Small ruminant drug use for the cow vet

Abstract

With the rapid increase in numbers and popularity of small ru­minants in North America, there is a need for ambulatory prac­titioners to provide for their care. With the economics of small ruminant practice not being near those of bovine practice, combined with extremely limited drugs for sheep and goats, there is an opportunity for creative solutions regarding bovine therapies for caprine and ovine patients. In this review the role of the small ruminant as a food animal will be discussed along with extralabel drug usage for food animal species. Analgesic drugs will be discussed for utility in ambulatory practice set­tings. Use of approved and extralabel antimicrobials will be investigated for control and prevention of infectious disease. Sedation practices will be mentioned, along with additional re­sources to guide the bovine veterinarian with small ruminant treatment decisions.