COWBOY MEDICINE 101

By Dr. Doug Ford, Production Animal Consultation, & Dr.

It has been my honor to work with some of the greatest people on the face of the earth for over 40 years.

I am always amazed at how dedicated, disciplined, and tough country folk are. In rural America, it is easy to make new friends and most of the time you hardly know a stranger. That’s because a stranger becomes an acquaintance, an acquaintance becomes a friend, and a friend becomes a brother or sister.

Dedication comes from being wholeheartedly devoted. In a recent conversation with my favorite retired doctor friend, he asked me, “When are you going to retire?” After his 10-minute comical rant about how I need to start enjoying life, he asked, “Do you suppose on your death bed you’ll wish you could have gone on one more vet call?” Without hesitation I replied, “Heck yeah, absolutely!” His abrupt reply was “There’s definitely something wrong with you people.” Personally, I can’t think of any old cowboy asked that same question who wouldn’t want to ride one more set of cows or pull another frozen calf out of a snowbank in a March blizzard.

Discipline is a code of behavior. The example that sticks in my mind is the way Dr. Tom describes farm and ranch kids on Christmas morning. They get up early, before breakfast, and march right past the Christmas tree to address all their critters’ needs and chores before there is any thought of bacon, eggs, and presents. So many people in today’s society lack discipline in their personal, professional, and spiritual lives.

Toughness is described as mental, moral, and physical firmness, grit, determination, and standing firm in the face of adversity. “Be watchful, stand firm, act like men, be strong.” (1 Corinthians 16:13) Toughness is the hallmark of the people I get to work with every day. The golden rule of toughness: you can never show weakness in the presence of difficulty. The top hands I know never show open signs of weakness, under any circumstances. This has often put me in compromising situations as most cowpokes are way too stubborn and tough to see a “real” doctor. This translates into “call the vet.”

I had to laugh the other night as my wife Jan and I were watching the number one rated TV series about a 5th generation Montana ranch and its struggles in the 21st century. In one of the scenes, several of the ranch hands were badly injured, beaten, and maimed, needing immediate medical attention. The triage team (made up of more cowboys) assessed the situation and boldly exclaimed, “Call the vet!” I have personally been asked to suture lacerations, freeze warts, treat sore throats, X-ray broken bones, and prescribe DMSO for a 90-year-old man’s lame mare. I am always honored and humbled when my clients have this kind of confidence in my medical and surgical skills. However, I always refer them to their “real” doctor. I can only think of one time I might have stepped over the line. One of my rough and rugged buckaroo buddies asked me to check a sample to see if his vasectomy reversal was successful. My question, what would Dr. Pol do? After all, we do fertility work on hundreds of bulls, right? That microscope slide sat at my desk for weeks. In a weak Days of Our Lives moment, I was tempted to take a peek under the microscope. I would never admit to impropriety, but I don’t think they were blessed with more children.

Just when I thought I had heard it all, our community now perceives me to be the local authority on Covid prevention and treatment. At least once a day, I am asked about ivermectin and coronavirus. All kidding aside, it is serious business. It is interesting to me that many of my leathery, hardheaded cowpoke compadres are more than willing to self-medicate with an assortment of various horse pills. This includes self-treatment of such maladies as shin splints, snake bite, chiggers, beaver fever (Giardia), jock itch, and poison ivy. The latest cure-all remedy is vet-shack ivermectin, giving little thought to adverse consequences, confident of an instant sure cure. In today’s world there is a known cure for most physical ailments. What about the human spiritual condition?

Let me clarify. I remember well my sophomore year at junior college and my roommate from Albin, Wyoming. To say the least, he was a holy rollin’, Bible thumpin’ Jesus freak on a mission. That mission was to see me and every other soul on campus saved from burning eternity in hell. Usually my best defense was to break out a Carling Black Label or Mickey’s Big Mouth while listening to one of his many sermons on the mount. He was very dedicated, very disciplined, and spiritually way tougher than me. Like a pit bull with his jaws on the foundation of my salvation, he would not be distracted. To make matters even more intense, he was Master Sergeant in command with the local Campus Crusade for Christ entourage. That meant relentless preaching at home, daily dodging of the Bible-toting hit squad, all with gospel tracts raining down from heaven.

These boys were daunting to say the least. I would have gladly taken anything, including Ivomec injectable, paste, and pour-on at the same time, to stop their constant torment much like Covid. Unlike Covid’s preventive measures and treatment, the “squad” knew the absolute truth, had data, and had the sure cure for my human spiritual condition. I can’t honestly say my life turned around and I took the cure that sophomore year, but I am thankful for their dedication, discipline, and persistence which established the beachhead for my salvation, peace, and joy in my life.

Christ gave his life so I could have it all here on earth and in eternity. In contrast to ivermectin, hydroxychloroquine, or vaccination, why would anyone think twice about a 100% sure cure with only positive side effects, no social distancing, immediate healing, permanent immunity, and no cost? And you don’t even have to wear a mask!

Digging Deeper

What about the human spiritual condition? Why do dedicated, disciplined and tough country folk often reject or take the bailing wire and duct tape approach to the offer of healing provided by Jesus and His instruction? There are many answers to this question but two come readily to mind.

First, much like certain cancer afflictions, many do not even realize that they are sick until it is too late. Things seemed fine until some unexpected symptom springs up at the last moment. Jesus healed the sick, lame, paralyzed, deaf, and blind, but He understood that healing these physical conditions was only a temporary fix.

Temporary because the cancer of “sin” was what was going to take their joy and their life... both spiritually and physically. Sin is present at birth, an inherited lethal condition found in every human. Only through Jesus will one find the remedy for this “cancer”. Amazing that even with a cure rate of 100% and an easily accessible treatment, folks either go for the barnyard solution (“I’ve been good”) or skip it all together.

Number two on the list of reasons to reject is rooted in the very toughness and self-reliant spirit that runs in our veins (i.e., pride) . To accept Christ means that we need help and will now be under “new management”. Most do not take orders well and want to do things their way. The problem is, “our way” often leaves a lot of pain and damage in its wake. A little humility can go a long way in progression to a “cure”.

To sign on with Jesus might look like “weakness” to some, but that could not be further from the truth. Standing for truth and righteousness is not popular these days and in some parts of the world it may cost you your head.

According to history, all of Jesus’ disciples died as martyrs with the possible exception of John. What would compel a group of everyday fishermen, a tax collector, and assorted rural workers to willingly give up their lives? I suspect dedication, discipline, and toughness, but how and why? What did they possibly stand to gain by signing on with Jesus? The physical price was great but the spiritual benefits for now and eternity were greater.

Why would anyone push back from receiving a lifesaving or lifegiving treatment that is readily available? Maybe it is because they are unaware of, or okay with, their illness. Maybe it is because they are too stubborn to seek out the real ‘Doc’. Below are a few nuggets from the Great Physician’s formulary. All His prescriptions are safe and there have been no recorded overdoses. Give them a read. Here’s to your eternal health.

John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.

Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

1 Peter 2:24 (NLT) He personally carried our sins in his body on the cross so that we can be dead to sin and live for what is right. By his wounds you are healed.

John 14:6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”

2 Timothy 1:7 For God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.

Doug Ford DVM is the owner of Beaver Creek Veterinary Clinic in Brush, Colorado. Doug earned his DVM degree from Colorado State University. Brush, Colorado has been his home since graduating from Colorado State. Doug’s practice has been remarkably diverse over 40 years of veterinary medicine. Dogs, cats, cow/calf, feedlot, two sale barns, and spaying thousands of heifers for grass. The last 20 years of practice has been 50% large western dairies and 50% beef cattle (spaying, cow/calf, and feedlots). In 2005, Doug was given the privilege to become one of the six founding members of PAC. Doug and his wife Jan ranch in their “spare” time. They are also heavily involved in a wetland’s development project on the South Platte River near Snyder, Colorado. Doug’s dad used to say, “Get your grades up. Do you want to grow up to be a ditch digger?” Doug had no idea how much fun it is to play in the dirt with dozers and track hoes. He feels truly blessed and believes that the best days are yet to come.

Greg Quakenbush DVM is a 1978 graduate of Colorado State University and spent 16 years in large animal practice in Porterville, California. For 19 years, Dr. Q worked for Zoetis (Pfizer) and was Director of the US Cattle Technical Services team. Since 2013, Dr. Q has worked with the Geissler Corporation assisting in the development of new veterinary diagnostic technologies. Dr. Q enjoys Bible study, shooting sports, fly- fi shing, and being a part-time farmer growing citrus and nuts in the central valley of California.