractor Co. websites are the property of their respective trademark holders. None of these trademark holders are affiliated with Yesterday's Tractor Co., our products, or our website nor are we sponsored by them. John Deere and its logos are the registered trademarks of the John Deere Corporation. Agco, Agco Allis, White, Massey Ferguson and their logos are the registered trademarks of AGCO Corporation. Case, Case-IH, Farmall, International Harvester, New Holland and their logos are registered trademarks of CNH Global N.V.
