Author Topic: Sudden change in Sheep (Read 3189 times)

babysham · « **on:** November 09, 2014, 09:08:46 am »

My little flock were looking so healthy a week ago and over the last couple of days their eyes have become dull and a couple look to be crying. Cannot see any bottle jaw or scabby ears but they are lethargic. I am going to get some fluke stuff tomorrow from the vet as our top field is very boggy and has rushes. Moving them onto a lush green small field today with a mineral bucket - should I do anything else? I was going to take in a whether today but would it be better to hold on to him a while? Thanks.

Hellybee · « **Reply #1 on:** November 09, 2014, 01:06:58 pm »

Have they're else any condition, dry bums etc ?

bigchicken · « **Reply #2 on:** November 09, 2014, 01:36:54 pm »

Could they have an eye infection, thinking of the early stages of pink eye.

babysham · « **Reply #3 on:** November 09, 2014, 04:49:44 pm »

No dry bums and not due for worming. Never had one with pink eye so don't know about it?

shep53 · « **Reply #4 on:** November 09, 2014, 06:43:07 pm »

Google pink eye to see if the symptoms match, your description sounds right

moony · « **Reply #5 on:** November 09, 2014, 06:52:47 pm »

We have got a few with pink eye at the moment in the 40 we have at one place and its an absolute nightmare. Ours got dipped as they were itching a lot a fortnight ago and a small number had runny eyes a couple of days after, which we stupidly put down to them getting cold that day. As it happens it was the start of pink eye. Not sure whether they caught it from the place they were being dipped, or whether the dip just flared it up on a carrier but we now have some running round completely blind and others that just won't move. It's the worst possible time of year and all have dropped some condition with it. Jabbed them and had a go with cream which is pretty hard in the tamest of sheep and am hoping they soon pick up and regain their sight fully.

Marches Farmer · « **Reply #6 on:** November 09, 2014, 07:40:35 pm »

That's bad luck! Only seen it once in our closed flock and it arrived out of the blue, one ewe affected and never seen it again - most odd.

Foobar · « **Reply #7 on:** November 10, 2014, 09:55:08 am »

Could have got an infection (conjunctivitis) from a bit of hay or something getting into an eye, and then it spreads very quickly to the other sheep. Discharge and cloudy eyes are the symptoms - you need antibiotic cream from the Vet (or an injection, or spray, as per your vets instructions).

babysham · « **Reply #8 on:** November 10, 2014, 02:00:46 pm »

Thanks everyone - Just about to fluke them now and going to check each of their eyes more closely as it does sound as if this could be the case of some with pink eye.