The Accidental Smallholder Forum
Livestock => Sheep => Topic started by: Imafluffybunny on July 17, 2015, 11:20:02 am
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I have a 3 month old lamb who is feeling a bit sorry for himself, his head and ears are down and he isn't eating any hard feed. He is grazing however and still wandering around with the flock. He has been thoroughly checked over and no strike can be seen, it looks like his droppings are loose however.
Before I go down the vet route, is there anything obvious I can give him? He is fully vaccinated with Heptivac, wormed about a month ago and still on mum. All other lambs and ewes are fine.
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Have you Clik'd him? Flystrike is the most likely cause of problems at present. I do our lambs as soon as I see six greenbottles in the course of a day. Have you taken his temperature? If it's raised it's likely to be an infection and the vet is in order.
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I know you have thought of the first three most obvious things, but this is what springs to my mind :
Flystrike - any twitching or shuddering?
Worms
Clostridials
Feet - any limping?
Joints - any swellings?
Eaten something poisonous (hence runny poos)
Any lumps abscesses around, including in the mouth?
and as Marches says - check temp.
Other than that I would ring the vets and have a chat
Good luck!
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His temperature is 39.4
They were treated with crovect 4 weeks ago, had a really good look and can't see any strike, no twitching/scratching etc.
He isn't lame and can see nothing to suggest illness other than being down in the dumps and a little evidence on his wool of loose poo.
I will give my vet a ring thanks
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Could be worms - with the on-off hot/cold weather you could have suddenly had a large hatch. Esp if he has loose poo.
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Thanks all, after speaking to my vet we have treated him for coccidiosis and also given a dose of penicillin. He has perked up already and was enthusiastically eating tonight.