The Accidental Smallholder Forum

Livestock => Sheep => Topic started by: thesuffolksmallholding on December 22, 2017, 05:46:25 pm

Title: Ewe with mucus around eyes.
Post by: thesuffolksmallholding on December 22, 2017, 05:46:25 pm
Hi,
I have a in lamb ewe around a month of lambing now, with lots of mucus around the bottom of the eye (where humans generally get mucus don't know what to call it?!).
She is a southdown but clear of wool around the eyes.
What should I do, I was going to give her a shot of almaycin just in case, but she's fine in every other way.
 
Title: Re: Ewe with mucus around eyes.
Post by: shep53 on December 22, 2017, 07:20:14 pm
Google pink eye ?
Title: Re: Ewe with mucus around eyes.
Post by: Fleecewife on December 22, 2017, 08:52:43 pm
A pus-y discharge from the eye needs to be treated with a local application of something such as Orbenin, not a systemic antibiotic.  'Just in case' doses of AntiBs can contribute to the development of resistance.  Don't be scared to use AntiBs where they are genuinely needed, but it's not best practice to give a shot of this or that just in case it works.
I suggest you mention it to your vet, maybe take the animal to the surgery (cheaper than a home visit), and the vet can prescribe the correct product, having seen the eyes, which we have not.
Title: Re: Ewe with mucus around eyes.
Post by: bj_cardiff on December 23, 2017, 06:37:38 am
Its difficult to say without a picture. Are you able to catch her easily? If you are I'd wash the area with a baby shampoo, check that there isn't anything there that shouldn't be and see how fast the gunk comes back. If you (like me) aren't able to catch then I'd wait and see if it cleared up on its own or gets worse. Then the whole flock would have to come in to split off the ewe, if you do that and its something contagious like Pink Eye, you risk infecting the whole flock by penning them in together.
Title: Re: Ewe with mucus around eyes.
Post by: Marches Farmer on December 23, 2017, 10:52:28 am
I've occasionally taken a clear photograph of problem areas in an animal and taken it in to my vet.  Might work better than moving a pregnant ewe if you don't want the expense of a home visit.  Have you pulled down the bottom lid and pulled up the upper lid to see of the white of the eye is inflamed?
Title: Re: Ewe with mucus around eyes.
Post by: pharnorth on December 23, 2017, 03:03:18 pm
Agree with [member=4333]Fleecewife[/member] on this, it is not one for systemic antibiotics, at least not without a Vet saying so. Antibiotic resistance is a serious global threat and while it shouldn't stop us using it wisely for an eye a topical is better used than systemic. Anyway, no doubt you have spoken to a Vet by now so I would be interested to hear the outcome. 
Title: Re: Ewe with mucus around eyes.
Post by: thesuffolksmallholding on December 23, 2017, 06:46:00 pm
[member=4333]Fleecewife[/member] my vet recommended using alamycin if a ewe isn't looking 100%. I wouldn't give it if I didn't think a ewe needed it. With regards to resistance, alamycin has been around for 40+ years, and there are few operations with resistance.
I will bring the ewe in tomorrow and wash her eye out to see if she has something stuck in there etc...