I started to put this on another thread, but then, reconsidered , not knowing how it might go over.
Most importantly, not wanting to 'high jack' someone else's thread, I started my own.

Many times I read about someone catching a certain animal out of season in a trap or snare and then releasing it on site.
The animal scurries away, perhaps not to be seen again . . .perhaps caught at a later date by you or another.
Most times it's the former.

I have always been an advocate on using drugs to combat and /or reduce infection and /or swelling on animal released from traps and /or snares.
It isn't a popular subject because most trappers I've met, don't want to be bothered.
Why go to the time and expense on an animal they may never see again ?
Many never give it a second though.

Still, it has been my experience that animals that spend any length of time in a trap ( padded, offset or otherwise ) or a snare,
do occur some type of injury beneath the skin, whether you see it or not !
Not uncommon to see a video, where a trapper removes an animal from it's capture and shows (saying ), "See, no broken bones or damage".
When in fact, should that animal be penned up overnight . . . now we often see a different story.
If you kill the animal : no problem , however if it is released, ie : accidental / out of season catch , often times that animal, that appeared to have no injury, has one.
This happens because swelling and infection aren't always visible, especially when it is underneath the skin .
I have penned up snared mink , fox, coyote and yes, even beaver that showed no sign , except for a wear in the fur,
only to have it bust wide open with infection several days later.
Usually to have the animal end up dying. Much to my regret.

Ask someone who traps for the 'Live Market' , how important it is to have healthy animals and you will find that most do use some form of a drug or another.
Anyone who knows of or has seen a DVD from Dr. Bob (This word is unacceptable on Trapperman) DVM , (who has done his share of Live Market' trapping) , knows his thoughts on the subject.
I have been one to follow suit, even though our 'Live Market' here in Ohio has long been outlawed.

I am (after 55 years and 21 states ) not so much a fur trapper as I am an A D C trapper.
In this type of trapping, as with any other, unwanted catches are not uncommon.
There are several drugs I use on my trap line, however the two I use the most are : Penicillin and Dexamethasone

If you are unfamiliar with the drugs and their usage, Google will tell you everything you need to know.

I happen to live in a state that has a closed season on Bobcat, and in my area, very few Red Foxes and you can't find a Grey Fox with a search warrant.
Once upon a time, we had plenty of both, and no coyotes.
Time has changed all that.

My position is this : if you are making an effort to save an animal, then save the animal.
Releasing a fisher or a bobcat out of season from a trap or snare without any consideration of it's aftermath, simply seems unimaginable, to me at least.
I have penned up too many animals captured to witness the after effects without any 'anti inflammatory ' drugs to help the healing process, should it be necessary.
Is every animal captured injured to the point it needs to be administered a type of drug before it's release ?
We can all argue that. Still for me personally , I don't even release a summer caught fox, without it.
A bobcat will be no question.

I don't expect a warm welcome to on the concept.
Not from a trapper who won't even add so much as an extra swivel on his traps, I won't.
Still, there are some trappers who care about the bobcats and other animals they release and want to give them the best shot at recovery.
I am one.

How would average Joe get penicillin?
I thought it was prescription only ?
Or dexamethasone?

You can get it from a local Vet.Some dog owners with several hunting dogs usually have a bottle on hand.I live market so I keep a bottle on hand.

A bottle of Dex. Sorry

Well?? I'm very interested, I carry dewormer in my truck as well as a can of raid to try to help with the parasite load as well as lice and ticks. I know they recovered as they were easy to recognize and were harvested a year to a few years after being released.
What dosage would you use for Dex on cats and fox? I spend alot of time on farms and they all have ample supplies of needed meds.

I can buy a number of drugs, including Penicillin at our local Farming Co-Op.
I understand that's not everywhere.
I would tell you ,( if we were standing in the middle of a field ) where to get it and more, but
I don't say everything I know on an open forum.
What I will say above a whisper is : Get to know a DMV, good. Real good.

As I had said earlier, not everyone will make the effort to save , say , an animal caught during a closed season.
In fact, few people actually, but some will.
To most, just turning it loose and watching it run away , is enough.
I'm not one of those people and that based on my experience.
I never release a coyote or a raccoon . . . ever !
I don't kill foxes, because we have so few. Bobcat, same issue, but a closed season on those.
When they get in a coyote set. . .and they will, I do my best to make sure that animal sees another day (so to speak).at to go to a place like Maryland
No one asked me to do it. Who would care, but I do. I'm paid to kill animals, not just every animal, every place.
If foxes ever make a comeback, I might trap some again. Be great to travel to a place like Western Pa, or Maryland that has huge numbers of fox.
But, I digress. . .

I generally give a cc a cc and a half to a coyote.A grey fox about a half. Can’t say that’s enough of too much but that’s what I do.As far as worming I do not do that .

Ivermectin (the cattle worm medicine ) is by far the best 'wormer' out there
And will kill every internal and external parasite on the host animal.
Very safe use and very forgiving. Meaning a slight overdose isn't a threat.
I've used it on domestic rabbits for ear mites,

However, can NOT, maybe should not , be given to a cat, Any cat !

Never thought about doctoring something I caught, but you make a valid point about helping them have the best chance of survival after being caught.

Only thing I have set free so far is a half grown bobcat.
Like you, I dispatch every coyote and coon that I catch. And possums do not get a pass either

. . . and that's the very ones you want to see again.

Ibuprofin in people, can't say about dog's.

asprin can be used if you want to throw a pill down a critters throat
ivomec(cattle) also works well a cc orally or injected under the skin (not in muscle tissue) or use the pour on sheep drench between the shoulder blades works too

Intramuscular and/or a steroid injection directly into the trauma area will yield the best results. It still requires a few days for the injection to show good results. It much better to use the best equipment and shorten your check times to reduce the stress time.

I am with LT. I wouldn't think one would fare very well doing an oral administration of any meds on a wild predator unless they were sedated.