Deer Health
You can find info on this page to help you raise healthy deer.
More medicines can be found on the
Suppliers page of
this web site.
This page got so big that I had to
divide it.
click here for Fawn
Health
Caution ! The medicines and cures on this page are
NOT an exact science.
They are cures that have worked for other deer farmers and compiled on this
single page for you to use.
What works for some may not work for others.
Every animal is special and needs its own special care. Deer farmers know more
about Deer than most vets.
I will be updating this info as time and input become available.
Most botanical dewormers can be
also found as homeopathic preparations, which are free of side effects and do
not require a fasting or laxative period. Common botanical dewormers include
garlic in pills or powders, fresh tinctures such as wormwood or Artemisia spp.,
wild ginger or snakeroot, goosefoot, conifers, mustard, squash or pumpkin seeds,
carrot and fennel seeds, and pyrethrum, a plant extract from chrysanthemum.
ADULT DEER SECTION
Shipping fever.
Shipping fever pneumonia is a respiratory disease of animals of multifactorial
etiology with Pasteurella haemolytica and, less commonly, P multocida or
Haemophilus somnus, being one of the infectious agents involved. Shipping fever
pneumonia is associated with the assembly into feedlots of large groups of
animals from diverse geographic, nutritional, and genetic backgrounds.
The pathogenesis of shipping fever pneumonia involves stress factors, with or
without viral infection, interacting to suppress host defense mechanisms, which
allows the proliferation of commensal bacteria in the upper respiratory tract.
Subsequently, these bacteria colonize the lower respiratory tract and cause a
bronchopneumonia with a cranioventral distribution in the lung. Multiple stress
factors have been identified that are believed to contribute to the suppression
of host defense mechanisms. Transportation over long distances serves as a
stressor, and in association with transport, there may be exhaustion,
starvation, dehydration, chilling and overheating depending on weather
conditions, and exposure to vehicle exhaust fumes. Additional stressors include
passage through auction markets, commingling, the handling on arrival at the
feedlot, dusty environmental conditions, and nutritional stress associated with
a change to high-energy rations in the feedlot. The individual viral and
bacterial etiologies, clinical signs, lesions, and treatment are under viral
respiratory tract infections.
Control and Prevention
Prevention of shipping fever pneumonia should focus on reduction of the
stressors that contribute to development of the disease. Animals should be
assembled rapidly into groups, and new animals should not be introduced to
established groups. Auction markets and mixing of animals from different sources
should be avoided if possible. Transport time should be minimized, and rest
periods, with access to food and water, should be provided during prolonged
transport. Adaptation to high-energy rations should be gradual. Vitamin and
mineral deficiencies should be corrected. Dust control measures should be used.
Preventive medication with antibiotics is a consideration for animals judged to
be at a particularly high risk for developing shipping fever pneumonia at the
time of arrival to the feedlot.
The administration of vaccines on entry to the new farm has been reported to
increase the mortality associated with shipping fever pneumonia. Vaccinations
for the viral and bacterial components of shipping fever pneumonia should be
given 2-3 wk before transport and can be repeated on entry to the new farm.
Albon 12.5% Solution - Albon is effective in the treatment of
shipping fever complex and bacterial pneumonia associated with Pasteurella spp.
sensitive to sulfadimethoxine; and calf diphtheria and foot rot associated with
Fusobacterium necrophorum (Sphaerophorus necrophorus) sensitive to
sulfadimethoxine in cattle. Administer in drinking water or to individual cattle
as a drench. In cattle, only 4 oz treats 1 - 600 lb animal initially or 2 - 600
lb animals.
Coccidiosis
Is a disease commonly found in younger animals under a year old. Coccidiosis is
very common during wetter weather but is also common when animals are confined
to a smaller area. It causes diarrhea with watery feces, and in sever infections
the diarrhea may contain streaks of blood. Most incubation periods are from 8 to
20 days.
Coccidiosis can damage the lower small intestines, cecum, and the colon of deer.
Animals can die from long periods of this disease from dehydration, sever weight
lose, and pneumonia from becoming weak. It is a parasite that attaches to
intestines and deer cannot get nutrition from their food and will just become a
pile of bones and die.
Adult Deer can be treated with Corid in their drinking water. 1 oz to 5 gallons
of water for 10 days is treatment and .5 oz for 5 gallons water for prevention.
Fawns can be treated with 3 cc Corid put in the bottle with their formula. (See
Fawn Section)
Worming
with
Safe-guard,
Rumatel,
Ivomec injectable and
Valbazen
One time you should use Safeguard and the next Rumatel. When you handle the deer
you should use Ivomec injectable.
Safeguard does not treat all worms associated with whitetail deer, it also will
not address bacteriologic problems or protozoan parasites
Changing the different wormers insures that sooner or later you get everything
and they don't set up a resistance to the wormers.
A good practice is to worm 3 times a year.
Worm about 2 months before fawning for first time then in 30 days again so this
would mean that next worming is about a month before fawning. And then again in
the fall after first frost in the North.
It is recommended to wait until the fawns are 3 months old to de-worm if
warranted. (IE: fecal sample reveals infestation.) Use the same deworming product
as you use on the adult deer.
To insure that each animal gets its required amount of Safeguard, at least 3
days in advance cut back on the volume of feed until they clean it up each day.
(Most Deer don't like the taste of Safeguard so mix it with liquid molasses to a
point that it almost sticks together the night before and let it soak in.) Then
mix the soaked Safeguard pellets with an amount of feed to bring it back up to
this volume.
Use 1.5 lb of the
Safe-guard pellets for 1000 lbs of animal weight; if you have 5 deer
in a pen that average 200 lbs each that is 1000 lbs, you would give them 1.5 lb
of Safe-Guard each day for 3 days in a row.
It is recommended to use double the dose for deer that it says for cattle. It
wise to worm them before grazing starts.
VALBAZEN Wormer If you can't give orally, it can be administered like
Safeguard in the feed. To insure that each animal gets the required amount of
Valbazen, at least 3 days in advance cut back on the volume of feed until they
clean it up each day. Mix the Valbazen with this volume of feed.
Some deer farmers have successfully used Ivomec Drench for Sheep .08% Solution,
Safe-guard liquid and Valbazen in the drinking water. It's easy to administer.
A word of caution! Ivomec is not to be injected IM. It will cause
a very severe abscess in the muscle.
If you can control the water in the pen, then you can use the injectable form of
Ivomec in a pail or two of drinking water.
Use a double cattle dose in a pail of water.
An adult drinks between 1 and 2 gallons of water per day during the summer
months.
Lumpy Jaw or food impaction.
Arterial worms seems to be associated with food impaction, in a pocket around
the jaw.
Piperazine salts are recommended for treatment of arterial worms
(100mg/lb. body weight) administering by mouth is effective except in the case
where the worms have entered the cerebrum. Check with your Vet!
Piperazine is available wherever horse remedies are sold. Also, be sure that
this pocket is not filled with abscess fluids (aspirate with a sterilized
needle). If it is filled, it may be wise to drain and flush the pocket, leaving
it open to heal from the inside out.
"Warts".
Are generally harmless and fall off on their own.
Heel Fly or Warble flies
looks like a small puncture wound or like a huge pimple.
Take a pinch of black pepper and dab in puncture or hole. You will see a small
black head protrude in and out.
Take a small tweezers while someone holds fawn and reach in and pull it out.
keep the area clean and it will heal up.
Ticks Fly's and
Mosquitoes
Put garlic in your feed. It comes in a powder form and should be added at a rate
of 5 - 6 lbs. per ton of feed. Garlic will also help with deer flies and horse
flies in the summer.
You can order powdered garlic from
John White Co. ph. 205-595-8381
E-mail
orders@johnrwhite.com
Sulfur salt block is also believed to help ward of insects
You can also spray a 10% pemethrin based spray on any area or completely over a
deer with no ill effects. You can also spray their pens with it.
EHD by Tim Condict
EHD stands for Epizootic Hemorrhagic Disease. It is related to Blue Tongue with
the same symptoms. It is an insect borne infectious disease of some big game
species. It can kill most of your deer if it gets started. It is more common in
southern states.
EHD Signs & Symptoms
Pyrexia is the first visible sign. As the disease progresses the animal will
lose its appetite and wariness. Edema or swelling of the head and neck will
occur. The victim becomes dehydrated and weakens with increased respiration,
heartbeat, and salivates excessively. As the disease progresses further,
ulceration of the dental pad and tongue occurs and will eventually pass blood
from both ends. In prolonged cases or those surviving, sloughing of the hooves
may occur. In most cases, whitetails die within 48-72 hours after being
infected.
The ingredient you want is 10% pemethrin which is also a brand name. You should
be able to get it at the feed store or from the vet. I saved my deer when I had
EHD by running them through my chute and soaking them with Pemectrin which is
10% pemethrin. I then sprayed my pens with Pemectrin. I gave each adult deer
20cc LA 200, 6cc Baytril, and 10 cc Dexamethasone. It stopped the EHD cold.
Starting July 10th of each year I spray my pens with pemectrin, I worm all of my
deer with Ivomec pour on (in the feed), and repeat every 2 1/2 weeks until mid
September.
These are the things to hopefully prevent EHD OR BLUETONGUE. I spray all my pens
completely with pemectrin or pemectrin. Both of these sprays active ingredient
is 10% pemectrin. If a deer gets close enough I spray it also. I spray the trees
over my water tanks; it has been reported that they congregate in these trees
and swarm the deer when they come to drink. I turn my water tanks over while I'm
spraying. I spray in my sheds and all around my feeders but try not to get any
in my feed. I change the water daily and add 1 cap full of bleach to the water,
depending on how many deer are in the pen, usually about 6-10 does and their
fawns. (I use the cap off of my gallon jug of bleach.) Starting on the 10th of
July I worm my deer with Ivomec pour on or some other comparable brand as long
as its alcohol based.( It will be blue in color.) I mix the wormer at 1 1/2
times the rate called for. I mix this wormer in the feed. I mix it a few hours
before I feed them. I worm again the same way the 24th of July. I worm again the
14th of August. I spray my pens every 2 weeks until the end of Sept. I start the
12th of July putting aueromyicin on my feed and quit for two days after worming
and then resume. I only top-dress my feed with it. I put about 1 cup for every
four adults in the pen and 1 cup for every 8 fawns. I buy it in 50 lb bags and
it is 2% strength.
10%
Permethrin
Thin Deer
Rice bran is a good way to increase your fat content. Rice bran is 20 % fat so a
little goes a long way. I mix mine at 5 to 1. 5 parts feed to 1 part rice bran.
Plus the deer really like it. You might have problems finding it. Not everyone
carries it. Steve Kennedy sells rice bran in his store and gets it through
Buckeye Feeds.
Steve Kennedy
6621 W. Broad St
Galloway, Ohio 43119
United States
Phone: 614-878-7330
Alt. Phone: 614-2602-5090 cell
Fax: 614-878-1277
E-mail:skenne1@aol.com
Long hooves
This is called foundering.
This is a sign of too high of protein in their diet and a deficiency of vitamin
D. If you have them eating straight green alfalfa you will need to cut then back
to lower the protein intake.
Also reduce the amount of corn
You will need to trim the hooves.
Foot rot
Foot rot comes from bacteria that is in the soil. A deer's immune system can
normally fight this off with no problems. If it becomes a problem, there are
vaccines for foot rot. For best results the animals should be receiving free
choice minerals providing 40-80 mg zinc as zinc methionine per day.
The best preventative for foot rot is a Sulfur Salt Block. A sulfur block put
next to a salt block in a pen will help protect the animals using the salt block
to be free from ticks and other parasites. Sulfur is also believed to work as an
insect repellant.
If you do put him down and find foot rot lance then drain it and use a foot rot
treatment soak.
Here's a couple of things that are used as a foot bath:
1. Liquid hoof bath made with 5% Copper Sulfate (Bluestone) solution in water.
Can often get Bluestone at feed stores.
2. Dry hoof bath made from 1 part Copper Sulfate and 9 parts hydrated lime.
3. Soak the hoof in NDL,, Foot Rot and Ringworm Treatment,
NDL
from Livestock Concepts for Foot Rot manufactured by New Decade
Laboratories Farmington MN 55024,
Follow the directions on the bottle, Bath should be about 4" deep so it
completely covers the hoof and dew claws.
Volar Footrot Bacterin is the newest commercial vaccine available
providing 40-80 mg zinc and did not have the bad side effects that many others
had.
Also it works great because only 3cc is required and can be given IM or SC which
means it can be darted if necessary.
LA 200 is not the same as penicillin. LA200 is best used as a respiratory drug
or for foot problems or for shipping fever. Penicillin is best used for
infections.
LA 200 is oxytetracycline a BACTERIA STAT. controls bacteria by preventing
reproduction.
Penicillin, various kinds are BACTERICIDES, they actually kill the bugs.
After this treatment, get a Sulfur salt block and cut a small portion from one,
crush it up and use it as a top dress on their feed for 2 weeks, place a Sulfur
salt block in each pen and keep the salt block off the ground so that rain will
drain off it.
You can use this along with oxytetracycline in your water source as a possible
preventative of EHD and many other ailments.
LS 50 lincomycin and Spectino-mycin works fairly well in drinking water.
Administering Vitamins and Antibiotics
One thing that confuses quite a few people is that most liquid medications that
you purchase will have the quantity in the bottle expressed in ML (millimeters)
and most syringes that you buy will have the increments in CC's. To simplify, 1
ml and 1 cc are the same.
SC (subcutaneously), means under the skin between the skin and the flesh.
Give it in the area around the front shoulder because it is easier to lift the
skin away from the muscle
IM (intramuscular), means in the muscle. The rear hip is a good location.
When you see The Directions that say SQ that is
the only way it should be given.
If it says IM on the directions you can give the shot IM and also SQ.
When given IM the drug acts fast.
When given SQ it acts slow.
Some people give the IM shots, IM and SQ (double dose) at the same time.
The SQ injection gives a longer acting effect of the medicine due to the slower
absorption into the system.
Antibiotics administered through darting is a poor choice as the amount
dispensed by the dart is insufficient, and multiple darting is very stressful on
the animal.
Albon 12.5% Solution - Albon is effective in the treatment of
shipping fever complex and bacterial pneumonia associated with Pasteurella spp.
sensitive to sulfadimethoxine; and calf diphtheria and foot rot associated with
Fusobacterium necrophorum (Sphaerophorus necrophorus) sensitive to
sulfadimethoxine in cattle. Administer in drinking water or to individual cattle
as a drench. In cattle, only 4 oz treats 1 - 600 lb animal initially or 2 - 600
lb animals
Baytril 100 Contains 100 mg enrofloxacin per ml, (enrofloxacin)
Injectable Solution is the newest class of antimicrobial that kills the major
bacteria that cause pneumonia in cattle.
Blu-Kote Antiseptic protective wound dressing treats ringworm,
surface wounds, cuts, galls, pad sores, etc. Aerosol formula is quick-drying and
deep penetrating.
Bluelite - BLUELITE® C is designed for oral use in young calves prior
to weaning. Mix BLUELITE® C into all fluids (water, milk or milk replacer) fed
to calves showing signs of dehydration or body shrink as a result of disease,
moving, handling or sorting.
Colostrx - Failure of Passive Transfer: COLOSTRX® supplies a
guaranteed quantity of absorbable immunoglobulin to aid in the treatment of
failure of passive transfer in newborn calves less than 24 hours old. Diarrhea
Control: Serves as an aid in the prevention of scours by supplying antibodies
that block the K-99 E coli process.
Covexin 8 For the active immunization of healthy sheep against
diseases caused by Clostridium chauvoei, Cl. septicum, Cl. haemolyticum (known
elsewhere as Cl. novyi type D), Cl. novyi, Cl. tetani, and Cl. perfringens types
C and D. Although Cl. perfringens type B is not a significant problem in the
U.S.A., immunity may be provided against the beta and epsilon toxins elaborated
by Cl. perfringens type B. The immunity is derived from the combination of type
C (beta) and type D (epsilon) fractions.
Corid 9.6% Solution Aids in the treatment and prevention of
coccidiosis in calves. As a drench: Treatment - mix 3 oz/1 pt water and give 1
oz/100 lbs body wt daily for 5 days; Prevention - mix 1-1/2 oz/1 pt water and
give 1 oz/100 lbs body wt daily for 21 days. In drinking water.
Dectomax For treatment & control of internal and external parasites
in cattle and swine, including gastrointestinal roundworms, lungworms, eye worms,
kidney worms, grubs, sucking lice & mange mites. - Dectomax Injectable is a
long-lasting, broad-spectrum product that removes and controls 36 stages of
internal and external parasites, including adult and some larval stages. By
controlling some of these parasites for as long as 28 days, Dectomax not only
removes parasite infestations, it actually prevents new infections by preventing
eggs from being shed on pasture for up to 8 weeks.
Electrolyte Formulated to provide essential electrolytes and special
direct-fed microbials, a source of live (viable), naturally occurring
microorganisms. Highly palatable, non-gelling formula. Mix 4 oz with 2 qts 90 -
100ºF water. Feed 2 qts 2-4 times daily for 2-4 days depending on condition of
animal. Withdraw all milk products and free choice water during treatment.
Discard solution not consumed within 12 hrs.
Levamisole Soluble Wormer Powerful, fast-acting anthelmintic that
controls lungworms, nodular worms and large roundworms Mix in their water the
dose needed to medicate the pounds of deer in the pen and leave it until it is
drank. Don't use this in the hottest time of the year. Gets worms that
Safe-guard & Ivomec DO NOT kill
L-S 50 Soluble Powder Is a good antibacterial Works great on E coli
and Pneumonia.
Caution High doses of LA 200 have been known to cause abortion in
pregnant Doe in the early and late stages of pregnancy.
LA 200 is oxytetracycline a BACTERIA STAT. It is best used as a
respiratory drug or for shipping fever controls bacteria by preventing
reproduction. 
Caution
should be used when administering high doses to pregnant Doe's as it may cause
them to abort their fawns
Micotil® (tilmicosin injection) is the proven, fast-acting,
long-lasting cost effective Bovine Respiratory Disease therapy..
DANGER
A death that resulted from an area cattleman injecting himself with a livestock
drug should be a reminder to farmers and ranchers to use caution when medicating
animals. Any amount of Micotil 300 can be deadly. Even Elanco, the company that
produces the drug, says as much.
Before you can get a prescription for Micotil the vet and ag producer must have
what's formally called a "veterinarian client patient relationship." That means
the vet has examined the animals in some way within a reasonable amount of time
before making the prescription.
Nuflor is a broad spectrum antibiotic and is long acting, therefore,
it works in the treatment of deer because you don't have to treat them everyday
as you would with penicillin. It is a good drug to use for pneumonia.
Penicillin is best used for infections. It is very underutilized in
deer. (LA 200 is not the same as penicillin.) There is also a short, and long
acting penicillin. Various kinds are BACTERICIDES, they actually kill the bugs.
Any brand will be fine.
With Penicillin always use the long lasting kind. Give 4 or 5 times the
recommended dosage when treating infections.
Probios Bovine One - Oral Gel Helps establish and maintain intestinal
well-being in your incoming feedlot cattle, dairy cows/calves, veal calves,
goats and sheep. Dairy cows: Administer 30 gms at freshening and 15 gms 7 days
post-calving; Goats and sheep- 5gms. See label for beef cattle, veal and calf
dosages. Gun features a lock-pin for ease in administering 5 cc, 10 cc or 15 cc
doses.
7 % Tincture of Iodine Apply once daily for cuts, abrasions, insect
bites or bruises. Cleanses with soap & water. Excellent to paint baby navels at
birth to reduce disease & bacteria entry.
TYLAN 200 Antibiotic, For the treatment of disease in beef cattle,
non-lactating dairy cattle & swine
VALBAZEN Take the recommended cattle dose and mix it with about a
quart of water. Then pour this mixture over a 5 gal bucket of feed (can be less)
mix it thoroughly, let it dry overnight and then feed it. This should kill all
parasites including liver flukes.
Vision-7 vaccine developed for the cattle industry. Is used for
Clostridium deficiency. Use the recommended dose.
Vitamin A-D Injectable Sterile solution of vitamins in oil for use as
a source of vitamins A & D3 in cattle, sheep & swine. Contains 500,000 IU
vitamin A and 75,000 IU vitamin D3 per ml.
Vitamin B-Complex-Plus For use in cattle, swine & sheep as a
supplemental source of B-complex vitamins.
VITAMIN B12 1000MCG INJECTION - Each ml contains 1000 mcg
cyanocobalamin- For use in vitamin B12 deficiency associated with cobalt
deficiency in cattle and sheep, and for vitamin B12 deficiency associated with
inadequate vitamin B12 intake or intestinal malabsorption in swine.
Volar Foot rot Bacterin An aluminum hydroxide adjuvanted bacterin
containing 2 strains of Fusobacterium necrophorum for use as an aid in the
prevention and treatment of chronic Foot rot in sheep & prevention of acute
foot rot in beef & dairy cattle. Dosage: Sheep-3 ml; Cattle-5 ml injected IM or
subcutaneously in the neck, repeat in 3-4 weeks. Booster annually or when endemic
conditions exist or exposure is imminent. For best results, sheep should be
receiving a free choice mineral supplement providing 40-80 mg zinc per head per
day.
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