Author Topic: Heptavac P - fridge life (Read 7310 times)

plumseverywhere · « **on:** December 08, 2011, 01:03:42 pm »

Up till now my lovely vet has drawn 2 syringes up for me for my 2 goats and off I've gone and done the deed. This time though I have an bottle of the stuff, 50 mls all of my own

I know I need to use clean needle to draw up and keep entry point of ampule clean etc and as an ex-nurse have no problems injecting but...
how long can heptavacP 'live' in the fridge for?!

will have quite a few more goats come March and there's also 6 sheep mooching about so it won't go to waste but just want to know how long it can stay there for
thanks Lisa

cuckoo · « **Reply #1 on:** December 08, 2011, 01:29:19 pm »

Should say on the box / leaflet - I know once Lambivac is opened it says to use it within a certain time - less than a day I think. Or ask your vet. It is a false economy vaccinating a goat with something if it has become inactive due to being opened. This is a nuisance with just a small number of goats - when I vaccinated against blue tongue a few years ago the vet waited until a few smallholder clients needed some together and we all collected it on the same day and split the cost of one vial. I have enough goats now to warrant buying a full vial of lambivac each time without letting it go to waste - I also plan my vacc regime to cover as many goats as possible.

jaykay · « **Reply #2 on:** December 08, 2011, 01:37:24 pm »

My uhderstanding is it's 8 hours or something like that. I know we make Dad actually gather his sheep so that when we've done ours we can ferry the stuff along the road and he is ready

Violetsprite · « **Reply #3 on:** December 08, 2011, 04:41:11 pm »

I used lambivac and the vet said it would be ok for the next 6 monthly booster but discard after that - i'm hoping he knows what he's talking about

jaykay · « **Reply #4 on:** December 08, 2011, 05:21:15 pm »

Quote

Heptavac 7 in 1 Clostridial vaccine for sheep. Can also be used in pregnant ewes to aid control of the diseases in their lambs provided that the lambs receive sufficient colostrum in the first 1-2 days of life. Dose rate in sheep of all ages 2ml. When starting the Heptavac programme two doses of vaccine must be given 4-6 weeks apart, thereafter a single boost is required annually. Once opened use of the vaccine must be completed the same day. This should be taken into consideration when selecting pack size

Quote

Lambivac.........Shelf-life after first opening the container: 10 hours

SallyintNorth · « **Reply #5 on:** December 08, 2011, 09:18:48 pm »

I used Heptavac-P on the moorland farm. Yes it says use the same day but we did use it after longer than this - typically for the booster when doing the initial course. I don't think I'd rely on it much over a month to six weeks later, though. I'd be dubious not using it up till March.

That's bad news if you have 25 doses for 2 goats.

Why did the vet stop selling you just a couple of doses?

Maybe a small-scale neighbour could share with you? Or another time, would a local farmer let you have the end of his/her bottle when his/her flock is done?

plumseverywhere · « **Reply #6 on:** December 09, 2011, 08:25:10 am »

I think the vet has been issued new 'guidelines' as everytime he drew me up 2 doses he was having to bin the rest of the ampule unless by some stroke of luck another small scale animal keeper like me came along. so now I have to bin the rest of it