EHD Hoof Damage

One of the problems seen after EHD is hoof damage often showing up months later. EHD causes swelling and sometimes it affects the hooves. This is Pixie, one of our favorite bottle fed does. She had EHD the worst of any I've saved. She had frothy blood coming from her mouth. The megadose Dexamethasone saved her in my opinion. She started having trouble walking in October. Now she's walking ok but you can see deep cracks in her overgrown hooves. They will slough off as the new hoof pushes it away.

Dexamethasone and EHD in Whitetails

I’ve spent many hours researching Dexamethasone over the last couple of years.  Most of my time involved the search for how dex might benefit us in the deer industry with EHD.  Please consult your veterinarian before trying any of the following drugs and dosages.  Also note that using Dexamethasone in pregnant does can cause abortions.  In pregnant does, a small dose of 0.25 ml of Banamine may be a better choice.  I’d personally prefer to lose the fawns and save the doe with dex than take a chance on losing the doe and fawns by not using dex.

EHD, short for Epizootic Hemorrhagic Disease, is a viral disease that infects certain animals including white-tailed deer.  The virus causes inflammation, swelling, fever, internal hemorrhage and significant damage that can result in serious secondary infections.  The virus often results in death. 

Like many in the industry, my protocol was Draxxin and Banamine.  The year 2011 was a very bad EHD year.  What we saw in many of the deer that died in Texas and other states was considerable GI tract damage.  Banamine is irritating to the GI tract so it is no longer the drug of choice for the fever and inflammation caused by EHD because it exacerbates the damage.  Dexamethasone has similar effectiveness for reducing fever and inflammation.  Dexamethasone is a synthetic glucocorticoid which is produced normally in the body.  As a steroid, it has other advantages over Banamine.

My wife, Annette, is an asthmatic.  She has taken dex for severe asthma.  I started researching human uses of dex.  If an asthmatic has a viral infection in the lungs, dex is given because it has been shown to stop the virus from replicating.  I’ve found numerous articles that stated this fact.  EHD is a different virus but I was intrigued with the possibility that dex may work for it.  Dex has also been used to stop brain hemorrhage.  Since EHD is a hemorrhagic disease causing internal hemorrhage, it made sense to me that it might be beneficial.

The problem with using dex is that the concentration (mg/ml) is low and giving a dose to a grown deer takes a large volume.  I discussed dosage problems with my veterinarian and asked him if it could be compounded to a stronger concentration.  He checked and let me know that it could be.  Most dex that veterinarians carry is either 2 mg/ml or 4 mg/ml and is either in a propylene glycol or sodium phosphate base.  The dex sodium phosphate (Dex SP) acts quicker but lasts less time than the propylene glycol.  Dex SP is easier to concentrate.

I chose to use dex SP at a 12 mg/ml concentration.  I wanted a strength that I could use in a 2cc dart for remote delivery.  The SP is also thinner so delivery in a dart is easier.  I experimented with different combinations and strengths.  My veterinarian is very good about working with me to try something new when standard protocols don’t work.  I used dex in combination with different antibiotics like Draxxin, Exceed, Baytril and Nuflor.  My vet recommended using an antibiotic with the dex since dex is an immunosuppressant.  The general opinion is that since dex suppresses the immune system, an antibiotic should be given with it as a prophylactic to prevent infections.

I used about 80 darts for drug delivery during the EHD season of 2012.  My veterinarian initially suggested a decreasing dose program for dex.  I started by using 12 mg dex on day one then cutting the dose in half for the next 3 days.  12 mg on day 1, 6 mg on day 2, 3 mg on day 3 and 1.5 mg on day 4.  I gave antibiotics on day 1 and followed up if needed on day 4.  After many combinations, I finally found the best success was using a single 48 mg dose of dex SP without the use of antibiotics.  The following is why I think I was experiencing success with that final dosage. 

Smaller doses of dex will control fever and inflammation in general.  I wasn’t having success at the lower doses so I continued increasing them.  Even when I started using an initial 48 mg dose, decreasing over the next 3 days and combining this with antibiotics, I was having some success but not enough to satisfy me.  The single 48 mg dose without antibiotics worked best.  High doses may last longer and decrease more gradually than multi-day doses.  For instance, Baytril used for cattle calls for a multi-day dose of 1.1-2.3 ml/100 lb daily for 3 days.  A single dose of 3.4-5.7 ml/100 lb can be used instead of multi-day doses.  By using the higher dosage it takes longer to metabolize the drug and therefore stays in the body longer.

I believe that the higher dose finally was enough to stop the virus from growing as found in asthmatics.  The success may also be due to the immunosuppressive quality of the dex.  I had been trying to counteract the immunosuppression of the immune system caused by dex by giving prophylactic antibiotics.  I had also been giving decreasing dosages over a total of 4 days to gradually reduce the amount being used and wean the animal off more slowly.  Then I learned about the effects of an overactive immune system.

Cytokines are present in a normal animal’s body.  They are triggered by an antigen like a virus to send immune cells to the site of infection.  One problem with an antigen like the EHD virus is that it can cause an over responsive action of the cytokines known as a cytokine storm.  In a cytokine storm, an overabundance of immune cells is sent to fight the infection resulting in normal healthy cells being destroyed.  The immune system is actually killing the animal.  In the case of pneumonia, a cytokine storm can send so many immune cells to the lungs that it can actually cause the animal to die of suffocation. 

I believe, without the scientific evidence of EHD in deer to back me up, that Dexamethasone works.  The dex stops the virus and/or suppresses an overactive immune system.  We need more scientific research but without it we have to be innovative in searching for new ways to fight the disease until a vaccine or other solution is found.  I’ve talked to people all over the nation suggesting they try the high dose of dex and the ones who tried it had good results also.  Not all vets are open-minded.  Someone in Oklahoma told me his vet wouldn’t even order the strong concentration of dex for him.  If we’re losing large numbers of animals with current therapies, we must try something different.  I hope that this long description of my results using Dexamethasone therapy for EHD in white-tailed deer helps others.  I’ll remain open-minded as well.  We need to continue to share information so that we can all learn from each other’s experience.

Charles DeerMan Black

200"+ Bucks for Sale

I only have 3 more bucks for sale, all over 200". Let me know if you're interested. They won't last much longer.

Bobwire estimated 202"

Sarge estimated 214"

Winchester estimated 203"

X-Factor Semen $2000

X-Factor Semen on Sale $2000/straw We are running a special on X-Factor semen. Just $2000/straw. That's for a buck that scored 500"+ 3 years in a row!!! Reply to this post for details.

Semen Special!!! Buy 5 straws for $2500 or 15 straws for $5000. You can mix and match from a group of bucks. On the 5-straw package no more than 2 straws from any one buck and on the 15-straw package no more than 4 straws from any one buck. Choose from bucks like 506" Gold Dust, Fear Factor, Max Factor, Geyser, True Blue, Rocky Factor 500"+, Level King and various other incredible up and coming bucks. Contact me to secure yours for this breeding season. X-Factor semen is as low as $2500/straw. Incredible for a buck that has consistently scored high, over 500" 3 yrs in a row!!!

Deer Man Consulting

I offer consulting for the deer industry through my Deer Man Consulting. The best choice is for an onsite evaluation. This starts at $500 plus expenses. I wish I'd had the opportunity to get advice before getting started. It could have saved some costly mistakes. Let me know if I can help.

Louisiana Buck For Sale

This buck is for sale for the Fall of 2012. He should score in the 190s and as you can see his extreme width makes him very desirable to hunters. His body is huge. He's tall, long and heavy. He's the biggest bodied buck we have. Contact me for details.

How to Keep Deer from Being Afraid of Darting

Make Darting Deer Easier I pulled a dead doe and dead fawn out today. More EHD. Getting used to the stench of death. Darted 7. One young buck comes up for cookies. I darted him out the front door with it barely cracked open after I through him a pile of cookies. As a note for those who dart, everyone knows how difficult it can be to dart multiple times. Even others in the pen start to get nervous. I like to shoot from inside the truck with the gun propped low on the door frame in an open window. As soon as I dart I start throwing cookies. Often the darted deer comes up with the dart still hanging out to eat them. I get out with the gun while they are eating so they can see it while they are getting treats. I studied deer behavior for two masters degrees and that education included studies on many animal behaviors. I took two courses on training horses through behavior modification. Darting is a negative stimulus. Feeding cookies is a positive one. Feeding cookies after darting reinforces a positive influence that will help override the negative one. I'm getting plenty of practice but I'd like for it to be over!!!

Consulting is Satisfying

I did some consulting this week for a family planning to start a deer breeding and hunting business. We went over many issues such as pen location and design. The reason for the design to promote smooth flow when moving the deer in the breeding pens. Other issues discussed were health, behavior, death loss, fawn additions, etc. We looked at a 4-yr outlook to determine what the outcome should be based on the first year investment. Even with the realization of death losses it was wonderful to see the excitement in their eyes. I hope I will always provide an honest assessment of my client's goals but instill in them the love of working with these awesome animals.

Consulting for the Deer Industry

I offer consulting service for the deer industry. Topics include: Handling facilities Pen design Behavior How to handle deer Health EHD/BT Nutrition

Does bred to 500" genetics for sale

We will have some does bred to 500" genetics this year. The does are out of some lines that have produced very nice mid-200" main frame typicals. Adding 500" genetics will increase the inches while maintaining some very nice mainframes. Contact me to put down a deposit to hold them. Delivery can be arranged.

EHD Continues to Gain Ground in Research Importance

I met a young woman at the TDA convention who is working on her Ph, D . She is taking on a big task in the big state of Texas. Her research will determine the distribution of the Culicoides. She has a daunting job but it shows that EHD is continually getting more attention. I put her in contact with Dr. Lane Foil at LSU. Dr. Foil is an expert veterinary entomologist with a long background in work with the Culicoides. Good news for all of us in the deer industry.

Dart Location for Whitetails for Drug Delivery

This is an ideal location for dart impact on a deer. Good muscle mass to absorb the impact. Good blood supply for drug uptake. More margin for error.

Darting deer with more than one drug using 2 darts

You're not supposed to mix drugs even though some seem to work well. Did you know you can piggy back darts? Put the first dart in with one drug then stick the next one behind it with a different drug. I learned this from Keith Amass DVM, founder of Safe Capture International.  You'll have to practice playing around with pressures to see what your POI will be. The second dart will likely be slightly lower than the first. That's a lot better than shooting a deer with one dart then trying to get close enough for the next.  If you're treating for EHD, you could use a compounded Dexamethasone strong enough to put in a small dart and then follow that with a second dart of antibiotics.

EHD Research Funding for Louisiana State University

LSU is conducting extensive research on EHD and how the vector Culicoides sp. causes the virus to infect whitetails.  This work is extremely important to deer breeders and sportsman alike because large numbers of deer can die from EHD and Blue Tongue each year whether they are in breeding operations or in the wild.  The deaths in the wild may go largely unnoticed because when a deer is sick it seeks out dense cover to hide in.  If they die there, within days the carcass is reduced to bones in the heat of summer.  In the fall during hunting season the remains would seldom be discovered.

LSU has taken a different approach to their research at their newly established Wildlife Institute.  Vaccines produced so far have been largely unsuccessful.  Instead of culturing the virus from infected deer to produce a vaccine, they will determine why the virus doesn't infect the deer if injected into them.  For the deer to become infected it seems that the gnat has to bite them.  They believe that there may be a component of the saliva that is triggering something that allows the virus to become infectious in the animal.  If they can isolate what causes the infection, they can produce a vaccine that can be challenge-tested.  If successful, this may be the first vaccine that is actually effective in controlling these devastating diseases.  If a vaccine can be produced and made for oral use, it may prove to be very important in preventing catastrophic deaths in the wild.

Any sportsman that loves the whitetail and wants to keep a healthy population to hunt should be interested in this new research.  If you know of anyone, a company or organization that can help with funding please contact me and I'll get you in touch with someone at LSU that will be happy for the assistance.  Their research facility will not be a fancy new building.  Their money will go to staff and equipment.  It will not be wasted.  They have been very eager to work with our Whitetails of Louisiana organization.  We hope to form a close working relationship with them because we see first hand how devastating this disease is.  Thanks for your interest in this new era of EHD research.

EHD research on the Culicoides sp. midge

I'm trapping insects every 2 weeks until it freezes for the summer and fall of 2012 at our Whitetail Rack Ranch for LSU.  LSU established a new Wildlife Institute under their Ag Dept and will be doing intensive EHD research.  If you have information on which species of the Culicoides are in your area at various times of the year and which serotype of EHD or BT please let me know.  The data will be valuable to their study.  They have suggested that the reason the current vaccines are not very effective is that there is a component that is yet undiscovered causing the infectious stage of the virus.  LSU has injected the pure virus into deer without them getting sick.  Culicoides biting the deer does get them sick.  They believe there is something going on with the insect that causes the infection.  It could be a component of the saliva.  A breakthrough in what triggers the virus to become infectious will be a huge step towards producing a vaccine that can be challenge tested.  If it works, we can all benefit from an effective vaccine.  I'll be happy to forward information to them but it has to be EHD cases that have been verified through a diagnostic lab.  Thanks!!!

Buck attitudes changing in early August

Seeing a very subtle change in attitude among my bucks at Whitetail Rack Ranch. A little more aggression and paying a little more attention to does in the other pens. They must be starting to think about what's coming up!! Our Captain Crunch will immediately go into solitary confinement when he sheds velvet. When I'm feeding him cookies I'm beginning to see the tendency for him to roll those eyes! He doesn't like me touching his antlers anymore. They are a little more aloof and not quite as good buddies now. We'll be cutting antlers off before long. Sad not to be able to watch them in their glory this winter.

EHD Treatment with Dexamethasone

I've had a few EHD cases. Having good luck with Dexamethasone. I had it compounded to 12mg/ml. I can give a strong 24mg dose in a 2cc dart. In my opinion most people I know using Dexamethasone aren't hitting them hard enough. I discussed dosage with my vet and that's what has been working for us. I can shoot dex once and usually see improvement the next day. Talk to your vet about dosages and compounding. Be sure to give it with an antibiotic. It's been a miracle drug for me. I may give dex for several days if necessary but I'll give a bump of the antibiotics a few days after the initial dose.

Cattle Rubs for EHD control on Deer

If you get Deer Tracking Magazine I wrote an article for the summer 2012 edition.  It's on using cattle rubs for insect control.  I've had amazing results using them since 2009 to repel insects from the animals.   I don't sell the rubs or get a commission.  I'm just giving you free information on a way I've found to reasonably control insects on my deer.  You can view full information on how to use them, where to get them and how they work.  Check my Facebook Notes on Charles DeerMan Black at the following link to see more.
https://www.facebook.com/deermancharlesblack#!/notes/charles-deerman-black/ehd-solution-cattle-rubs-for-deer-insect-control/282328211856247

X-Factor and Friends July 1, 2012

X-Factor is growing much bigger this year.  If he can carry his antlers without damaging them he should easily break is 580" record from last year.  Hope you enjoy the pictures.  Follow us on Facebook to see more at https://www.facebook.com/XFactorDeer

X-Factor and Friends April 7, 2012

Here they are!!! A great start to a new year. Watch as X-Factor and his friends grow each week. Contact me for semen from these great bucks.


X-Factor



Fear Factor

Geyser

Gold Dust

Max Factor

Travis



X-Treme



Cattle Rubs for Deer Insect Control

Culicoidesa sixteenth-inch-long female biting midge
(''Culicoides sonorensis'') feeding on blood delivered through
artificial membrane developed for mass insect rearing
|Source=Agricultural Resource Service:
([http://www.ars.usda.gov/is/g

One of the things I do to help control the Culicoides gnat that is the vector carrying the EHD and Blue Tongue viruses is to use cattle rubs.  You have to understand deer behavior and use the rubs a certain way to be effective.  Deer don’t like things on their back.  I can use my fingers to just rub on their back like I’m tickling them and they will nearly go down to the ground moving away from the stimulus.  I think it may be response from instinct because of predators.  I’ll explain how I use rubs made by the P.H. White Company.  I don’t sell the products or get a commission from them.  I’m giving you the information because I’m convinced it saves deer lives.

In using the cattle rubs, you need to compensate for this behavior.  Cattle use back rubs by walking up to them in the pasture and rubbing on them.  My deer don’t use them that way.  I have to force them to utilize the rubs.  Deer are different in behavior just like we humans.  Some don’t mind the rubs on their backs but most do.  Using the rub alone will result in poor success.  You have to use ‘flyps’, the name for strips, made to attach to the rubs.  The rubs I’ve seen using rope wicks don’t hold enough material.  The flyps are made of thick polyester that stays very wet.

 I ordered my back rubs from Jeffers Vet Supply using the rub and flyps. I use diesel and a permethrin product Ultra Boss.  Ultra Boss also contains piperonyl butoxide.  It is an organic compound that works as a synergist to make the permethrin last longer and makes it much more effective.  It's marketed for cattle. As always, check with your veterinarian for their suggestions on using anything that may be off-label use.  As a wildlife biologist with a lot of graduate study research on deer behavior, I’m ashamed to say I didn’t notice a very important indication of how effective it was.  We’ve been using the rubs since 2009.  Last year we were putting them up in May like we normally do.  The mosquitoes had been so bad that we were breathing them into our noses.  The deer had blood-filled mosquitoes all over their face and ears.  A week after putting the rubs up we still had the mosquitoes swarming us but the deer were almost completely mosquito free!  None of them had mosquitoes on their faces.  The only place we saw any were on their lower legs and even then there would only be one or two.  I should have noticed it years before.  I believe the diesel is a repellant because the insecticide doesn’t have repellent properties.  I used mineral oil instead of diesel on my breeder buck rubs to see if there was any irritation.  The mineral oil didn’t have a noticeable difference on the skin, hair or antlers but I didn’t see the repellent properties.  I even tried mixing citronella oil in the mineral oil but diesel works much better.

The deer have to be forced to go through the rub.  My feeders have a 16x16 cover.  I put deer fence wire around it and covered the wire with fabric to prevent injury in case they get spooked while inside.  My water source is also in most of the enclosures.

I start out with a new rub, without the mixture, hanging as high as I can get it, usually 7 or 8 feet. I hang it where the deer will have to use an opening to go in for the food or water. After a day or so I'll start lowering it a little each day until I get it to the height I want.  I let them use it at that height first. Then I charge it with the mixture. I haven't had any problems with the deer not using it. The key to success is using the flyps.  I make my openings about 30-32” from the ground.  I tie the rub along the bottom wire of the opening to prevent sagging.   The flyps coat the deer with the mixture even for the ones that won’t touch their back on the rubs.  It takes about 4 gallons of mixture for the new rubs.  If you use last year’s rubs it takes about 2 gallons the first time.  Keeping them wet takes about a gallon every week or two.  I make sure my flyps have enough to drip at the bottom.  I also buy extra flyps and tie them closer together.  I want them close enough together to get the fawns too.  Look at the pictures and check the links for Jeffer’s.  Tractor Supply usually has some too but you may need more than they keep in stock. 

GOOD LUCK!  HOPE THIS HELPS!

I make opening about 32" from the ground so the flyps
will be just a few inches off the ground.

I add fabric to protect the deer in case they get spooked
while inside.  Fold the fabric from the opening up the other
side and fasten it.  This will keep the flyps from hanging
up on the wire when a deer flips them up by going through.

I start off with a new, dry rub w/o the diesel mixture.  I lower
it every day or so until I get it to the height I want.  This
allows the deer to get used to it.

Once I get the rub at the height I want I tie it several places
along the bottom wire to keep it from sagging.  I let the deer
go through w/o the mixture to get used to it at that height
and then add the diesel mixture to it.

I keep the rubs wet enough to have the flyps drip the mixture
from the ends.  That way the animals get the mixture over
most of their body.  It also covers the fawns well.

My deer have no problem using the rub.  Captain Crunch lets it rub  his
 back but most won't.  You can see some of the flyps are turned up.
Without fabric on the fence the flyps get hung up on the wire. I cut two
vertical lines down each side of the fabric to create the opening.  Then
I take the lower piece of fabric and pull it up the other side of the fence
and fasten it so that the fence is covered on both sides above the rub.
That way the flyps won't have anything to hang up on.

From this picture you can see Joey using the rub.  This rub
has been set up property so the flyps don't hang up on the
wire.  The flyps cover the deer from antlers to tail.

Semen Package for 300" to 580" bucks for $333/straw!!!!

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