The Accidental Smallholder Forum
Livestock => Sheep => Topic started by: ThomasR on December 26, 2014, 08:59:38 am
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These little scab like things have just appeared on some of my sheep one has it really bad. I have tried spraying it with cyclo but I'm not sure what it is I will get some pictures up but if it were off I would have
Imagined that all of them would have it. Also while I'm posting a rented ram has a cut on its nose and it has finally stoped bleeding what do I do now?
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I have got one exactly the same and also has pink eye. She is eating hay and has had Orf earlier this year which was treated but hoping its not come back -didn't think it would do so quick after being infected. The scabs are dry tho so wonder if its old scar tissue and just pink eye. Interested in any replys.
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Two photos just taken of my lamb. She is munching hay - is yours like this?
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Orf maybe?
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I can't make out the pictures clear enough.
However, if an animal has had orf then it should be immune and not get it again. If the scabs are dry and causing no problem then it's most likely not orf. Some sheep get scabs on their face when grazing near thistles. It gets mistaken for orf but isn't, and never turns into the horrible bleeding, painful, highly infectious scabby growths of true orf, which once seen are never again mistaken.
As for pink eye, or any eye infection - I find best treatment is Orbenin. It's a long acting antibiotic for eyes, so only needs one application (normally) and is obtainable from the vet. To administer - pull the lower eyelid down and apply to that. DO NOT try to apply straight to the eyeball or you run the risk of poking the animal in the eye when it struggles.
Zwartbles - possibly yours is orf, as you say that one is really bad. Could have come from your rented ram.
An easy treatment is mix sulphur powder (or flowers of sulphur broken up) with a roughly equal quantity of salt and let the sheep help themselves. It doesn't work immediately, but it always does work, and you'll suddenly find in about a week that the scabs are drying up and going.
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Landroverory - I was interested in your treatment for orf, the sulphur mix. Where would you get the sulphur powder or flowers of sulphur from? Sorry if this is a stupid question but do the sheep lick the mixture or do you put it on the areas affected by orf? My sheep has strawberry foot rot that I can't get rid of and that apparently is partly caused by the orf virus. Hers is at the back of her hoof. Thank you
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I have got one exactly the same and also has pink eye. She is eating hay and has had Orf earlier this year which was treated but hoping its not come back -didn't think it would do so quick after being infected. The scabs are dry tho so wonder if its old scar tissue and just pink eye. Interested in any replys.
I didn't think sheep got orf twice. Also did you know that orf comes from the same family as the herpes virus? Have you consulted your vet?
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The most important thing to remember that Orf is a zoonose and thus can be caught my humans.... beware when handling.
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I'm not sure what it might be as it is not like over photos and is possibly clearing away with cyclo spray but can't really tell yet. The ones that are not yet visibly effected I sprayed as well just in case. Will get pics tomorrow.
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You can buy sulphur from a chemist or (probably cheaper) from an agricultural feed/general products store. The latter usually stock it as it is commonly mixed with pig oil to get rid of leg mites and rain scald in hairy cobs.
You mix it with salt and leave it in a container for the sheep to help themselves, which they do quite readily because of the salt.
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You can buy sulphur from a chemist or (probably cheaper) from an agricultural feed/general products store. The latter usually stock it as it is commonly mixed with pig oil to get rid of leg mites and rain scald in hairy cobs.
You mix it with salt and leave it in a container for the sheep to help themselves, which they do quite readily because of the salt.
Could you use antibiotic spray on it?
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It is a virus. Antibiotic spray may help vs secondary bacterial infections but nothing more - like every other cure (and there are hundreds at least) it will work in a few weeks. Salt licks are said to help reduce spread but as for cure take your pick they all work equally well.
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so if I go into the vets what do I ask for? A local farmer told me teramycine spray is what to get. not sure on how to spell it. ::)
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A long wait?
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Hi Zwartbles - Just spoken to my vet and she said a sheep can get Orf twice just like humans can get warts or verrucas etc twice. She said mine is probably Orf. Not a lot can do apart I have to give mine a Terramycin jab as she was infected quite badly last time but not to inject as routine for any others that may get it. I am keeping her apart from the others but sadly I cant isolate the rest from the paddock/shelter when Ithey start lambing so will just have to spray with formaldehyde and spread lime. Hope yours are ok this morning - we have a lot of snow and that helps kill the virus in exposed areas :wave:
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I know this may sound a bit stupid, but what is orf caused by?
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Thanks for all the help it seems to be getting better (touch wood). just daily aplication of cyclo spray.
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My daughter currently has chicken poks, she is four. Think of orf in a similar way, clearly covering her in blue spray will not significantly speed her recovery and spraying her brother head to foot is unlikely to prevent him from picking it up either.
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I know this may sound a bit stupid, but what is orf caused by?
Caused by a parapox virus. The alternative name of contagious pustular dermatitis gives you a good idea of the overall effect.
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My daughter currently has chicken poks, she is four. Think of orf in a similar way, clearly covering her in blue spray will not significantly speed her recovery and spraying her brother head to foot is unlikely to prevent him from picking it up either.
On the upside, it would be incredibly cool to have little smurfs running around
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Yeah and it would stop them complaining!
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How dangerous for the growing lambs if the tup is still in after 6 weeks as he was seperated and has now just jumped a double stranded barbed wire fence to get at them no problem. cleared it like a horse jumping.
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Pics of the tup
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Looks like Orf but was not like the Orf my lambs had earlier this year but I suppose it comes in all shapes and sizes as its a virus like warts and verruca's and these do that. Have a websearch of some Images of Orf pages on the internet to compare.
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The sulphur powder has not worked along with the blue spray and the alamycin. Nettex orph paste is on its way but i think the orph hase been secondarilly infected. What can i doo will have pis up but it's allot worse than the other pic i posted.
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will have pis up .
and why not
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The sulphur powder has not worked along with the blue spray and the alamycin. Nettex orph paste is on its way but i think the orph hase been secondarilly infected. What can i doo will have pis up but it's allot worse than the other pic i posted.
If it is orf you can't expect it to go straight away. Orf often has to 'run its course.' If he's had alamycin and the antibiotic is in his system, you'll just have to wait. :)
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we use a homeopathic oral spray . but as you say it runs its course
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Hi beagh-suffolks! What is the homeopathic oral spray you use? Is it for orf?
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When it comes to things like Orf when the vets say "its a virus mate" everyone wants antibiotics/snake oil/homeopathy/witchcraft and damn the price!
If it is secondarily infected it is despite the sulphur, antibiotic spray and Alamycin which has already been thrown at it. Can we say officially now on TAS that antibiotics do not cure Orf and save people the expense, the animals the stress of handling and injecting and the increased risk of antibiotic resistance? :raining:
Probably, the disease has done its worst by now and it will begin the healing process. Your vet would be an ideal person to talk to, most don't charge for phone advice :hugsheep:
A piss up is probably your best option equally effective, more enjoyable..
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From experience, Nettex Bactocyde sprayed on daily helps speed up the healing and stops it spreading.
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I've seen two cases of orf this year, both in ram lambs. The first time my partner talked me into doing blue spray, despite my "it's a virus!" protests. The orf was all gone in two weeks. The second time I resisted and didn't do anything other than watch the ram lamb closely to make sure it wasn't spreading and that he was still eating his hay. And the orf was all gone in two weeks :thumbsup: