[schoolfarm]

Hi folks,

Just over a week ago, I discovered one of our 2yr old wethers laying on its side an unable to right itself.

After a shot of loxicom and some pen and strep it did finally get up by itself but looked a bit wobbly. As he was feeding and had rejoined the flock, I thought that might be the worst of it but 2 days later was down again and unable to even stand with support. Vet came out and wasn't really sure of what was causing this and suggested possible injury to spine or even meningitis. Prescribed three days of steroids and 7 of antibiotics.

After two days of steroids I was able to get him up and walking if again a little wobbly. During the day he will fall over or stumble on his knuckles and his head is low and a bit wobbly like a string puppet. He still feeds and I've given him molasses and country mix to try and keep his energy up. He is walking about and grazing, he is urinating, drinking and pooping but every morning I find him laid out flat and needs assistance to get up.

My question is does anyone have any similar experience of this and with little improvement, is it fair to keep stressing him out with jabs. I'm guessing If it were a hill flock he would have been dead a week ago. The flock have disowned him now so he's a sorry sight.

Naturally, if there's a chance of recovery, I'm willing to try but wanted to collect your views before I call time based on collective experience.

Thanks in advance.

[shep53]

Sorry but yes i have seen this before  and only one outcome , understand that you have given him the best treatment  and he seems ok but down every night can only end one way and if something happened and you were delayed  checking   then birds might go for the eyes  or a fox / badger may find him in the night.

[Fleecewife]

We have had one with these symptoms caused by fighting and head injury, another with an unknown cause.  We shot them both asap as we have never had one with these symptoms which recovered with veterinarian treatment, nursing care, time or anything else. Best to stop now.

[schoolfarm]

Hi there,

Thanks so much for the reply - Did you ever discover what was wrong with yours? Possibly GID?

[Fleecewife]

Hi there,

Thanks so much for the reply - Did you ever discover what was wrong with yours? Possibly GID?

No, but you could arrange to have yours tested through your vet.  We saw our second one as a one-off and as we shall not be breeding again we saw no point in having a pm done (also shooting rather destroys the evidence  ) The first one, we got rid of the perpetrator tup as he had already killed 2 other tups by fighting - we don't keep aggressive tups)

[shep53]

GID is very rare and non of the symptoms you describe are typical of gid  ,  the only case i have seen was about 35 yrs ago and the vet operated to remove the worm and release fluid / pressure , it seemed to work but i sold her fat as soon as she was fit

[schoolfarm]

The vet didn't think Gid was likely either as no head pressing or constant turning in circles but was equally perplexed by the presentation. Finished the steroids 48 hours ago and since then he's gone downhill so can only assume the steroids were masking something unresolved.

I've decided to call the knacker man but am curious to gather any ideas of what this may be. None of the others in the flock are showing any symptoms. Looks neurological with the wobbly head hung low stumbling gate and falling over.

[Fleecewife]

Is there any chance of a head injury?  Could be from fighting, banging his head on a wall or post, or being struck by a vehicle.  Actually I remember now another shearling which had previously damaged its horn in a fight, creating a way in to the brain for bacteria, which later died in a similar way (for a while we had a lot of horned tups!)  Having suffered a head injury this year myself, perhaps it's close to my heart 

[schoolfarm]

I can't see it being a head injury as he's the only wether in a flock of ewes. I do think its brain related though and given the absence of any improvement with antibiotics, probably something degenerative like a tumour.

Hardest part is explaining this to my youngest son who raised this one from a lamb so its more like a dog to him!