The Accidental Smallholder Forum
Livestock => Sheep => Topic started by: GoWest on February 13, 2012, 03:32:19 pm
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In a nutshell; my 9 yr old dry ewe has had 2 antibiotic injections over the past week to treat a crackly chest. She is still breathing at the same rate. the injections do not seem to have made a difference. Is there something underlying this?
Long version; A couple of weeks ago I noticed my 9 year old ewe was in thinner condition than what i would expect. She is a primitive type with icelandic blood. Diet; hay and strip grazing. I gave her 2 or 3 handfuls of lamb pellets to give her a boost twice a day. She seemed to have a little trouble swallowing the food. Making a few faces, curling her lip, and then not wanting to take any more. She was also a little foamy around the mouth. She seemed quieter than normal. A week ago i notice she had started to respire more quickly and suspected lung infection. No coughing. I pened her up and could feel a bump on both sides of her jaw at the same position each side.
The farm vet was called and said her chest sounded crackly, she had a slight fever and he would give her a long term anitbiotic and a second injection for a few days later. He said the bumps were teeth (rather than lumpy jaw) and he could not see/feel any obstruction that would make it hard for her to swallow. He thought that she was not really that thin and in reasonable condition.
It's 7 days since the first shot and her breathing rate has not changed (100 to 120 breaths per min). She will take some rest lying down. She walks very carefully (tripped over onto her knees the other day) she grazes carefully , not interested in hay. She will take a small quantity of pellets (less than a handful) enjoys an apple but may not finish it (she sniffs at it very fussily). Her droppings are firm. She is no longer foamy at the mouth. She is cudding.
I'm worried that because i have not yet seen an improvement that the shortness of breath may be due to something else. On the other hand she does not seem any worse.
Any comments?
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whats the hay condition? i susspect its just age catching up with her could it heat/cold? in cold there body got to work more in heat there body works hard to cool down may be?
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Have youretaken her temp? discussed a longer course of AB's with the vet?
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The hay is good and clean; all the others are enjoying it.
Temp; two vets (4 days apart) have proclaimed it as a "slight temperature [fever]"
Its possible she has found the cold snap a challenge. She now has access to temporary roofed shelter; and I will keep her in during heavy rain.
If no improvement tomorrow i will be calling the vet again by phone
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If the temp remains slightly raised it suggest that she either needs a longer course of AB's or a change.
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First thought - a change of antibiotics as kanisha suggests.
Second thought - it may not be pneumonia at all, but perhaps her heart, or lung worms (never had these so I don't know the symptoms). If it's her heart then there's not much you can do to help, sadly.
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Is it coughing? Thats normally the first symptom of lungworm. Worming it anyway might not be a bad thing.
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Poor sheep, it is possibly age catching up with her as someone else said and with the weather being so cold. Have you tried an oral vitamin drench to give her a boost?
It certainly sounds like she has a chest infection of some sort, she may need more antibiotics. A dose of wormer and a worm count may rule out lungworm.
We had a ewe coughing when on hay last year and i switched her to some haylage and seemed much better on this.
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Thanks for all replies. Vits and TLC administered to boost poorly ewe.
No coughing observed
Vet today seemed pleased that lungs sounded better than week ago; so mending slowly
A new antibiotic was administered
He also took a blood sample to rule out MV and did the wheel barrow test for OPA (negative)
Breath rate now lower (80 - 100) and temp slightly lower.
Looks promising. :)
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That all sounds very positive :sheep:
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Glad she is on the mend!!
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Oh good i was about to suggest could be MV so happy it's not.
Pnuemonia can be hard to treat especially in an older ewe, give her time she may come round, as long as she is eating something then its positive , in my experience when they stop eating that's usually a sign they've given up.
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Poor old thing passed away last night. :'(
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I'm very sorry, you did what you could :(