The Accidental Smallholder Forum
Livestock => Sheep => Topic started by: beeches4791 on September 15, 2019, 05:18:26 pm
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Hi there,
Hoping someone may be able to offer some advice as typically, this has happened late afternoon on a Sunday!
We've got a 3 year old Ouessant wether (Ernie) who's had an abscess appear on the side of his face. He's got black wool so we noticed something creamy coloured which has turned out to be pus. We managed to catch him and we have squeezed as much of the pus out of the wound as possible and noted that it has no smell. There appears to be what looks like a small puncture wound (or possibly this is just where the abscess has burst) and a little bit of blood then came from the wound as well. We then sprayed the area with iodine spray.
Two photos attached - apologies for the one of the pus!!
His face doesn't look swollen and he doesn't appear unwell - he's running about and eating as usual but naturally, it's difficult not to worry.
We'll ring the vets in the morning ad guessing they might suggest Pen & Strep to be on the safe side but is there anything else that we should be doing tonight to help?
Many thanks,
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I would isolate him from the rest of the flock and get the vet to test for CLA :tired: then disinfect where you burst the abscess to, just in case it is CLA.
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I would syringe it out with salt water to make sure it was cleaned out and probably keep indoors if practical and give a long acting antibiotic. It may refill with pus or it may go totally.
I've had them before, usually after the sheep stick their heads through the stock fence to eat hedging and get cought/spiked in the blackthorn.
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I would agree with syringing it out (no needle) with salt water rather than squeezing it - by squeezing you are risking forcing pus and serous fluid back into the tissues. CLA causes thick, dryish pus (caseous means cheesy) and it is worth getting the pus checked. Difficult as you have already squeezed, but if the abscess refills then take a sample in a sterile pot to the vet. Treat what has come out as infectious and wear gloves.
Here's hoping it's something benign.
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Thank you all so much for your advice. Really interesting to learn about syringing out the pus and using salt water rather than squeezing it out - that makes complete sense.
He's up and about this morning and eating well so fingers crossed it won't be anything sinister. We'll feel much better once we've been to the vets though. We've got an appt this afternoon so I'll let you all have an update later.
Thanks again for all your help
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Hi Beeches,
How did you get on at the vets?
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Hi Possum,
I’m so sorry, I’ve been meaning to reply all week. Ernie is doing really well thank you.
Thankfully, the vet wasn’t too concerned and was confident that it’s not CLA. She removed the remaining pus and advised spraying with iodine morning and night to prevent infection, and also re-applying Spot On to help protect from flies. It’s healing really nicely and there’s been no further swelling or pus. It’s turned quite hot and sunny here today and as the wound is healing well, the vet was also happy for us to now apply some Battles yellow fly cream for some extra protection.
Thank you again to everyone for your help, I really am so grateful for the amazing advice and support.