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.