Where's the song ~~ "Don't let your daughters grow up to marry a Cowboy" ?

​​​​​​​Life is tough! Requires hard physical work, long, long days of pain, dirt, and broken fingernails.​
​Days of frigid cold & scorching heat; through the dust & mud; daybreak into the darkness of nite~~​
​the heart & body becomes toughened & weathered replicating leather!​
​A forever constant factor for a real Cowboy's Wife is tons of sweat, oceans of tears and a constant 'drought' in the wallet!​
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​​​​​​​​​IF​​​​​​​​​​​​​​ she wants to spend anytime at all with her Cowboy, she must do as he does, you become partners!​
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​​​​​​Kick off your boots, grab a cup of coffee, sit back and envision yourself in my life!​
​... It really isn't that bad! There are many rewards to be had to make it a great lifestyle! ...​ ​​​​​​​


Thursday, December 4, 2008

Micotil...

...can kill!



Micotil is an antibiotic, purchased only through a licensed Veterinarian, used to control respiratory disease in cattle (BRD). (read more here)
Cattlemen like the drug because of its lower per dose volume, cost per treatment and quick reaction time. Because it is quite expensive, most cattlemen use Micotil after other attempts have failed, or the animal’s condition is quite critical.
For humans, this a drug that may have no treatment depending on the amount and route injected or ingested. The minimum amount of this medication needed to cause a fatality when injected into a human is not known.

So why the heck am I posting about this Micotil drug?
I’m sure it is of little or no concern of yours,
but this is my blog and I feel like posting about it!

My Cowboy’s entire life has been spent in the Ag world.
He has been kicked and bit; knocked down and dumped; dragged and tossed;
landed on his ass and even his head; broke his back and most other bones;
you name it, it’s happened…more than once!
Needle pricks are ignored when doctoring stock so we won't even try to count these either!
I’m sure if I did some research, I’d find that the quantity of his ‘encounters’
would surely be deemed illegal!
Heck, he’s first to admit that he is more than lucky to walking, riding, let alone living!

But, a Cowboy is who my Cowboy is!

That is how he hopes to take his last breath...
…doing exactly what he enjoys most in life!

Yes, I worry more and more the older we get as the healing and recuperating process is not quite as easy or as quick as it once was!
Today, he came home from working cattle down the road about 2pm.
He walks in the door gimping (which really is his natural gait nowadays),
covered in blood and holding his hand.
I know the workings of his brain, and pain, as well as I know my own!

“What happened?” I asked.

“Nothing much, I just had to doctor around 18 head” he says.

“Was anyone there helping you?”

“No, just Me, Myself and I ... that’s enough” he declared.

“So why is there blood all over you?” I ask with more concern.

“Oh, I got these three fingers smashed in a gate…by a heifer..
…after getting stabbed with a needle” he replies matter-of-factly.

“Not with Micotil, I hope!” stating a bit louder and with silent concern.

Cowboy barely lifting his eyes to look at me...
“Yep…no big deal though! It was over an hour ago and I’m still alive aren’t I?” he says.

“Shit!” (sorry! Readers) I muttered, quickly traversing through my brain for all the knowledge I have on the drug.

“NO BIG DEAL…Barb! I’ll be fine! I’m hungry and I’m going to take a nap. If I wake up dead…then you can worry!”


Well, now that is a relief! Wake up dead!

I hurriedly fed him, stoked the fire and instantly he fell asleep (he can do that so easily!).
I know him so well, that had I called a Dr., he would have been somewhat upset with me!
We’ve probably been to the Dr. 20 times between the two of us in all our years together.
That is just S.O.P. in our household. (Cowboy has continued working many times with broken arms, ankles etc…until the job is complete, those would be posts within themselves! )

So, I only had to wait a moment for the Zzzz’s to overtake him.
I ran to the computer and typed in Micotil !
When I came to this sentence:
“The minimum amount of this medication needed to cause a fatality
when injected into a human is not known.”
I grabbed a phone and called the Dr.
Not knowing an exact amount that could have penetrated, the Dr. told me to watch for any signs of dizziness, rapid heart rate, chest pain, anxiety or lightheadedness.
....Oh! Isn't that normal when he loves his W.O.W.?.....
I told him that Cowboy said it bled quite profusely~ which turns out to be a good thing!

Cowboy and I have both, worked with Micotil since it arrived on the US market in 1992.
(Canada was 1990). We’ve witnessed the wonderful benefits of its use when necessary.
We know the implications of mishandling.
But no matter how much respect you have for Micotil,
no matter how prepared you are and how safe you try to be when doctoring cattle...
…Shit Happens!

Obviously, Cowboy woke from his nap…ALIVE! Or I wouldn’t be here now!
Yes, there is quite a bit of swelling and still some inflammation and pain, but he is fine.
Phewwwww!


33 comments:

Sage said...

Oh Barb, that must have been a worrying time.. and not only for you but for Cowboy as well. {{hugs}} glad he is ok, and tell him from me that he needs to take care of himself in future.

Tessa said...

Gosh! Poor brave Cowboy and poor brave you. Thank Buddha, Allah and all the rest of them that he is okay. I second your Phewwwwwww with all my heart!

Egghead said...

I didn't know that it was so serious. I am glad he seems ok but I would still be cautious. Dang him. He needs to stop worrying you like that. Hope he is on the mend and that your mind is more at ease.

david mcmahon said...

Look after that Cowboy, will ya! I reckon he's got to be an Aussie!!

Anonymous said...

Oh my hon, I'm sure glad he's ok. That scared me. Thank goodness he bled.

wordmama said...

Good gravy - your posts now have me second-guessing my dream to one day own a ranch! I don't think I'm a hair as tough as cowboy and yourself! I'd reckon that our family has been to the doctor more than 20 times in the last 6 months!

Sarah said...

So glad he's okay. I've never delt with Micotil...but I will say anytime I'm around a vet with a full syringe of euthanizing solution...I get a bit nervous. What if somebody got stuck? Yikes!

Cactus Jack Splash said...

Reading about your Cowboy is like reading about my dad (not that cowboy is that old, just that tough). He must be one tough guy and is lucky to have you around to watch over him..

Glenda, saved by grace said...

Its a tough job , but somebody's got to do it!
I certainly take my hat( toboggan) off to ya!
Glenda

Sarah said...

You swear?! Man, never woulda guessed it. ;)

Glad your man's okay!

Loves to you.

LL said...

Yes... Micotil is something to be handled discreetly.

But on the bright side, my Vet always told me that it doesn't kill you, just stops your heart. That certainly should ease your conscience, I know it did mine.

And if he's alone, he should be using something like Nuflor which isn't deadly. Our old Vet wouldn't let loners even have Micotil because of the risks.

Word ver: worie - somehow seems fitting.

Sherry Sikstrom said...

Lucky that you have the knlwledge anyway, better to be safe...
I have to admit that "its OK it bled freely" has been a standby for me and my family also the "walk it off "philosophy. I once had a physical therapist ask if I had ever tried to "walk off " a broken leg!My Husband just rolls his eyes at some of my antics

Cowboy is a lucky fellow to have you!!

Sherry Sikstrom said...

Another drug to be ever so cautious about is Rompun, most vets won't dipense it to lay persons but if you are ever working with it BE CAREFUL

The Wife said...

Oh my word! How is it that I know exactly what you went thru? Maybe because our lives seem to have many parallels! Glad Cowboy woke up ALIVE!

The Blonde Duck said...

That's really scary. Tell him to be careful!

DesertHen said...

Hummmm, you just discribed a scene straight from my house.....Your Cowboy and my Hayman sound just alike!!

Me - "honey, why are you bleeding as he walks through the door holding hand?"
Hayman - "no big deal, just got my fingers caught in something."
Me - "caught in what, did it have moving parts?"
Hayman - "caught on something sharp in the baler, and no it wasn't moving."
Me - "get to the bathroom, you're bleeding all over the floor!" "Do you need stitches?"
Hayman - "what are stitches and stop yelling at me woman."

You get the point....Hayman can be bleeding, needing stitches, etc and never, ever, never, ever go to to the Dr!! Except one time in Idaho when he managed to rip two of his toes right off his left foot....now that required a trip to the hospital, surgery and 4 weeks on the couch! He was supposed to be down for 8 weeks but they were haying and gathering cows at the same time and he was back to work and in the saddle after only 4 weeks. That was the longest 4 weeks of my life!!!

So my friend....I know exactly how you felt yesterday as you waited for Cowboy to fall asleep, then did your checking, called the Dr. then continued to worry like crazy until he woke up!! I just don't think that these "hardy" men even stop to consider all the worry they put us through. Gotta love'em though....=)

((((HUGS)))) to you and I'm glad Cowboy is okay.

Freak Magnet said...

My heart was pounding like mad as I read this. You both have suffered an amazing amount to keep this incredibly important resource (ranching) alive and I am still in total awe. I can only imagine the genuine fear that ran through you as you searched for info on Micotil. Thank God he is ok! At least he won't have any infections in his body at all right now, I guess? Sorry - just looking for a bright spot. It's wonderful that he has you, and you him. You are awesome support for each other!!! (((hugs)))

OneCowgirl said...

Thanks for the education on Micotil! Take Care!

Tatersmama said...

OMG... You would have heard my heartfelt phewwww! from where you're sitting. What is it about men anyway? Cowboys especially?
I can just never understand how boys are raised by their mama's, grow up listening to their mama's.. and then end up acting like "what ARE you carrying on about woman?"
It just never sinks in, does it?
*sigh*
I've always heard that you can't keep a good man down... and it looks like it's true, at least in Cowboy's case, eh?

BTW...the gals that did my blog weren't too expensive at all. They have all kinds of different options and pricing... depending on what you want. I went for the "OMG I don't have a clue what to do - you do it ALL for me, with bells and whistles and fancy stuff" one and it was well worth the $90. There are lots of cheaper options and Staci is a complete dream to work with.

*hugs*
Taters

Gail said...

I'm there...my husband got a needle to the bone earlier this year when we were shooting a calf for warts. He did not seemed worried just said maybe his moles would fall off. I was more concerned about other things falling off!

terri said...

I'm so glad to hear your cowboy didn't wake up dead! He's one tough cowboy, I have to say. I have a 17 year old boy here and I would like to volunteer him for some time with Cowboy. The boy says to me today, "I think I broke my finger in phy ed." I asked him to show me. I saw.... nothing. "Phhhht!" I said. If it was broken it would be black and blue." I think he needs to see what real injuries are like!

Shirley said...

Cowboy is the real thing! And I , like you, don't believe in going to the doctor. Note to self: If I ever get jabbed with Micotil, make large cut and bleed like crazy!

Janice Thomson said...

Gosh glad to hear hubby's ok - kinda scary these things.
Your life lately is beginning to be a bit like Peyton Place - you guys gotta slow down and enjoy life a bit.
Take care You... :)

Linda said...

I hate that stuff, we don't use it because of what happen to you, it scares me. I'm just glad to hear he's alright. Now go kick his butt so I'll feel better!

Theresa @ Take A Sentimental Journey said...

Whew ! I know you are glad that ordeal is over with ! There's never a dull moment with him is there ? LOL .

Anonymous said...

Oh goodness me! You have one tough cowboy! My husband would have been the same way. He has broken his ankle before during a softball tournament and went on to play the entire game on it! I would have been panicking knowing that and I am sure you were to. Glad to know that all is well. I love checking in with you. I can always use a good laugh and your writing gives me one! Have a great day!

Greyhound Girl said...

How scary and worrisome! That's awful and I'm glad he's okay. the injuries these cowboys take in stride and the use and handling of all the drugs and chemicals- I'm amazed they live as long as they do with it all. glad he's okay--- deep breath!

Far Side of Fifty said...

Well I am greatly relieved he did not wake up dead! LOL:)

Rue said...

OMG Barb! That would have scared me to death too!!

Men are just weird about thigs like that. I know Rich has been shot at in war and had his shoulder crushed working on military machinery, but damn it! I'm with him now and if I want to call the doctor cuz I'm worried, I will LOL So, I hear ya ;)

Thank God he'll be okay!

big hugs and it's good to be back!
DADR

Jenn said...

oh my goodness what a fright. I am so happy to hear that all worked out well.
Hugs
Jenn
Check this, my veri word is
loard

♥ Braja said...

Well the Micotil goes part of the way in explaining why you love reconstructing houses...

Anonymous said...

Ackkkk....I don't think I could handle the stress of it all! I'm so very glad that he is ok. Aren't men funny creatures? No big deal I just might die that's all...grrr makes you want to smack 'em up along side the head then give 'em a big hug because you're so glad they are alright. My hat's off to you for being a brave ranchers wife!

Anonymous said...

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