The Accidental Smallholder Forum

Livestock => Sheep => Topic started by: ThomasR on August 31, 2014, 08:08:58 pm

Title: WORMS
Post by: ThomasR on August 31, 2014, 08:08:58 pm
Hi
  I think that my sheep have worms as suddenly today their poo is coming out like water and am woried as they are loosing condition, have clipped away dirty wool from the efected area. Any help apreciated as am stiil in my first year of sheep.
Title: Re: WORMS
Post by: Young Ed on August 31, 2014, 08:40:02 pm
are you registered with a vet? i gave mine a call and they said they reckon i have tape worm segments but as the poo wasn't watery they don't treat for tape worm segments
if you walk round and have a good close look at poo on the ground can you see any worm looking things?

(http://d1j96f25uhu3hg.cloudfront.net/images/health/droppings/Tapeworm-Segments.jpg)
these are tape worm segments and can be treated with a white wormer, again ask your vet about this
Cheers Ed
Title: Re: WORMS
Post by: shep53 on August 31, 2014, 08:50:00 pm
First thing in the morning  you could collect a poo sample from a few of the worst sheep ,use a spoon and a freezer bag , take this to your vet as soon as they open and get some wormer ( if you haven't already got some in stock ) then dose all sheep  at the weight of the largest zw and if you bought hebs then all of them aswell at the weight of the biggest .     This is your first step and even if they don't have worms it won't hurt them,  allow a couple of days for the really bad ones to dry up   .   Your vet may advise   a product to help dry them up  and maybe rehydration if severe ,    but normally a worm dose does the job ,  probably best to go for  group 3 or 4 wormer incase of group 1or 2 resistance . But please don't hesitate as gut damage can occur which can cause long term problems
Title: Re: WORMS
Post by: ThomasR on August 31, 2014, 09:05:00 pm
Hi
Title: Re: WORMS
Post by: ThomasR on August 31, 2014, 09:05:47 pm
Hi
 The poo is just liquid nothing in it like browny green water.
Title: Re: WORMS
Post by: Porterlauren on August 31, 2014, 09:17:57 pm
FEC count and treat as / if required.
Title: Re: WORMS
Post by: Anke on August 31, 2014, 09:42:36 pm
What about coccidyosis - are these lambs or adults?

MOst likely worms - I would treat with ivermectin (Oramec or similar) as discussed above.
Title: Re: WORMS
Post by: Me on September 01, 2014, 07:54:52 am
If it was as sudden as you say then nutritional change is more likely eg. rain on dry ground, change of field, if it took a little longer then worms maybe
Title: Re: WORMS
Post by: ScotsGirl on September 01, 2014, 08:16:09 am
I have had this problem with a young Suffolk lamb. Her poo is like water, normal dark green grass colour and she is losing weigh not surprisingly. I have wormed for cocci, all other worms inc eggs, mature, tapeworm etc and just gave her solving on Friday which has no resistance. as of last night no change.


At a loss what else to do except blood tests. Have some live yogurt and a little pro rumen last night so will check tonight for improvement.
Title: Re: WORMS
Post by: shep53 on September 01, 2014, 12:45:11 pm
If it was as sudden as you say then nutritional change is more likely eg. rain on dry ground, change of field, if it took a little longer then worms maybe
    While you may be right , the post seems to say more than just the odd one is scouring and they are loosing condition ,   a  grass flush may cause the odd 1or 2 to scour and then dry up in a few days but they shouldn't be noticeably loosing condition ,  they from other posts were very well grown ewe lambs .   worming won't hurt and if/when the egg count comes back then treatment can be rethought
I have had this problem with a young Suffolk lamb. Her poo is like water, normal dark green grass colour and she is losing weigh not surprisingly. I have wormed for cocci, all other worms inc eggs, mature, tapeworm etc and just gave her solving on Friday which has no resistance. as of last night no change.


At a loss what else to do except blood tests. Have some live yogurt and a little pro rumen last night so will check tonight for improvement.
      I assume you are talking to the vet , suffolks can im afraid be very bad  for scouring , since you've given  every treatment , then maybe its internals are damaged .. Has    oral rehydration /  a binder been discussed  , Suffolks can also have a problem with low copper ,   low selenium has also been shown to cause loose faeces
Title: Re: WORMS
Post by: ScotsGirl on September 01, 2014, 01:23:09 pm
I have to say not very confident in vet. Can you recommend a binding agent? Used to use kaolin somehow but can't remember where to get it and how it's mixed. Will give a bit more pro rumen tonight as that has copper and other vits in plus maybe some mineral drench. I have spoken to vet but not getting far. It's not a normal Suffolk scour. She s eating well though.
Title: Re: WORMS
Post by: Foobar on September 01, 2014, 02:27:41 pm
I put a link on your previous posting for Kaolin...Fane Valley sell it.
Title: Re: WORMS
Post by: shep53 on September 01, 2014, 06:32:53 pm
These are home remedies , but work for sheep and humans   PEPTO BISMOL  works I use it occasionally , was recommended by friend and ive read about its use in an American book ,   CHARCOAL  can work also usefull  for rhod poisoning .     APPLE CIDER VINIGAR  diluted in water contains pectin which can help stop scour   .  Flat sports drinks  can help with rehydration
Title: Re: WORMS
Post by: ThomasR on September 01, 2014, 07:05:28 pm
Hi
  thanks for all the advice, yes the lambs are very well grown as they have become mebers of the family and get at least an hour of the day spent lying down with humans and having wee chats and getting the odd tip bit like a biscuit.  I have just wormed them with endospec I think, the lable has smudge in the rain :raining: :raining:. hoping that they get better as need them in full condition for tupping :fc: :fc: :fc:. They have not moved feild but i feel that it is my fault as when i whent into the vet today they said that the sheep need worming every two months. OOPS.
Title: Re: WORMS
Post by: shep53 on September 01, 2014, 07:26:07 pm
 :thumbsup: while it wouldn't of been my choice of wormer in your situation , its a wormer .  while lambs depending on egg counts may need constant worming  , adult ewes should only need worming maybe once a year as they build up a tolerance to worms .    Do you also need to do your sheep for fluke , speak to neighbours  and your vet as if you do now is the time to start
Title: Re: WORMS
Post by: ThomasR on September 01, 2014, 08:53:01 pm
Hi shep
 The vet said that it does both fluke and worm which for now i'm just going to go with as i hope he knows what he is doing.
Title: Re: WORMS
Post by: Hellybee on September 02, 2014, 12:12:33 am
Multi fit drench too, may be some general lickbuckets I with them
Title: Re: WORMS
Post by: shep53 on September 02, 2014, 12:49:43 pm
ENDOSPEC  I hope you noticed has 2 dose rates 1 for worms  @ 1ml per 20 kg   and 1 for fluke @ 3ml per 40kg so I hope you gave your zw ewe lambs  at least 5ml preferably 6ml .             Endospec   kills  adult fluke and fluke eggs  and at this time of year immature fluke are the ones that cause damage ,  so really wouldn't be a product I would use .       Have you looked at EBLEX BETTER RETURNS  a large amount of information on all aspects of sheep keeping  :sheep:
Title: Re: WORMS
Post by: Dans on September 02, 2014, 05:15:04 pm
Or have a nosey at SCOPS (sustainable control of parasites in sheep) http://www.scops.org.uk/ (http://www.scops.org.uk/)

Dosing with a number of products all at once may not be wise, not sure how they interact with each other.

Dans
Title: Re: WORMS
Post by: ScotsGirl on September 02, 2014, 08:21:51 pm
Shep53, how much and how often do you give pepto bismol? I gave about 20ml at lunch and same tonight. Is that enough or too much? Lamb still alive so guessing not too much!
Title: Re: WORMS
Post by: shep53 on September 02, 2014, 08:37:42 pm
 I would need  to look at a bottle  ( not near at moment ) but it should say adult and child dose and a small lamb would be a child dose , I hope it helps , with small lambs, intestines can be seriously damaged by worms and recovery is very slow  :hug:
Title: Re: WORMS
Post by: ScotsGirl on September 02, 2014, 09:03:55 pm
Thanks, it gave adult dose at 30ml every half hour. Vet said it takes about a month to mend the stomach lining so i will have to be patient
Title: Re: WORMS
Post by: ThomasR on September 03, 2014, 04:31:46 pm
Hi
Thanks for all your replies but the told me to give20ml each and I think it was at 2.5percent is this right as am starting to worry.
Title: Re: WORMS
Post by: fiestyredhead331 on September 04, 2014, 09:04:05 am
we use Kaolin & Morphine as a quick fix for runny bums, available from any pharmacy, Boots etc over the counter just make sure you shake the bottle as it settles and seperates!
Title: Re: WORMS
Post by: shep53 on September 04, 2014, 08:46:58 pm
Hi
Thanks for all your replies but the told me to give20ml each and I think it was at 2.5percent is this right as am starting to worry.
   PERFECT --  endospec 2.5%  is different  , worms 10ml per 50kg       fluke  15ml  per 50kg