[Katrina]

Hi  I was wondering if anyone had experience of coccidiosis in a Ewe.  I bought a Ewe a few months back and she started scouring and to cut a long story short, after being treated for worms and then fluke, the vet called to say the Fec count came back very high for Cocci.  She said it's very rare in Ewes,  that she would have come with it and gave me treatment my small flock.  Today I saw this ewe has lost fleece around her tail, it is just falling off her.  The skin is fine, not scally or sore.  Is this part of Cocci?  I have tried to investigate the disease but can not find out much and it always refers to small lambs 

[Hellybee]

Sheep sometimes after being poorly do drop fleece, due to the stress of it all, but don't Rory it will grow back just make sure she s got somewhere to go when it gets nippy x

[Katrina]

Thank you, its seems little Buttons has had a stressful time lately.  I have got quite attached to her, she is so friendly now and quite unrecognisable from 'little miss stampy' who arrived with us, I would hate for her to have another problem so soon.  Thanks for the reassurance  xx

[Hellybee]

That's ok , I got one lamb who is housed at the mo, he's done it after being poorly, he's covered in fine layer of fluff,  I shall keep him close over the winter,  whilst his fleece grows back x

[Katrina]

Ah bless the poor little lad although I bet he will enjoy the extra attention.  Had the vet out again to Buttons as she has got worse again.  Now had blood tests and engemycin to rule out every option but she thinks if they come back ok and there is no response to the medicine, it must be some gut damage from when she was younger. Fingers crossed she starts to improve 

[Hellybee]

What's her body score like, hope she improves x

[Katrina]

Not good at scoring but I think 2.5  not too thin but can feel the backbone.  She does seem to go up and down, but it would be great if she could keep weight on and stay steady.  Vet is happy she is bright and eating well, temperature is fine, not too thin.  It's the scouring with blood that is worrying and the fact she is slowly losing condition.

[Hellybee]

Has he said anything about deficiencies, b vits and SC? X

[Katrina]

No they have not said anything about that.  I will look into it. Thanks xx

[Hellybee]

You could also put some apple cider vinegar (with mother) in her drinking water, you can also drench it too, 20 ml a time 1:1 acv:water got pectin in it and will help her gut walls and also kill off bacteria.  Great stuff x

[Katrina]

Definitely will give that a try.  Vet called to say all the tests have come back fine and she is at a bit of a loss why she is not ok after she has had all the treatment for everything.  Good thing today she seemed to have dried up a bit but still very bloody. I am just not sure what to feed her to keep her weight up but that definitely won't stress her or upset her guts.

[Hellybee]

Did the vet say what's best to feed her? Some nice hay and fluids, have you tried an electrolyte too.  I keep a norbrook one, it's a pink gel. 

[Katrina]

Vet is away for a few days and we were going to have a chat when she gets back.  She is happy on her hay and is eating plenty and is as bright as usual.  I haven't tried an electrolyte, I am very nervous to make her guts worse. Xx

[Hellybee]

Right enough, best wait to speak to the vet, if she is bright and eating and drinking xx

[Katrina]

Thanks for all your help Hellybee.  I don't want to tempt fate but she has stopped producing bloody mucus (well as much as I can tell with all the rain) and is almost producing pellets  Vet says to give her some pro-rumen to keep the improvement and she has taken some advice & has concluded that her gut was probably damaged when young and it is now causing her problems.  She is only allowed grass and hay, nothing else.  It seems  mean giving the others a handful of oats, or a biscuit as a treat whilst she is left out, I am having to sneak things without her seeing but the other sheep always like to let her know  If she stays well I wont breed from her now, but as she was such a good mother I will keep her around as I think she will be helpful xx