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One of my ewes has got a couple of small patches on both ears, one near here eye and also on the top of her head.  These are itchy as she is often seen rubbing against posts etc.  The vet has injected antibiotics and prescribed a solution which we applied twice daily.  The tests he made didn’t show a virus or mite.  One of her ears bleeds a little when she keeps rubbing it.  Any ideas anyone please?

[kanisha]

Ringworm? Plant induced photosensitivity?

[Foobar]

Got any midges out yet?

[SallyintNorth]

They can get a reaction to bog asphodel, which often affects their ears. 

If there is bog asphodel on the ground they’re grazing, can you get her onto drier ground where there isn’t any?

They also get a photosensitive reaction when anything has caused liver damage.  She couldn’t have a fluke load affecting her liver function, could she?  Are the whites of her eyes nice and white, or a bit yellowy?

If you think it could be a photosensitive reaction, could you put her and a pal somewhere shady during the day?

[Twotwo]

I think I saw on a previous post where is was suggested that they put a itchy sheep somewhere with nothing to rub on for a few days (little electric fenced patch) and see if she’s rubbing just because it’s sore and will ease if she cannot itch.

[Nelson International]

Plant induced photosensitivity?

This what was occurred to me, although I understand it can be a result of some mineral deficiency (cobalt?) as well. I had some last year - a couple of the sheep were losing wool and getting scabs on their ears/near their eyes. I gave them a mineral drench and whether due to that or just the passage of time, it cleared up.