The Accidental Smallholder Forum

Livestock => Sheep => Topic started by: Blackbird on July 13, 2016, 05:13:06 pm

Title: Update - It's been a bad week
Post by: Blackbird on July 13, 2016, 05:13:06 pm

Brother-in-law died last Tuesday. Lost my favourite sheep on Wednesday - Basil the GFD wether in my profile pic, always ran up for a cuddle, baa-ing and pleased to see me. I saw he wasn't grazing or peeing, gave him a shot of AB and called vet. Despite more ABs and anti-inflammatories, he went downhill very quickly and I decided the kindest thing was to have him put to sleep. Suspected bladder stone although he'd never had hard feed. FUneral of a dear friend Monday.

Finally had remaining sheep shorn last Thursday and this morning found one of the Shetland ewes with an abscess under her jaw. Vet suspects CLA caught by shearing. However, when vet arrived, sheep leapt out of the pen into the big field and couldn't be caught so I still don't know. I thought CLA had a long incubation period and am hoping against hope it is just a normal abscess from a shearing cut. I understand that if it is CLA and abscess ruptures she can infect the others and I could lose them all. Fingers crossed.  :gloomy: :tired:

Title: Re: It's been a bad week
Post by: cans on July 13, 2016, 06:32:03 pm

 :hug:

Title: Re: It's been a bad week
Post by: SallyintNorth on July 13, 2016, 07:55:28 pm

 :hug:

Title: Re: It's been a bad week
Post by: Rosemary on July 13, 2016, 08:12:40 pm

 :bouquet: :hug:

Title: Re: It's been a bad week
Post by: Marches Farmer on July 13, 2016, 09:10:19 pm

That IS a bad week.  BUT Basil had a great life, by the sound of it and check out CLA info for sites of abscesses.

Title: Re: It's been a bad week
Post by: Bramblecot on July 13, 2016, 10:13:07 pm

You are having a rotten time  :hug: .  My GFD wether is Archie and also a cuddly boy, some of them get into your soul.

Title: Re: It's been a bad week
Post by: desertmum on July 17, 2016, 07:01:30 pm

that is a bad week  :hug:  hope things improve and the abcess is easily resolved

Title: Re: It's been a bad week
Post by: silkwoodzwartbles on July 17, 2016, 09:38:32 pm

*Hugs* I hope this week is better for you :fc:

Title: Update: It's been a bad week
Post by: Blackbird on July 25, 2016, 11:24:06 am

Thank you for all your hugs and thoughts, people. Ewe's abscess did rupture so whisked the other sheep out of the field. Vet came and flushed it out (yuck!) and took sample of pus and blood. Pus sample has come back negative (still waiting for blood sample) but vet thinks 99.9% certain that it is not CLA. Ewe now back in with the others and very happy. So very relieved! Sheep eh? who'd have 'em....  :relief:

Title: Re: Update - It's been a bad week
Post by: waterbuffalofarmer on July 25, 2016, 12:12:40 pm

I am so sorry to hear this [member=25931]Blackbird[/member] It all sounds dreadful. Sometimes life just throws bad stuff in your way and you have to try and cope with it. I hope things get better for you soon and keep smiling :hug: :hug: