The Accidental Smallholder Forum

Livestock => Sheep => Topic started by: bizzielizzie66 on June 09, 2014, 10:47:24 pm

Title: Footvax
Post by: bizzielizzie66 on June 09, 2014, 10:47:24 pm
What kind of reactions have people noticed in their sheep when using footvax - other than the lumps ?  Not liking this vaccine!!  :(
Title: Re: Footvax
Post by: Me on June 10, 2014, 08:40:24 am
The best place to look for drug reactions is the data sheet supplied with all animal medicines. If you notice any that are not listed contact your vet who will report it.
Title: Re: Footvax
Post by: kanisha on June 10, 2014, 09:30:50 am
horrible massive pus filled lumps :-(
Title: Re: Footvax
Post by: Me on June 10, 2014, 09:59:39 am
Oh, probably dirty needles or dirty fleeces, less likely contamination of the bottle itself/the contents with dirty needles etc. Were the sheep wet when you did it?
Title: Re: Footvax
Post by: Marches Farmer on June 10, 2014, 11:14:42 am
We only had to Footvax once, did it in in April - moved them onto clean grazing, checked the feet after 16 days and moved them onto new clean grazing, haven't seen footrot for 7 years (run a virtually closed flock).  I used a separate, sterilised needle for each sheep, did them dry and have a good vaccination technique (according to my vet) but we found some of the tegs - maybe because they were thinner skinned, with less subcutaneous fat - had big lumps after a couple of days, which they then tried to rub on fenceposts and branches, so we had to gather them every couple of days for about three weeks and spray the sores with a/b spray to keep the flies away.  If I ever needed to do it again I'd wait until the end of the fly season.  The vaccine is too thick!
Title: Re: Footvax
Post by: Me on June 10, 2014, 11:22:36 am
I used a separate, sterilised needle for each sheep
Fair play to you - thats a lot of needles
Title: Re: Footvax
Post by: kanisha on June 10, 2014, 12:07:32 pm
Oh, probably dirty needles or dirty fleeces, less likely contamination of the bottle itself/the contents with dirty needles etc. Were the sheep wet when you did it?
Sterile needles and syringes I always use a fresh sterile needle and syringe no matter what I'm doing. It was a damp day.
Title: Re: Footvax
Post by: Me on June 10, 2014, 12:14:46 pm
You can't always avoid it, but injecting through a damp fleece does increase the likelihood of abscess formation - just do your best
Title: Re: Footvax
Post by: kanisha on June 10, 2014, 12:16:59 pm
I only used the vaccine  as my cotentin ewe had a foot problem. Fortunately the Ouessants don't and the old ewe has long since gone to her maker. I wouldn't use the vaccine ever again.
Title: Re: Footvax
Post by: Me on June 10, 2014, 12:36:04 pm
Its a very effective vaccine vs footrot so don't write it off, it does have some side effects much more serious than the abscess formation when combined with Cydectin LA (scab treatment/preventative).
Neurological signs inc. salivation, circling, anorexia and general depression. These go after 48 hrs but if the ewes are nursing twins at the time then mastitis can set in and they can lose an udder so beware of this if you have used Footvax in the past - strange but true   
Title: Re: Footvax
Post by: feldar on June 10, 2014, 03:42:06 pm
Its the adjuvant  and oil in it that gives the unpleasant lumps and swellings. The antigens have to be slow released so that's why they mix it with the adjuvant. Don't what ever you do inject you self with it, can give a very nasty reaction. A friend of mine injected herself with something similar we use in research and her arm blew up to twice its size.
Title: Re: Footvax
Post by: Me on June 10, 2014, 04:48:05 pm
But she didn't get footrot?

From data sheet:

Occasionally, however, these swellings may be large, painful and unsightly, with the formation of abscesses which may burst and discharge, particularly if any contaminating skin bacteria are introduced at the time of injection
Title: Re: Footvax
Post by: bizzielizzie66 on June 10, 2014, 06:33:40 pm
Sorry - have been at work all day. Thank you for your replies. Because I don't really like this vaccine, I read the data sheet MORE than thoroughly beforehand, we used a clean needle per sheep and used it on dry sheep that had been shorn. All precautions, recommendations etc were followed to the letter. Anyway, I am not talking about infection at the site or lumps. 

The "general depression" set in at 48 hours and is continuing at 96 hrs.  When we turned the worst affected ewe last night to inject her with some Metacam to try and make her feel a bit better, her udder was showing signs of a rash. Gave her anti-biotics too after speaking to the vet.  General depression doesn't begin to cover their behaviour!!.  All but 2 have picked up to some degree but even they are still not "right". The other two I half-expected to find dead this morning at first light but one has picked up quite well but the other still looks pretty sorry.   I spoke to the vet about it last night.   Never, never will I use it again!  I had picked up the warning about Cydectin injection (which I think should be in LARGE TYPE)- but that's not involved in my sheeps' case.  Vet says they are coming tomorrow if no improvement.  I had such trouble with foot rot this year right through from Sept - May, but I shall be foot-bathing only in future. I know it's one of those things - some sheep react more than others and perhaps my sheep have been unlucky - but I will never use it again. I have been worried sick.
Title: Re: Footvax
Post by: Me on June 10, 2014, 08:19:34 pm
You will struggle to control footrot with bathing alone, why not ask your vet to inject the lot with Micotil once your lambs have gone for the year?
Title: Re: Footvax
Post by: bizzielizzie66 on June 10, 2014, 09:35:37 pm
Thank you. I will talk to my vet. A good suggestion  :)

And the mastitis info was also very interesting - and worrying!

My shearer, who is expert at everything, did the vaccination for me this time, as I wussed out after last time. You just never know what is round the corner with sheep - even if you think you've got everything covered!  :(
Title: Re: Footvax
Post by: bizzielizzie66 on June 11, 2014, 08:07:34 am

Vet coming at lunchtime - :(  Very concerned
Title: Re: Footvax
Post by: Marches Farmer on June 11, 2014, 05:46:43 pm

You just never know what is round the corner with sheep - even if you think you've got everything covered!  :(

So true - you'll never win - they're the professionals when it comes to keeping you on your toes.
Title: Re: Footvax
Post by: bizzielizzie66 on June 11, 2014, 07:44:24 pm
 The vet came and is off to talk to the Footvax manufacturers.  She's baffled temporarily.   ??? The weight loss on 2 ewes since Friday has been frightening and one lamb is still running a fever - despite anti-biotics and metacam on Mon.   The vet gave me the absolute third degree on everything I have done with the sheep, everything I have ever treated them with, going back some time and tested me on the Footvax data sheet! .Just as well I usually have an anorak memory!   More metacam today - more anti-biotics tomorrow and I will keep a very close eye on everyone.  I seem to have become a virtually full-time shepherdess over the last couple of months - which would be absolutely fine if I didn't have a business to run and a family to feed.  Just as well I love my sheep  :sheep: :sheep: :sheep: :sheep: :sheep:  :) 
Title: Re: Footvax
Post by: FCA on June 13, 2014, 08:20:32 pm
Hi Lizzie
Hope you got the message that I'd phoned to say how sorry I am to hear of your stressful time.  How are the girls today?  I haven't got anything to add as we've never used this vaccine but it sounds like you're having an awful time with it.  I know you use the same fantastic vets as we do so I really hope that they come up with a solution.  In the meantime I'm sure you're continuing with all the tlc and that will definitely be helping.
Post a quick update when you've got a moment.
Best wishes, Fiona
Title: Re: Footvax
Post by: bizzielizzie66 on June 13, 2014, 11:04:28 pm
Thank you Fiona. Yes I did get the message thank you and thank you too for fellow sheep owners empathy.  It helps  :)

The ewes have finally picked up, which is good - but one lamb is still running a fever (41c today)and anti-biotics and Metacam don't seem to be bringing it down - yet.  The vet says I can't do anymore at the moment.   The head vet at the Footvax manufacturers hasn't come up with any magic solutions either - though that doesn't surprise me massively.  I suppose I shall just have to hope that the infection runs it's course and the lamb fights it off by herself before too long.  I'm glad for her sake that the outside temperature is dropping tomorrow. The vet also suggested that we shear a stripe down her back to help keep her cooler - a sort of reverse Mohican! 

She looks so pathetic - like Eeyore on a really, really bad day. Ears down, head down with the world-weariest walk I have ever seen.  She looked slightly brighter this evening perhaps. Fingers crossed and I will keep you posted. She's very beautiful - a photo from the week before attached. Her name is Ursa (little bear)   :fc:
Title: Re: Footvax
Post by: FCA on June 14, 2014, 09:37:53 am
Morning Lizzie.  So pleased to hear the older sheep are doing better but sorry about the lamb.  It's just hit her little system that much harder I guess.  Maybe you could use whatever temperature lowering treatments you'd use on a baby.  Cold flannel and calpol? 
She must feel absolutely rotten and it will be so sad to see - poor little thing.  But as you say, you just need the infection to run its course and I'm sure she's strong enough to fight it off.  Lots of nice little treats from your shop!  Lovely photo and nice name.
Title: Re: Footvax/Listeriosis
Post by: bizzielizzie66 on June 15, 2014, 07:57:00 pm
The head vet at the manufacturers of Footvax are discounting the vaccine as a cause - so I have to accept their far-superior knowledge.  I got my vet to agree that, in the absence of a firm diagnosis (no symptoms apart from high fever and clearly very unwell), we change the anti-biotic to Penstrep and give a 5 day course.  Although the lamb is not showing all the classic signs of listeriosis - it is a best guess.  We extended their grazing a fortnight ago and the mole activity in this area is higher than their previous range.  Moles can carry listeria - and there is something about the lamb's head carriage that makes me think it could be.  After initial Penstrep, her temperature has dropped significantly - and although she still looks at death's door, maybe we are on the right track?  This evening another lamb was looking sad and tucked up with a slight head-tilt - so maybe the listeriosis theory could be right. She has a fever so I have waded straight in with the Penstrep for her too.

If anyone has any experience of lambs with listeriosis I'd be grateful for any info they can give me.  If we return the lambs and ewes to the smaller area of the field - are they then shedding listeria onto the grazing area?  I kind of feel I can't ask the poor vet anymore questions so am looking for help.  If they recover from this, will they have sufficient immunity to cope with the bacteria in the soil?  Do I need to treat them all with Penstrep and move them somewhere else for a while?

Sorry to go on - but to watch these lambs ailing and not know what from has been heart-breaking for us.
Title: Re: Footvax
Post by: Me on June 15, 2014, 08:06:24 pm
Ok so assuming it wasn't Footvax and is listeria there is a 30 percent average chance of survival in sheep. Don't worry about them shedding it as such, it is just out there in the soil etc. I would watch closely for other cases but wouldn't treat on the off chance. Have you had any die yet? If/when then arrange a PM asap as this may give a definitive answer and save some/all of the others. Until/if this happens hammer the PenStrep in
 
Title: Re: Footvax
Post by: Me on June 15, 2014, 08:12:34 pm
With listeria you nearly always you can see deviation of the muzzle and drooping of one eyelid, these signs are very subtle in sheep as they have little in the way of muscle for facial expression so look closely 
Title: Re: Footvax
Post by: bizzielizzie66 on June 15, 2014, 09:26:56 pm
Thank you, I will keep you posted and everything crossed and will be looking very hard for facial signs.
Title: Re: Footvax
Post by: Village Green on July 31, 2014, 03:06:11 pm
I've just been looking into reactions to footvax as we're having some serious problems with our ewes (unprecedented) and  was wondering if it was just a coincidence that we used footvax for the first time last week. We've lost one ewe already after signs of "depression", not eating and then unable to stand. Now 2 days later there are another 2 showing the same sypmtoms, one of which I'm not confident will survive (very staggery and legs keep giving way). She will eat out of the hand if you push some lucerne nuts up to her mouth but that's about it.

There are no noticeable signs of lesions at the injection sites (we used sterimatic system to prevent this) just the general malaise which is still evident in several animals. I'm not suggesting it was the footvax but I can't work out what else it may be.
Title: Re: Footvax
Post by: Marches Farmer on August 02, 2014, 04:13:46 pm
I suggest contacting your vet if you've nothing else in mind for what might cause it.  If sheep have been stressed in some way this can sometimes depress their immune systems and cause a worse reaction or a latent infection to flare up.Hot, humid weather, chased by dogs, shearing ....?
Title: Re: Footvax
Post by: farmvet on August 02, 2014, 10:07:24 pm
Where were the sheep injected? I find it suprising how many shepherds inject vaccine that are supposed to be under the skin wrongly.  It seems common place to just jag it in without lifting a flap of skin, as a result its often too deep going into the muscle layers where you will see more sideeffects. I've also seen reactions tracking into the spinal cord from injections in the neck, plus injections made into the chest & abdomen.
Also had the vaccine been kept properly? 2-8C