The Accidental Smallholder Forum
Livestock => Sheep => Topic started by: kitchen cottage on July 12, 2012, 04:12:41 pm
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The owners turned up!! Their dogs escaped 24 hours ago and they are trying to track them down. They did allthe "I can't believe it, they are so soft" stuff, but ultimately its been reported to the police and I hope they get prosecuted. The dogs were last seen on the A414 about 3 miles away.... which is a very busy road.
The sheep is up and eating but miserable. i've been putting on spray every couple of hours to keep the flies off....
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Lambie will be pretty sore. You could ask the vet for anti-inflammatories and painkillers - hopefully they'll let you have some so you can inject it yourself, or you could take the lamb to the surgery. You'll be sending the bill to the dogs' owners, anyway. ;)
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with a bit of luck they will be wiped out on the A414 just as long as they don't cause a pile up and humane life's lost :farmer:
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I don't think I need the vet, amanda, who lives in my granny flat, is a nurse and we'll give another good clean tonight.
I'll evaluate again tomorrow but my concern is keeping the flies off and I hope purple spray and wound powder will do that.
I know I can get her to pay for the vet but, I won't call unless I feel I really need her.
I am surprised how LITTLE sympathy I felt, they weren't irresponsible, the dogs escaped they weren't let loose but she could see the sheep with holes in it and she still didn't understand that her dog was a dog that would attack.
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Kitchen Cottage, what has happened is terrible but in defense of the owners their dogs may be angels at home but once dogs get out, and 2 together is worse than 1 on their own, see something run and nature takes over.
My own dog is a poodle, albeit a 10 month old puppy, and not at all like the breeds that hurt your sheep, but when he sees the hens or the sheep run he wants to join in (he is always on the lead). I am sure his intentions are just to have a game but I wouldn't trust him an inch.
So if the owners haven't seen how their dogs react around animals when loose they may well think they wouldn't hurt a fly.
Don't think for one minute I condone what they did because I don't but maybe I can understand where they are coming from.
Just another perspective on it.
Sally
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:bouquet: Hope your poor lamb recovers quickly.
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My sister had a dog that worried sheep and attacked a flock TWICE.... I cannot believe she didn't learn the first time! Basically, he put mucky feet on her wood floors and sometimes shook near her Laura Ashley soft furnishings (oh the crime!!!) so she would leave him out in the garden but her kids and the neighbours would forget to shut the gate. The second time the farmer called the police and she had to pay the price of 5 ewes... strangely enough after she had to get her purse out the dog didn't get out again! Luckily for everyone he went to a lovely livestock-less rural cottage in middle-of-nowhere Wales.
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I don't think I need the vet, amanda, who lives in my granny flat, is a nurse and we'll give another good clean tonight.
You said it was sore. In order to reduce its suffering, it would benefit from anti-inflammatories and pain-killers - unless Amanda can administer those for you?
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Its weight bearing on its leg, it has a limp. Its grazing and eating its ewe nuts. I don't think it is too distressed.
I don't want to over react and call the vet when its not necessary. It does seem to be coping well.
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I hope you got the address where the dog owner lives, because that is where to send the vet bill. so do the right thing for the lamb and get some antibiotics and anti inflamitary into it now before it turns really bad. make them pay for the trouble they caused.
I would have presented her with 2 dead dogs along with the bill. >:(
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Take it from me, a dog bite is bloody agony, your vet should be able to dispense a shot of finadyne for you to collect.
Please let her have some pain relief, there are no doubts she will be sore and the quicker she is pain free the quicker she can recuperate.
I was going to leave it at that but I can't, sorry.
A sheep is a prey animal by the time it is showing ANY symptoms of discomfort it is pain. Dog bites are ragged lacerations with deep puncture wounds, liable to become infected within hours.
If you had such a wound on yourself would you leave it and not make a fuss?
The fact she is baring weight on it is no indication that she is not in pain, more a marvel of a species who after being attacked by a pack of dogs will not be left behind the flock.
You have a duty of care under the animal welfare act, and I hope for your sheep's sake you get her some meds.
You won't even have to pay for them, the dog's owner will pay it.
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Jesus, ask the vet to prescribe some A/Bs and painkillers - they will leave them at the front desk, or get the vet out and present the owners with the bill!
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Erm. I HAVE spoken to my vet this morning and sent her a photo of the wound. She is very helpful and suggested we leave it until tomorrow, unless the lamb deteriorated. I've just cleaned the wounds again. The hind and leg are now scabbed over, the face isn't but I suspect will do tomorrow. I've given it an antiseptic wash. some antiseptic and then wound powder. He competed for his food tonight. He doesn't look happy but isn't anywhere near as bad as I expected (especially since I've now been told he wasn't moving for a while).
I'll ring the vet again tomorrow, but I have already taken her advice.
Della
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thats is basically missing the point.
that animal is in pain.
you could and SHOULD sort that out.
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Erm, my vet is the person whom I take advice from in these circs. I also spoke to the manager of my city farm who said the same thing. I'm not afraid of the bill, whoever pays, but I trust her judgement and she didn't think it necessary today, nor do I, because whilst the lamb will be in some pain, it doesn't seem to be suffering unduly, its grazing, eating and the wound is sealing. I'll do what the vet suggested and call her tomorrow.
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A bit of tea tree or citronella may be more effective at keeping the flies off than purple spray and wound powder. Battles Green Oils is pretty rock 'n' roll too! :thumbsup:
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Please call the vet, you have said she is in pain, also what is lurking underneath the skin that is sealing up? Any of my sheep would have been treated for a lot less.
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Umm painkillers are not just for the pain. Ok it's a pain it can cope with, but inflammation delays wound healing, so it will be better and putting in weight like it should much quicker with adequate pain control. I don't mean this specifically at your vet, but many large animal vets (and small animal vets for that matter) are not great at pain control. Anyone seen a calf castrate or disbudding? a bleb of local and then slash is not good enough- local takes 15-20 mins to work!
Now I'm not bunny hugging by any means but adequate pain control is essential. Have been nipped and badly bitten plenty of times, it's the non puncture ends that hurt the worst!
Bloody dogs- mine are not allowed off theead on our land as have no idea what they would do! Also always walk them on the lead on any publi foot paths as you just don't know where there are livestock.
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Anyone seen a calf castrate or disbudding? a bleb of local and then slash is not good enough- local takes 15-20 mins to work!
I haven't actually seen it, but I have HEARD it.... sounds monstrous!
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I've texted the vet, who is young and trying to build a large animal practice so very helpful. I'll see what she says but if the sheep needs antibiotics and pain relief it will have it. Poor sheep, orrible day for it and now its raining. I have citronella and Tea tree oil so I'll use them. I am a BIG citronella fan!
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I have citronella and Tea tree oil so I'll use them. I am a BIG citronella fan!
Me too...Barrier Blowfly Repel spray is one of my favourite products ever. Or Battles maggot oil! And the Maggot Oil is soothing :o)
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How's Lamby this morning?
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The vet is coming after 12. I took on board what was said about pain relief and want him to have some. Off to take photos of the injury. Turns out these are "deterrent" dogs from a pub so quite how that matches with them being softies I am not sure of.
I only had a mobile which was turned off, but they posted details on "lostdogs" so have been able to trace her.
She now says it might not have been her dogs but.... fortuitously they posted piccies on lost dogs which I've saved and shown my neighbour.
Good luck with her trying to duck my vets bill, I'm a solicitor and in the right, I've got more stamina than her for this I suspect.
I am sure lamby will be fine but its not nice for him now >:( What treats can you give lambs? He certainly liked the maple syrup water yesterday?
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:thumbsup: :thumbsup: :thumbsup:
you go get 'em!!
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Some owners will keep trying to deny responsibility not so much because they are worried about the vet bill liability but worry that if they admit it was their dogs then dogs will be taken away and PTS.
Now I know lots of people will say 'yes and that would be perfectly fair' and I have some sympathy with that, but I do understand it in a scenario where in a one off the dogs get out eg let out by vandals or something like that.
If you are happy that the dogs are not PTS on this occasion (obviously they wont get a second chance if they ever did it again), it might be helpful to talk to the owners either directly or through sols, to clarify that if the direct expenses relating to the lamb (and the compensation for your time and trauma I would have thought!) were to be met in full, you will not be instigating any further action. I say instigating because of course the police might suddenly decide to get excited about it and pursue it themselves.
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Well done! :thumbsup:
Mine are very partial to a gingernut biscuit ;)
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Poor lamby isn't feeling very well at all. He's seen the vet, she's cleaned the wounds and given antibiotics and painkillers...she's left me with injections for the next few days. He's got a bit of a temperature, but was fine until about two hours ago when he sat down and started grinding his teeth a bit. He ate about 2 hours ago. I've put him in my cart lodge to keep his wound clean, he had flies on it and they all had to be cleaned out. I am wondering whether I should put another lamb in with him for company. she's said if he survives the weekend he should be fine. I was confident earlier but in the last couple of hours he seems less happy. The vet did mess him about so he's had two hard days in a row :fc: :fc: :( :( :( :sheep:
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Poor little thing, teeth grinding is a sign of pain :-\ Temperature usually =infection. |Fingers crossed for him
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Oh no ....... :fc: for the poor lad.
Sorry that your vet didn't get the antibiotics and painkillers to you when you first asked for her advice. >:(
Hopefully he'll pick up now.
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fingers crossed that tomorrow is a better day for the wee man :fc:
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would he be happier if he had another sheep in with him? He can't see them now so will have separation anxiety.
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Sorry ..... not much sheep keeping experience. Not sure. ???
We had to bring a ewe lamb with an abscess in for a while and we brought in mum and twin as well. We weren't sure what was best but thought that she may not be completely weaned and also she was really unsettled and really yelling for the others. Thought it was less stressful for her, mum and twin if they were at least together. She wasn't actually ill or that down though.
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Yes, fingers crossed for him :fc:
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I've put another sheep in with it (these are hand reared orphan lambs so very friendly and bonded to each other). I've put more disinfectant and citronella on the wounds, which look quite good now.
He's happier with another sheep in there, he ate his dinner and some grated apple. Didn't seem to like tesco value ginger nuts though! He's obviously in pain though when he is laying down.
Definitely did need pain relief and I've the injections for tomorrow and Sunday.
Unless he takes a turn for the worse tomorrow, he's done really well for 36 hours after a very vicious attack.
:fc: :fc: Long day with work, vets, animals and picking up pigs. I've still got to cut up the Tammy's for the freezer.
Ah well, better than veggingin front of the TV ;)
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It took a good few hours for my sheep who needed analgesia due to a very bad lambing to begin to get comfortable but it does get there in the end. I would think you will see a marked difference tomorrow when both drugs have kicked in. Don't be afraid to ask for more of she isn't right as rain on Monday. I think Tarragon (my sheepie)[size=78%] [/size]had 3mls of finadyne daily for 6 days before she could manage without.
Also you can feed her willow alongside her meds too as that has both pain killing and anti inflammatory properties :thumbsup:
Well done hun, we are the only ones who can advocate for our animals, and for too long large farm animals have been left by the wayside when it comes to pain relief. She will be feeling much better soon I'm sure.
Keep a very close watch for flies, they are little b*******s for getting into wounds ::)
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I've read this thread with interest and those of you who've followed my contributions will know I am in the camp of 'shoot the dogs now !'
But I can also see the fairness of this sheeps owner in not wanting to land a large vets bill on the dog owners, very commendable. :thumbsup:
My vet gave a'b's to a lamb of mine which subsequently died, next time I was in I was ready to play hell, I asked how much the bill was going to be. It rather took the wind out of my sails to be told it was £2.06 for the consultation and the injection.
So in this case I'd encourage anyone to shoot the dog and don't worry about the vets bill. ;D ;D
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I fully intend to charge this animal owners for my vet bills. What I didn't want to do is make a decision other than that which I would if I was paying.
In fact, I should have called the vet yesterday because the extent of the wound was hidden. Hopefully this will be okay :fc: :fc: and if it is, it won't go to slaughter (nor will its playmate) because its suffered enough..... I am a RUBBISH farmer ;)
One dog has been recaptured, according to my neighbours it isn't the one that attacked.
I think she will balk at paying my vets bill.... but she will have to.
I will also be speaking to the police to make sure they understand the extent of the injury to my sheep....
I feel sorry for the woman but she keeps an alsatian and a sharpi/alsatian cross... she must know they have the potential for damage.
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So glad your lamb now has antibiotics etc. Sounds like your doing your very best. Hard to look after poorly sheep whilst trying to earn a living. Agree with colliewoman - do re-speak to vet if things dont improve.
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Hope lamb is doing well :fc:
One dog has been recaptured, according to my neighbours it isn't the one that attacked.
If her dogs had been trained AT ALL they wouldn't still be at large after all this time - I think the owner needs a wake up call - any dog needs to be trained and if she can't be bothered she shouldn't have dogs - and certainly not GSD or similar.