Chapter 27
Laws Relating to Animals on Shabbath and Yom Tov
VETERINARY TREATMENT
54.a. As mentioned in Chapter 20, paragraph 40, animals moving are muktzeh on Shabbath and Yom Tov.
54.b. Nevertheless, there are cases in which the Rabbis permitted one to move an animal to prevent it from suffering.
54.c. See further in this connection paragraphs 25, 26, 28 29, 30 and 47 above.
54.d. One should consult a competent halachic authority and obtain detailed instructions as to how, in the particular circumstances prevailing, one should proceed when an animal gives birth on Shabbath or Yom Tov.
55.a. Except as mentioned below, one may not, in treating an animal, perform any act which is forbidden on Shabbath or Yom Tov, even if it is only the subject of a Rabbinical prohibition.
55.b. One may, for the purpose of providing an animal with medical treatment, move an object which is muktzeh.
55.c. 1) As will be seen in Chapter 34 (in particular, paragraph 3 there), the Rabbis restricted the taking of medicine or medical treatment by a human being on Shabbath or Yom Tov.
2) These special restrictions do not apply to the treatment of animals.
3) One may, therefore,
- a) feed medicine to an animal,
- b) administer an intramuscular injection to an animal and
- c) put ointment on an animal’s wound.
4) One must be careful, however, not to spread the ointment, in view of what is stated in a above.
55.d. In general, one should take the advice of a properly qualified rabbi as to what one may or may not do for an animal.
