Animal Cross Roads

Taking the High Road vs the Low Road of Animal Care

The older I get the more I realize that every day we have cross roads to navigate. This article will be a review of general animal husbandry, focusing on taking the high roads versus the low roads of animal care.

Animals, whether they are commercial or family pets, deserve kindness and consideration of their welfare. God did not make humans the largest or strongest animal on the planet, but he did give us the cognitive function of morality! Let’s join together and make a pact to provide the most humane, medically sound, and best living environment for all animals.

Life always has a beginning and that is birth. The husbandry of neonates is critical. Case and point are the people who cared for their pets and livestock during the deep freeze of February. This was a very dangerous and difficult time for man and beast. Those who rose to the occasion and took the high road are reaping both financial and personal benefits. Shelter is paramount during the neonate’s life. Animals, be them puppies, kittens, lambs, kids, calves or other, must be kept warm and dry. Maternal interaction and nursing should also be monitored closely in the neonate phase.

As young animals grow and progress, there are other considerations. Once ruminant start grazing and small animals open their eyes, deworming is key. Each species will need a specific type of anthelmintic (deworming).

The next phase for young animals is the vaccination stage. Equine, bovine and small ruminant should have at least two core vaccines one month apart starting at four months of age. Small animals should have their core vaccines starting at seven to eight weeks of age. The small animals should have at least three vaccines spaced one month apart. Flea, heartworm preventative and regular deworming should be instituted.

Ruminants should be started on forage and processed diets. Small animals should have free access of dry diets and fed actually two to three times daily of a high-quality diet for a growing pet. Do not take the low road for nutrition for any animal. Garbage in, garbage out…period. Feeding cheap, raw and inappropriate diets accounts for a very large proportion of medical issues with pets and livestock.

Socialization is a key ingredient in successful husbandry of both large and small animals. Goats, calves, kids and lambs should be accustomed to human interaction at a young age. This will make them less fearful and easier to handle as they mature to adults. Small animals should have daily social interaction starting at weaning. This should include grooming and obedience training. Small animals imprint and are the most trainable during the two to six months of age. This is important to understand; however, the last advice with small animals is this, pick or keep a pet that will match your lifestyle. Please DO NOT PICK A PET because of popularity or social media. Some of the biggest mistakes I have seen are people who choose inappropriate breeds of pets given their current life styles!

As your pet or livestock matures to adulthood, their requirements will change. Livestock will need daily assessment for ample forage and water. If livestock is to give birth, then more frequent surveillance will be needed. Pets will also need human interaction at least two times daily, however, the more times, the closer bonded to you they will become. Livestock will need close monitoring of available forage and be supplemented with hay and feed as needed. Small animals will need a high-quality maintenance diet offered twice a day. No free feeding buffets, that only leads to a fat and finicky pet. Absolutely no table food should be offered to pets. Obesity in small animals is one of the most common causes of health problems and is exacerbated by free feeding poor quality diets and allowing pets to eat human foods. Daily activity or exercise is also essential for your small animal’s emotional and physical health. Both livestock and pets will need yearly vaccinations and deworming during their adult years. Small animals will also benefit with monthly flea, tick, and heartworm prevention. I see dramatic increase in pets’ quality of life, longevity and a decrease in allergy issues if their owner does year around flea, tick and heartworm control. Meat providing livestock should be monitored closely for rate of gain and pregnancy rates in reproductive livestock accessed to assure optimal results. Pets and livestock are social animals and do well with daily interaction with their human care takers, buffered with food/treat incentives.

As animals age, their nutritional, behavioral and overall health will change. Livestock will lose condition and wean fewer and less heavy offspring. Small animals will become cranky, less active and obese typically. It is our task as guardians to recognize the progression to a geriatric life stage and make the appropriate adjustments. With livestock, additional nutrition coupled with early weaning and deworming are key. Pets typically require less nutrition, medications for arthritis or other ailments and social interactions. Minimal vaccinations are typical during this phase of life, but more frequent physical exams, bloodwork and dentals are common. The older livestock and pets get, the more maintenance they will need.

God gave humans the ability to logically access and reasonably solve problems. It is our task at the cross roads of life we face every day to take the high road. Treating both pets and livestock humanely, with love and respect as you would like to be treated, is the way I see it.

Good luck and happy ranching. Jack F McKemie DVM

Texas Builds It larger

A Texan, while visiting, found himself in the back seat of a taxi cab on the way to his hotel.

Passing by the Royal York, the Texan asked the cab driver “What’s that building there?”

“That’s the Royal York Hotel,” replied the cabbie.

“The Royal York? How long did it take to build that?” asked the Texan.

“About 12years,” replid the cabbie.”

“12 years? We build ’em twice as high, twice as wide and four ttmes as long down in Texas, and we do that in six months.”

A while later the cab driver make his way past the Metro-Toronto Convention Centre.

“What’s that building over there?” asked the Texan.

“That’s the Metro-Toronto Convenion Centre” replied the cabbie.

“Convention Centre?” How long’d it take to build that?” asked the Texas.

“About three years,” replied the cabbie.

“Three years? We build ’em twice as high, twice as wide and four tmes as long down in Texas, and it only takes us about two weeks.”

Shortly thereafter the cabbie drives past the CN Tower.

“What’s that building there?” asks the Texas, pointing at the bower.

“Danged if I know,” replied the cabbie. “It wasn’t there when I drove by yesterday.”