Mixing meds in one dart

[Novillo]

Can you mix medicines in one single dart? Are there some that just counteract their effects?

I recently daeted a yearling with baytril, ivomec and b12 inone 4cc dart and it had no effect at all on him.

Thanks

[Sandridge Whitetails]

I don't believe it is recommended that you mix certain drugs. Which ones those are I cannot say for sure, but I remember asking my vet about a mix, and he advised against it. It might have been ivomec and draxxin, but like I said, I do not remember. I know this don't help much, but hopefully someone will post that knows.

[ANTLER VALLEY]

As far as labeling goes, FDA approves most drugs to be used by themselves, but won't approve them to be mixed with anything else. This is a little bit of a stretch, but to mix drugs without a vet's conscent is illegal. On the other hand, look at what the antibiotics use as a carrier. Some use an oil-based carrier while others are water-soluable. You know how water and oil mix; therefore, drugs with different carriers (oil vs. water) don't mix well.

[ANTLER VALLEY]

As far as labeling goes, FDA approves most drugs to be used by themselves, but won't approve them to be mixed with anything else. This is a little bit of a stretch, but to mix drugs without a vet's conscent is illegal. On the other hand, look at what the antibiotics use as a carrier. Some use an oil-based carrier while others are water-soluable. You know how water and oil mix; therefore, drugs with different carriers (oil vs. water) don't mix well.

And one more thing I should have pointed out was that since deer are still such a small sector of America's agriculture, there are very few drugs actually labled for deer...

[Scott Heinrich]

It is not advisable to mix drugs in a single dart. Although many times, the meds can be mixed and administered without incident, there are a few combinations of the drugs we commonly use that will chemically react with the metal in a dart . This reaction could cause some serious side effects or be deadly poisionous to some species of deer and/or antelope.

[Novillo]

Thanks for your responses. To avoid any doubt, will not combine any more. Regards

[Streamline Products, Inc.]

Correct, you should not combine meds

[IndependenceRanch]

Not only this thread but other threads as well prompt me to speak up. This darting of drugs is getting out of hand. I am NOT calling out any one person or groups of people, but seriously this needs to stop happening at such a high level.
Besides as Phillip and Scott pointed out of the oil vs water and the metal dart bodies and chemical reactions, there are other factors to consider as well.
Yes, whitetails are not cattle and therefore treating them can be difficult at best sometimes. But that is where having a proper handling facility comes into play. Personally I think running a deer farm without a decent handling facility is like buying a fishing boat but no trailer, motor, or oars. What the heck good does it do!
Also I think many have become way to "treatment happy" with their deer. A quality herd health program sometimes means doing nothing at all while still being in the best interest of the animal.
I am sure this post will tick some folks off but I don't care. Like always I call it like I see it. And I have more than enough years in the industry to have some idea of what I am talking about.
Again this was NOT directed at anyone in particular. But there are a lot of beginning and newer deer growers who read this forum and actually believe that everyone posting knows what they are talking about. Care needs to be used when giving out advice.
Just had to get this off my chest.
Good luck to everyone finishing out their fawning season.

[Joe C]

There is an old saying that is; An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.
Everybody has a different farm setup and there is a wide variety of temperments with all the different genetics people are adding to their herds. Foreseeing a problem with something you are trying to accomplish should make people reason whether it is worth it or not. We have the ability to think things over and this is very important in my eyes since we are dealing with animals that act on instinct. If they banned the use of antibiotics on farm animals in the next five years then what would you do to counteract it?

By visiting other farms we can all learn from each other and become better stewards for these animals. I know of cases when sometimes farmers have the problem staring them right in the face and they can't see it. Sometimes an outside perspective is needed. A healthy animal is an animal that will perform for you and that should be our #1 goal.

[Sandridge Whitetails]

To clarify: Mixing certain drugs is not advisable whether it's in a syringe or dart. Also, I personally have never darted any med into a deer other than draxxin. And that was always individuals that were in with others that needed antibiotic immediately. Those deer stand alive today because of it. I don't have a chute system, wish I did. I think it's great advice to say deer farmers should have one, but sometimes one has to do the best he can with what he has at the time. I treat my deer through water, orally through the feeding of bread, and every time I have them down (sawing horns, moving,etc), I give all the meds I know to give via advice from a vet that owns deer. So, I do the best I can with what I have, but yeah...I do wish I had a chute system.

[Four Seasons Whitetails]

Mark you are not the only one that just bought the boat and i guess are lost.We also do not have a chute system.Would it be nice to have one..Yes.. Do you have to have one?I think not. If a guy has only a handful of decent to good animals and can only get hundreds for them IF you can sell them why spend thousands on something you can do without.If your deer are tame and calm you will do just fine.We breed ours and treat as needed including darting.I for one am so thankful for all the advice i have recieved on this site thats for sure.I will give advice if it is something that was givin to me and took care of the problem.I think all should atleast go to a new deer farmer class if they want to raise deer but we all have to start somewhere and learn as we go.I know the vets in our area are reluctant to give advice on what to do but will give meds to a point.I would give someone advice to get a chute system if they were going to have a breeding herd and they had the money to buy and sell with the top dogs if not save yur money for better blood on your handful of animals and do by them the best you can!!

[Sandridge Whitetails]

My biggest reason for wishing I had a chute system is so I could test my deer. If my deer were tested then my buying audience would of course drastically increase. I generally have around 70 head of deer I care for. This year it's 68 plus fawns. So darting to test...ah no! Got enough grey hair! :)

[Four Seasons Whitetails]

Mark my advice to you though i know you didnt ask would be to do whatever you had to do to get tested.I know 70 deer darted to test would be crazy but mabey split the herd and dart the best and test to sell anywhere and seperate the rest to just sell in your state.In ny we can have a tested group and an untested group but the ones not tested cant leave the farm alive!!!Anywhere!!! If you have good genetics that other states would want that sure would change your bottom line!!!

[Joe C]

That was very good advice Mike. Both sensible and logical. A few people would give a new farmer class with the advice given would be to to make sure you start out with two deer for $100,000. Randy Barks in the Summer edition of Deer Tracking magazine had a very good article about to each his own. It is the "Letter to the Editor" article and is a very good read.

[deerfarmer2011]

Need a chute to raise a couple deer. Thats freakin crazy. I also am thanking for all the help on this site.Keep it comin, Mabey someone should read all the help needed and give us knew guys that right answer if he has them all

[IndependenceRanch]

Need a chute to raise a couple deer. Thats freakin crazy. I also am thanking for all the help on this site.Keep it comin, Mabey someone should read all the help needed and give us knew guys that right answer if he has them all

Sounds a lot like a democrat expecting others to always give them everything. Sorry deerfarmer2011 but you burnt your bridge with me the way you treated me a few months ago. I do have a good memory and I do remember you. You have good luck with those deer now alrighty:p

[redcedar]

ROGER, Your correct about the handling facility and over doing the drugs, but worse than that is most of the time without handling the animal physicly in a shoot or putting it down most don;t know what they are treating for. I could go on and on but darting drugs to me is not the way to go in most situations. Just me.

[deerfarmer2011]

even thought i only own a couple deer my question to you is what gives you the right or knowldege as to whats going on with deer farms all across the country.You say overdrugs how do you see this or know what myself or someone is giving. You say people need a chute to have a farm. I dont see it with only a few animals You must read different posts on here than i do,I see alot of good advice and mostly if someone gives bad advice someone on here is quick to set them on tract.If you see this bad advice on here why dont you pipe in and set them straight or is that where someone hires you to get your advice as on another post. Darts with drugs that people dont know what they do, I would never do this with my deer and cant imagine anyone would for the money they cost.

[Deer Dee]

I wish I had one too! But this herd is on less than 2 acres:( So when we have to dart.....its done with the greatest of care and concern for the animal. I wish I didn't have to dart them at all. We have to TB test this fall and I'm hoping, praying and doing a lot of planning so as to make sure this goes off without a hitch.