The Accidental Smallholder Forum

Livestock => Sheep => Topic started by: Sylvia on October 25, 2009, 10:46:25 am

Title: Fly Strike
Post by: Sylvia on October 25, 2009, 10:46:25 am
I was horrified to find a couple of my lambs with fly-strike. They looked fine until I noticed a tail constantly twitching, got them into the hurdles and was sickened to discover the hidden horrors beneath the fleece. I have shorn where neccesary, applied insecticide plus maggot oil and sprayed on a fly repellent.
One is fine but the other, who was less affected, is very depressed. It's difficult to get them in now that they know what's in store but I have managed to catch her up today and repeat the treatment. I am worried about her though.
Title: Re: Fly Strike
Post by: countrygirlatheart on October 25, 2009, 12:52:34 pm
being a novice sheepkeeper I don't feel best qualified to give advice, but for what its worth....

are you sure you got to all the strike areas on the one that looks depressed?  I had flystrike on a couple of lambs earlier in the year and I nearly missed a different strike site from the 'main' struck area  I caught mine early and they were fine within a day.

a friend of mine had one that unfortunately had quite established strike when it was discovered and the sheep was very unwell indeed - needed antibiotics and it took time for it to regain appetite and strength (it came right in the end).   If it was a few days before you found the strike, even though you cleared out the maggots, infection could have got into the sheeps system and it could be very serious.  If in doubt call your vet asap.

Title: Re: Fly Strike
Post by: Sylvia on October 25, 2009, 02:00:19 pm
I searched thoroughly for more areas of strike, found none, If she hasn't perked up by this evening the vet is coming tomorrow morning. Oh, God, please bring freezing weather to kill off the flies!!
Title: Re: Fly Strike
Post by: woollyval on October 25, 2009, 04:28:03 pm
OK....I assume this is a backend strike rather than a shoulder strike? Is the skin broken? What 'insecticide' did you use? You should use spot on or crovect as products of chiice. What fly repellant did you use? Were these products licensed for use on sheep?

If the skin is broken make sure you have treated with antibiotic spray as infection soon gets in. If a rear end strike in a ewe lamb make sure the maggots have not got through the vulve and are inside....it does happen :-\ :o :'( 

Some sheep suffer with shock in strikes so bring both in and bed them up and give lots of tlc.....will also mean its easy to monitor the damage without the stress of continually catching them.

Good luck!
Title: Re: Fly Strike
Post by: ballingall on October 25, 2009, 05:37:35 pm
Thats awful to get flystrike so late in the year. Agree with wooly shepherd, I would always use spot on in preference. Hope they get better.


Beth
Title: Re: Fly Strike
Post by: Sylvia on October 25, 2009, 07:33:49 pm
I used Crovect to kill the maggots and Battles maggot oil as a soothing agent and to repel flies(I used it liberally)
The lamb was looking a bit brighter this evening and I will look again early tomorrow.
I am just so sickened that this could happen so quickly. I feel very guilty and responsible, I feel that I should have seen this coming earlier.
Title: Re: Fly Strike
Post by: dixie on October 26, 2009, 06:06:45 pm
Dont beat yourself up, it happens! you did well to catch it, get rid of it and treat it! Lots of tlc and a good feed usually brings them back on their feet, good luck.
Title: Re: Fly Strike
Post by: Andy Hague on April 12, 2015, 02:57:37 pm
Bimeda Ectofly is also very good and prevents blowfly for up to 4 weeks as well as treating infections.
Title: Re: Fly Strike
Post by: emmski on April 12, 2015, 06:16:06 pm
Happened to me last year....crovect is a god send...I would advise you treat the rest with the crovect too as a deterent/preventative measure as its likely you have a spot of land where flies will be present, mine is the back left by a ditch where I just avoid grazing at high peak times for the blowfly.
I will say I lost one as it was too far into shock but the other is a lovely hog now! 
Title: Re: Fly Strike
Post by: Hellybee on April 12, 2015, 10:25:32 pm
Awww for a minute there you had me heart going..... Then I looked at date, but it will soon be here, clik n clikzen for us.  I don't trust crovect anymore, of course if caught out it helps as a treatment but I heard stories of it failing last year.  Clik n clikzen, much better products , I trust them a nd they workwell. Clikzen for the ewes for its shorter action ready in time for shearer.