The Accidental Smallholder Forum
Livestock => Sheep => Topic started by: Haylo-peapod on November 04, 2012, 04:25:39 pm
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One of my old girls (8 years old) had what I can only imagine must have been a mini-seizure today.
I'd just fed her and the other girls and then suddenly she started walking stiffly like a robot with her front legs held up straight in front of her like she was marching (or doing dressage for sheep). It lasted around 20 to 30 seconds after which she stood still for a couple of minutes and then carried on as normal.
Has anyone else experienced this or know what it might have been?
I seem to recall that something similar happened with one of the ewes a few years back but I'm not sure if it is the same ewe or a different one.
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We do see things similar to this from time to time, usually when they are eating cake. I wonder if it's a ewe's reaction to having a bit of cake lodged somewhere. It seems to pass and they don't seem to do it again.
So it's probably nothing, but if you want to give her something, a good mineral drench will do no harm.
If she does it again, there may be a medical cause. There are diseases (CCN, Listeriosis, another one I'll remember as soon as I leave the computer ::)) which can cause strange gaits. Pretty much all of them are treated by antibiotics and Vitamin B. So if you think it's more than a one-off, you could give her a/bs and VitB.
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Thanks for that Sally ITN - that seems to fit the profile well - she was eating cake (and is a bit of a gannet) so I'm sure it is what you have said.
I'm pleased there is a simple explanation and that it isn't a neural problem. :thumbsup: