The Accidental Smallholder Forum

Livestock => Sheep => Topic started by: JadeL on June 16, 2020, 11:39:47 pm

Title: New Lamb Coughing
Post by: JadeL on June 16, 2020, 11:39:47 pm
Hi everyone, hoping someone can help me!

I’ve just bought 3 wether lambs that came at the weekend.
I noticed the day after that one was coughing but soon got over it and haven’t heard anything since.

Today I’ve been doing some paddock maintenance and noticed he was coughing and sneezing but very infrequently.

I’ve been told by the seller that they were born Feb, have had their 2nd Heptavac and were wormed 6 weeks ago (I am going to worm them this week)

All eating (big appetites) and no other problems I can see. Neither of the other two have a cough.

Any ideas? Should I call a vet?
Title: Re: New Lamb Coughing
Post by: twizzel on June 17, 2020, 08:04:45 am
Why are you going to worm them again? Is it because the seller told you to do it or have they actually got worms? A lot of old school farmers worm their sheep far too often and have resistance problems with the different types of worm drenches because of it. You should take a poo sample from them and ask the vet to do an egg count, then only worm if the vet advises.


Your lambs could have a touch of pneumonia so it might be worth the vet coming to see them (and you can talk about worms to them too!) it could equally be nothing to worry about but best to get checked out as moving is stressful on them.
Title: Re: New Lamb Coughing
Post by: Buttermilk on June 17, 2020, 08:40:10 am
If it is eating well, ears up and happy I would just monitor the cough at the moment.  Any loss of appetite or ears drooping then take to the vet.  A phone call to the vet about egg counts and cough is cheap as long as you are registered with them.
Title: Re: New Lamb Coughing
Post by: SallyintNorth on June 17, 2020, 09:34:21 am
Quote from: Buttermilk on June 17, 2020, 08:40:10 am
If it is eating well, ears up and happy I would just monitor the cough at the moment.  Any loss of appetite or ears drooping then take to the vet.  A phone call to the vet about egg counts and cough is cheap as long as you are registered with them.

And if you have livestock you must be registered with a vet.
Title: Re: New Lamb Coughing
Post by: Buttermilk on June 17, 2020, 07:09:24 pm
Quote from: SallyintNorth on June 17, 2020, 09:34:21 am
Quote from: Buttermilk on June 17, 2020, 08:40:10 am
If it is eating well, ears up and happy I would just monitor the cough at the moment.  Any loss of appetite or ears drooping then take to the vet.  A phone call to the vet about egg counts and cough is cheap as long as you are registered with them.

And if you have livestock you must be registered with a vet.
A very new livestock owner may not yet be registered.  The sheep only arrived at the weekend.