The Accidental Smallholder Forum
Livestock => Sheep => Topic started by: mcd on September 15, 2014, 10:12:01 am
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I have a ewe with foot rot. Last Wednesday I gave an injection of oxytetrin combined with a good spray if teramycin. Saturday looked better, not so great yesterday and today back to square 1. Is there anything stronger I can get from the vet?
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You could pop her in the truck and take her to the vet for a jab of Micotil
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Ah great. At least now I know there is something stronger that might work. Especially with tupping time coming up. Many thanks.
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Its not necessarily a case of strength quite, possibly the antibiotic chosen hasn't been able to penetrate all of the affected tissue, possibly it needed a longer course (second jab of the same) as it did improve after one treatment, obviously maybe the bacteria involved are resistant to the chosen drug - what have you.
All drugs struggle where there are abscesses and areas of dead tissue as they cannot get into it to kill the bacteria though some work better than others in this situation
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Give the antibiotics a helping hand by putting the sheep on dry ground or inside on clean straw. Footrot bacteria love moisture.
An old welsh footrot remedy was to pack it with a mixture of tar and salt. I know we love antibiotics, and they are great, but there are other ways too which can help.
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Could try soaking the foot in a solution of Savlon until it has penetrated all the ffected tissue. Will your vet prescribe just one dose of Footvax or would you consider vaccinating all your sheep? It does work - we did ours in 2007, moved them onto clean ground and haven't seen scald or footrot since. One of the best things we ever did - for our backs, for our bank balance and for the stock!
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I would definitely consider vaccinating the whole flock. Thought about that last year. In the meantime I do still have one more dose of oxytetrin to use.
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Cheviot foot paste that's good stuff that you pack in the affected area..