The Accidental Smallholder Forum

Livestock => Goats => Topic started by: xemonsus on April 02, 2013, 07:11:37 pm

Title: Scabby mouth??
Post by: xemonsus on April 02, 2013, 07:11:37 pm
Hello does anyone have any experience with this as talking to the vet it appears one of our youngsters from last year has this!
He has scabs around his mouth and eyes but is happy and eating the vet said unless it causes him any problems to let it run its course but to expect also the others in the flock to most likely also have it unless they have had it before.
Any ideas how he may have come to have this as we dont show and havent had any new goats join us?
Never a dull moment with all these animals.........
Title: Re: Scabby mouth??
Post by: wytsend on April 02, 2013, 08:31:31 pm
could be Orf..........highly contagious to humas & other animals.
Title: Re: Scabby mouth??
Post by: ScotsGirl on April 02, 2013, 09:14:54 pm
I'd squirt with antibiotic spray, except round eyes. Spray onto cotton wool possibly and wipe those scabs but make sure you wear gloves and dispose of after.
Title: Re: Scabby mouth??
Post by: colliewoman on April 02, 2013, 09:18:42 pm
I leave well alone personally unless there is a secondary infection. I have treated orf, I have left it untreated and in my experience it'll clear up in a week or so regardless ::)
Title: Re: Scabby mouth??
Post by: Anke on April 02, 2013, 10:33:41 pm
Orf can survive on the woodwork and lots of other places... I would leave it alone, and maybe the others will get it or not... I had it sweep through my lambs really badly, but only one goat kid got it, and then only very mildly. Even though goat kids all share a pen and lambs are in big wide field...
Title: Re: Scabby mouth??
Post by: Lesley Silvester on April 03, 2013, 12:00:31 am
So how does it spread?
Title: Re: Scabby mouth??
Post by: sokel on April 03, 2013, 07:28:48 am
We have only twice had Orf  , both times it was the same goat and none of the others got it. I didnt treat either as the first time we where seriously snowed in  and it was about 6 days before it cleared up fully
Title: Re: Scabby mouth??
Post by: ScotsGirl on April 03, 2013, 08:33:44 am
Two of my black welsh had it not long after I bought them, brought it with them and stress of moving must have roused it.  I sprayed after a week or so once I caught them as the sores were horrific. Even then it took several weeks to clear.


One of my lambs had a few suspect sores this year and I sprayed and they went within a day or two. My main concern was it getting onto mums teats and then passing into other lambs.
Title: Re: Scabby mouth??
Post by: xemonsus on April 03, 2013, 07:37:17 pm
Thanks for all your comments i feel alittle more at ease about leaving it now,
Just really confused as to how its suddenly appeared on our land as we dont have any outside contact with any other herds  ???
Title: Re: Scabby mouth??
Post by: xemonsus on April 05, 2013, 07:27:44 pm
Thought id best let you know how things are going,
His mouth is already looking much better, hes much better in himself and we have left well alone. The rest of the herd seem fine so as usual ive thought it all worse than it is.
Many thanks again to those who replied  ;D  x
Title: Re: Scabby mouth??
Post by: ScotsGirl on April 06, 2013, 08:03:14 pm
What are his eyes like now?  I noticed yesterday one of mine has mucky eye and today has a couple of sores on his nose.  I bathed his eye as it looked sore and scabby. I haven't put anything on yet but worried about the eye. I do have some antibiotic cream. It doesn't look like orf around eye.


I think it's the hay, there were loads of thistles in it and they lie under the rack and get covered.
Title: Re: Scabby mouth??
Post by: xemonsus on April 08, 2013, 08:52:56 pm
His eyes were runny and had scabs around them, they have improved as his mouth has. The scabs are dropping off but the skin around them does look sore but is looking better everyday.
Hope your goats are looking better sorry i only just saw your reply Scotsgirl x
Title: Re: Scabby mouth??
Post by: ScotsGirl on April 08, 2013, 09:57:42 pm
I bathed in very weak hibiscrub and I think they are improving. He seems happy enough it just looks sore.