EAST TEXAS HOG DOGGERS FORUM

I need to stop paying the vet for things I should be able to take care of myself. First thing is I have a young dog with a cut on her face that is swelling a little bit. Last cut like this swelled and didnt go down until I took her to the vet. $130 for the 20 min visit and some antibiotics! Swelling went down right away though.
What can I pick up at Tractor Supply to use for my dogs? I see the stuff for cattle/swine and wanted to know what you guys are using on your dogs? What else should I pick up from there to keep? I need to put together a Med kit for my dogs.

I use revivalanimalhealth.com. They have injectable penicillin, all the oral antibiotics, marketed as "fish" antibiotics. Heck, i've even seen the "fish" antibiotics advertised on some survivalist sites. Anyway, i always try to keep cephelaxin, amoxycillin, i think u can even get generic "fish" baytril now.  My other advice is either by a copy of the merck veterinary manual at this same site or look it up on the web,, u can see the manual for free their. I just am older fella and i like to hold a book in my hands whwn i'm researching , if i can. The manual will give u doses , which meds to use for different types of injuries and different bacteria.,when i worked for a vet ,,, Lordy, it's been 40 yrs now,, his copy was used frequently. Revival also has your vaccines, wormers etc. you can order online or by phone, and the folks that help u on the phone are breeders and such and can give u all the info u need for whatever is going on, for instance, u could call and tell em your dog face is swelling from a cut, they'll tell u what med and dosage . U gotta watch, cuz they will start suggesting other stuff that u may or may not need, not pushy, but almost overly helpful. Good luck

Thanks! I'll check that out.
So I shouldnt bother with the Cattle type stuff at Tractor Supply?

I get my penecillin from the feed store. It's good for most cuts. Just inject in back of neck between hide and muscle. I use 1cc per 20 pounds for 3 or 4 days. The fish antibiotics are the same exact thing u or I take. Dogs take the same. Only difference may be dosage per pill. Never hurts to have the ones Amokabs listed above. I will also be checking out the site he listed.


Shotgun
Arkansas

Yep I use injectable penicillan from feed store. Works great.

What brand? and is it for livestock?

most any antibiotic will work whether injectable or capsule by mouth...I quit using injectable many years ago because it is painful and a capsule shoved down the throat is way easier on the dog...buried in some egg or hamburger is even better...dog thinks he is getting a treat...

Get on eBay and get all your oral antibiotics there! Fish Flex Forte 100 capsules, 500mg of Cephalexin was under $20. Get all you surgical scrub and gauze, ace wraps, etc from CVS or any of the other stores like that.

Good  thread!!

I've found that there is a place for injectable antibiotics, but i agree, oral antibiotics are much easier to give and easier on the dog, as far as having antibiotics given. But an intra muscular injection gets the antibiotic into the dog's system quicker and i believe has a better effect than oral antibiotics. If u have an infected wound, injectable penicillin will clear it up in 3-4 days. Oral will take longer. Also, my kennels are away from the house, so at times, it's easier for me to give a once daily dose of injectable as opposed to several oral doses. There are risks involved with intra muscular injections, u could hit a vein or artery, or u could inject into a nerve. Sub-q injected antibiotics , i feel arent as good as intra muscular injection , better than oral  administration. Sub-q injections also carry risks of site infection, i've seen some incidents where the skin sloughed off at injection site.  On a seriously cut dog, i'd go injectable and maybe even over cover with oral, you'll be using the oral for like 10-14 days and injectable for 4-5. .but i always refer to Merck veterinary manual for each individual episode so i can cover for whatever potential infectionwith correct doses and duration. Mrs. Louisiana is a vet employee, i hope she'll elaborate, its been 30 yrs since i worked for a vet, things may have changed since then

Another method is injectable on first day and oral there after...and cut heal twice a day...

And dont forget hydro therapy, just rinse any wound with a hose, low pressure for as long as dog will allow or until u get tired. Dogs really have an amazing immune system compared to humans. Just some basic attention and most wounds will heal from inside out in a week or 2. It's good to have a selection of oral antibiotics for respiratory issues and other non wound infections that might arise. Some folks start pregnant B!tches on prophylactic  oral ampicillin or amoxycillin a week before delivery, just abuncha things u can help a dog along with oral antibiotics. Working in operating room, i have a doggy intensive care stocked in a corner of my garage just from disposables and opened items that were headed to the trash

Awesome thread! Thanks for that site... I'll be getting on there and ordering some stuff this weekend.

I use a lot of oxytetracycline for cuts and infections.  Works good but you have to split the dose up and give it to them in different spots or you will knot their muscle up.