We just had a vet in for the dehorning of our 9 week old jersey/shorthorn cross heifer... Had expected the horns to be removed by burning - but, after admitting that she would do it that way - she said that she hadn't brought the burning tool...she then proceeded to dehorn using some giant cutters, which I (not knowing anything about this) assumed would normally be used for larger animals that actually had horns?...our's only had little nubs of about quarter-1/2 inch...
Aside from getting my brother and myself covered in blood in the process (it was squirting everywhere until she pulled the veins with tweasers), she seems to taken off an extra amount on the right side (leaving a long flesh wound from base of ear to horn area)...the tool as I said was large (too large for the job if you ask me). Then afterward, she applied some disinfectant powder onto the wounds...called "NFZ Puffer" ((containing 0.2 % Nitrofurazone)). After applying twice the calf was released immediately and went over to the mother (our milk cow) -- and was licked by her....
Come to find our after she left (having given me the bottle to "apply every day for the next few days", I find out it has warnings all over it ((Including - "CAUTION: Federal Law Prohibits Use of This Product In Food Producing Animals" & "Restricted Drug -California )... The label states that it is "known to cause Cancer in mammary glands of mice" and "ovary cancer in rats".
This doesn't seem good that my milk cow has taken this into her system. Was wondering if anyone knew if the milk will be safe to drink? What this stuff is - how dangerous (as far as lingering around in her system)...
We called the vet back - and she said not to use it afterall...agreeing that it would not be good to let the milk cow lick it.
Am I missing something - or is it not the vet's job to know these things?
Also what about the calf nursing..... lots of questions!
Aside from getting my brother and myself covered in blood in the process (it was squirting everywhere until she pulled the veins with tweasers), she seems to taken off an extra amount on the right side (leaving a long flesh wound from base of ear to horn area)...the tool as I said was large (too large for the job if you ask me). Then afterward, she applied some disinfectant powder onto the wounds...called "NFZ Puffer" ((containing 0.2 % Nitrofurazone)). After applying twice the calf was released immediately and went over to the mother (our milk cow) -- and was licked by her....
Come to find our after she left (having given me the bottle to "apply every day for the next few days", I find out it has warnings all over it ((Including - "CAUTION: Federal Law Prohibits Use of This Product In Food Producing Animals" & "Restricted Drug -California )... The label states that it is "known to cause Cancer in mammary glands of mice" and "ovary cancer in rats".
This doesn't seem good that my milk cow has taken this into her system. Was wondering if anyone knew if the milk will be safe to drink? What this stuff is - how dangerous (as far as lingering around in her system)...
We called the vet back - and she said not to use it afterall...agreeing that it would not be good to let the milk cow lick it.
Am I missing something - or is it not the vet's job to know these things?
Also what about the calf nursing..... lots of questions!