F200
Emergency Treatments and First Aid Kit

Introduction: The following is a list of items that every small ruminant owner should have on hand in case of an emergency. All of these items are sold over the counter and therefore should be readily available. There are additional items that can be added to this list that can only be obtained from a local veterinarian. These items may include a single dose of Banamine, antibiotic eye ointment, and certain types of oral or injectable antibiotic. The most important item that goes along with any first aid kit is knowledge. It is critical that every owner know when and how to use each of the following items. More harm can be done if something is used improperly or under the wrong circumstances. Utilize the information found in Section C of this manual and the information found on the following pages for additional help.

1. Remain Calm and Keep the Animal as Still and Quiet as Possible: Additional movement and stress often will make the situation more serious.
   
   
2. Determine if Professional Help is Needed: If the animal is severely sick, will not bear weight on a limb, has difficulty breathing, has not passed any fecal material in past 12-14 hours, has severe diarrhea, is in severe pain, or has a severe laceration, a veterinarian should be contacted immediately. If there is only one person available to handle the emergency, stabilize the animal and then call the veterinarian.
   
   
3. Allergic Reaction
   1. Clinical signs: Swelling around eyes and nose, hives, and difficulty breathing are common signs. These reactions often occur following vaccination or drug injections.
   2. Treatment:
      1. EPINEPHRINE (1:1000) given at a dose of 1 mL per 100 lbs. of body weight, intramuscularly (IM). If symptoms continue to get worse, this dose can be repeated one hour after the first dose. See page I 205 for details on epinephrine.
         • In severe cases, epinephrine can be given intravenously (IV) using one quarter of the above dose. If given IV, administer slowly.
      2. ANTI-INFLAMMATORY AGENT - Choose ONE of the following: Banamine or Dexamethasone. These are given IM at the recommended doses as long as symptoms persist. (See the anti-inflammatory section of the manual for doses.)
         
         
4. Bleeding (severe)
   Bleeding can be slowed by utilizing many different methods:
   1. Apply direct pressure using clean towels, bandage material, and some type of tape or wrap. These dressings, once soaked with blood, should not be removed but should be left on and additional layers placed over the old ones.
   2. Keep the animal calm and confined.
   3. If the bleeding on a limb is extremely severe, a tourniquet may be applied above the injury. Caution should be taken to ensure that the tourniquet is not left on for long periods of time.
      
      
5. Bloat - If the animal is having extreme difficulty breathing, quick action should be taken to relieve the gas.
   1. An area on the left flank should be clipped and prepared.
   2. Depending on availability, a large diameter needle, a trocar or, as a last resort, a sterilized knife can be inserted through the skin and into the rumen. Hold the needle/trocar in place until the gas pressure is relieved. Diluted Therabloat (page J812) or 10-20 mLs of liquid dish washing detergent can be injected directly into the rumen. Realize that any contamination can result in abdominal infections.
   3. After emergency treatment has been performed, call a veterinarian.
   (See bloat treatment on page C78.)
   
   
6. Newborn Animals that are Not Breathing:
   To stimulate respirations:
   1. Place a piece of straw or hay into a nostril, vigorously bringing it in and out, along with rubbing the roof of the newborn’s mouth with a finger.
   2. Rub the body briskly.
   3. Inject 1 mL of Dopram intravenously or under the base of the tongue in an area with a lot of vessels.
   4. Utilize an "artificial resuscitator" or hold newborn’s mouth closed and blow into one nostril while blocking off the other.
   5. It is NOT recommended to swing the animal in the air or hang it upside down. Swinging actually makes it harder for the newborn to breathe.
      
      
7. Unconsciousness and Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR)
   1. Clinical Signs: Recumbent (lying down), cold, pale gums, and possibly not breathing are common signs. Injuries may be evident if the cause of unconsciousness is a traumatic event.
   2. Treatment: If a lamb/kid or adult animal is found unconscious, find out if the animal is breathing and has a heart beat. Artificial respiration and heart massage (i.e. CPR) must be initiated immediately if the animal has no pulse and/or has stopped breathing.
   
   To stimulate breathing (artificial respirations):
   1. Remove any obstruction to the upper airway. This often involves removing any mucous or debris from the nostrils.
   2. Administer mouth to nose artificial respiration. Hold the animal’s mouth closed and blow into one nostril while blocking off the other; pause to observe if there is movement in the chest as the lungs fill with air. Care should be taken not to overinflate the lungs of a newborn. About 15 breaths per minute should be given.
   
   To stimulate the heart (heart massage):
   1. The animal should be placed with the right side down, and heart massages (compression) should be performed. In an adult animal, this is accomplished by firmly pressing with the palm of the hand on the chest of the animal. The location for this is right behind the elbow on the left side of the body. In newborns, the amount of pressure required is much less; compressions can often be given with both thumbs on one side of the chest and the index fingers on the other side. These compressions should be given repeatedly at the rate of 70-135 per minute.
   
   If both breathing and heart have stopped:
   1. Apply 15 heart massages (compressions), followed by 2 artificial respirations. Continue this pattern of 15 heart massages and 2 breaths until the heart begins to beat and the animal breathes on its own.