Great Medications to Have on Hand for Raising Sheep

When we first added sheep to the farm, one of our first questions to our vet was “What things are handy for us to keep on hand?”. Our amazing vet not only rattled off a little list but provided us with many of those things as well. I will note which items he recommended in the list below. And that’s where we started; with our vet’s recommendations, a few other minor items, and his phone number handy.

Over the years we’ve added more, either through necessity or out of preparation. You most definitely do NOT need all of these things that are in our kit (at least I hope you don’t). While “It’s better to have it and not need it than to need it and not have it” is kind of our motto, it took us a while to get to that point and we still don’t have everything we need from year to year. There’s always something new that pops up to be added eventually. 

How Do You Store Sheep Supplies?

We settled for these shoebox-sized totes with labels to store our medication, etc. They definitely come in handy, but over the years so much has been added that it’s past time to upsize to larger ones.  These are stored in our home to shield the meds from the temperature fluctuations in the barn. A couple items are stored in the fridge. 

I debated over how to best organize this list to make it as simple as possible and finally settled on three categories: Injectable Meds, Worming Meds, and Others.

Many of these items we have never used (thankfully).
Most shepherds will have a completely different list and I’m sure if you give us 5 more years, our list will be added to or changed also. This is just our current list to hopefully show new shepherds what’s in our current stockpile. In parentheses, I’ll add where we buy the item also so you know what must come from a vet and what can be bought in-store.

Injectable Medications

Our Injectible Medication in our Sheep Kit

*BAR-VAC CD/T VACCINATION (Farm Store): We vaccinate all of our sheep. Some shepherds don’t but you won’t find any judgment from us, that’s your personal choice. We have always used the Bar-Vac Brand. Our expecting ewes are vaccinated 6 weeks before lambing. The lambs are vaccinated at 4 weeks old with another booster at 8 weeks old, and our rams are vaccinated yearly when we are turning them in for breeding.

* B-COMPLEX (Farm Store, Premier): This is one of those items our vet recommended us to have on hand in the beginning. We have used this one a few times for an energy boost for sick sheep. 

*BIO-MYCIN 200 (Vet only now): Antibiotic. This is basically the same as LA 200, this is just supposedly a non-burning formula, whereas LA200 burns and stings when administered.

*PENICILLIN (Vet only now): Antibiotic. We never had to use it but we like to keep it on hand just in case. 

*THIAMINE 500MG per ML (Only ever got from the vet but not sure if it is necessary): The vet recommended this item to have on hand. To treat Polio.  

*NUFLOR (Vet Only): Antibiotic. A good one for pneumonia among others.  

*BO-SE (Vet Only): Vet Recommended to have on hand. For selenium deficiency, white muscle disease. 

*BANAMINE (Vet only): The vet recommended us to have. Anti-inflammatory helps with pain. 

*DEXAMETHASONE (Vet Only): The vet recommended us to have on hand. Steroid. 

*REUSABLE SYRINGE, DISPOSABLE SYRINGES: Now that we’re vaccinating 100+ sheep at a time, we’re probably going to upgrade the reusable syringe to an auto version, but this one has worked great for years. We also keep  3 mL and 12 mL disposable syringes sizes on hand for injecting the random sheep who need it.  *NEEDLES: Here’s what we like to use
-20 gauge, 1/2 inch needles for vaccinations and Sub-Q injections.
-20 gauge 3/4 or 1-inch needles for IM injections
-We also have 18 gauge 1/2 & 1 inch for thicker meds that can’t be pulled up a 20 gauge needle. 

Worming Medications

We do not routinely worm but we do check FAMACHA’s and stool samples when parasites are suspected. We actually haven’t had to worm in over 2 years. Which reminds me to check these wormers because they may be expired

*CYDECTIN and VALBAZEN (FARM STORES and Vet) are the two that we keep on hand, along with a little drench syringe for administering them. ****Since this post was made we have had one case of barberpole worms so we have also added Safe-Guard for Goats, which is not pictured.

Other Meds to Have on Hand

These are all other items we like to have on hand for

lambing season and all other times. All these items can be found in farm stores unless noted.

*BLOAT TREATMENT: We just added this year but haven’t used it just. Just thought it should be something to have on hand just in case.

*EXCENEL (VET only): Vet recommended us to have. Antibiotic. This should be in the other picture, but I set it to the side and forgot to include it.

*BLOOD STOP POWDER: For when we trim hooves too deep or for injuries.

*ACTIVATED CHARCOAL: We used this for a sick ewe who we thought may have eaten a toxic plant. This is just a human version found at the pharmacy.

*CALCIUM GLUCONATE: Never used. Used for hypocalcemia.

*SELENIUM GEL, PRO BIOS GEL, VITAMIN B COMPLEX GEL, ELECTROLYTE GEL: We like to have the oral, gel versions of things on hand in case someone who is watching over our flock and isn’t comfortable giving injections until we get there. Pro Bios comes in handy when you have a sick sheep who may need a little help regulating after having been down for a while (or after giving activated charcoal).

*MEDICATION LIST: We love this list from Nebraska Extension to use as a quick reference. It lists the medications, what they’re used for, how much to give and how to give. The photo is horrible so here’s the link to a printable version: Sheep Med Doses

As a bonus, many of these items double for our cattle!

If we find anything we’ve forgotten, we’ll add it in later but I’m pretty sure that this is everything. Please reach out if you have any questions about anything. Also if you have stuff in your supply that we don’t, we’d love to hear what it is!

Are there any other posts you’d like to see us make? If so feel free to comment your suggestions, we love to help however we can!