[Raine]

Yesterday on our visit to the smallholding to pick up keys, we noticed one of our sheep looked poorly     We don't move in till Friday this week.


After 40 minutes of "fun" we had the 5 of the corralled and started to remove the fleece on the ill one.  Though we did find maggots on the shoulder area and sore patches on the top of the tail, there was also an area where the fleece had come away in a sore/dry patch.


Though fly strike is bad (which we treated for)... I am now worrying about Sheep Scab!


Is there a definitive way of working out if it is Scab without going to the vet?  I'm not sure if the current land owner will take them before we move in.  If we wait the week, will it mean we have a bigger problem to sort out?

[SallyintNorth]

If it's scab it'll be very very itchy, and the skin will be red raw where it's rubbed on anything it can find.  Also, the others will start being very very itchy very soon.

There are other things which can cause itchiness - biting lice, sucking lice, keds, for instance - and other things which can cause fleece loss.

You could take a scraping of skin + fleece from an active sore spot to the vet for analysis.  It's different treatments for different conditions, so it's best to get an accurate diagnosis.

[SteveHants]

This is the problem with fora, nobody can see the animal. I would suspect the other patch is where it got struck, but the maggots died because the weather got too cold. Its only a suggestion though, Id get someone to look at the sheep.

[Anke]

Another problem this year has been rain scald. 
Also if they had flystrike and it's healed the skin will look new and pink and there may not be any fleece yet, so could just be that.

[jaykay]

You would see them very obviously itchy and hassled by it, if it were scab and it would be unlikely to be only one that had it. If you watched them for a ?hile, you'd see them scratching and biting themselves.

How big is the patch? Can you get a photo?

Many other things can cause bald bits. One of Dad's new Ryelands had a bald, sore patch which seemed to be combination of too enthusiastic shearing combined with rainrot. We treated for the latter (antibiotic injection and Dermasol on the sore bit) and she's now growing back her wool.

Equally it could be a bit recovering from flystrike.

Many of us treat for scab by injecting with Dectomax around this time of year, which kills biting, sucking things and which also treats roundworms.

Lol, too slow posting and both suggestions already given too 

[Raine]

We went to by some Dectomax, but the shop said that we had to go to the vet first. Also, we have no syringes yet.


Going back to the holding later to take another look.  May attempt photo's later.

[jaykay]

Most agricultural merchants sell Dectomax directly and syringes and needles too.

I don't think a week will make too much difference to a bald bit now you've treated the flystrike (keep an eye on her) but Steve says, ideally get someone experienced to have a look at them with you.

[Raine]

 


No itching on my scabby ewe, so we think it must have been a late fly strike or wool rot.  Thank goodness!


Tough little thing seems only slightly phased by it and is munching away merrily now. 


Thank you for all your advice 

[jaykay]

Glad she's feeling better