[Michelle.L.]

Hi all. I'm really hoping for a hive mind miracle here. The vet is at her wit's end, no one has a clue what's going on. Maybe someone here has seen a sheep with similar symptoms and has some advice?

5 year old pet wether, Cheviot, clearly in pain, gnashing teeth, ears down and back, very tense face, chin tucked to the chest, head turned slightly to the right. Pawing at the ground, slowly walking backwards until his bum is against something. Stiff movements. Not eating much. Heavy, rapid breathing, lost quite some body condition in a short period of time.
No temperature, good teeth, FEC clear, nothing in bloods so far, lungs sound good, feet look good, gums and eyes look good.
He's had antibiotics, antiinflammatory and steroids, but just keeps getting worse. Gave him paracetamol last night when the pain seemed to get so bad he couldn't lie down anymore, seemed to help a tiny bit and he had some hay, but still far from good.

Any and all advice would be greatly appreciated.

[SallyintNorth]

On the information given, I'd be checking his urethra. Can he pee? 

[SallyintNorth]

If not stones in the urethra, ask the vet if she'd be happy to prescribe a hefty dose of B-vits, which is the only thing missing from the list of meds he's had already.  (Combinations of B-vits/thiamine, antibiotics, anti-inflammatories and steroids cover a lot of possibles, including listeria and CCN.)

[Michelle.L.]

Yes, he can pee no problem, and he has had a Vitamin b, e and selenium injection today. So far no change to the better (has been about 7 hours).

[SallyintNorth]

The only other things I can think of that aren't covered by the treatments already given are tetanus, tenuicious cyst, ingested a wire/foreign body, poison/eaten something toxic. 

I might think about giving a restorative drench and bloat remedy, to help his digestion get back to normal.  (The meds may address the original problem but now he's not been eating much for a while so his rumen will be out of kilter.)

[Michelle.L.]

He's had twin lamb drench and I've ordered Alfalfa-A, our local shop didn't have it in stock unfortunately. He seems less tense, which I'm hoping is a sign the pain is easing up a bit. But after not eating well for over two weeks now he's just anything but fit, lying down most of the time. He has unlimited access to good hay, a bit of forage, birch twigs, I've offered him grass pellets and a small amount of oats. He isn't keen on most of it, will have a bite of the oats but then stop, hay and birch are best but he doesn't eat much of that either. I have high hopes for the Alfalfa-A, which will arrive tomorrow, but in case that doesn't do the trick either, any other ideas what else I could offer him?
When I asked the vet about something to stimulate the rumen she just suggested grass (hard to find in February) and rough hay/forage.

[SallyintNorth]

I'd give a bloat remedy, the rumen will need a kick start and he won't feel like eating until his rumen is working.  Thread about home-made bloat remedies here

If you don't fancy that, you could try PSF (now called Elanco Scour Formula Extra, apparently) for 24 hours, which should have a similar effect and will give him electrolytes.  (It's designed for calves but works fine with sheep.)

As to what else to try, there are sheep keepers on here swear by digestive biscuits when the appetite needs tempting.  (But get the rumen going first.)

[Michelle.L.]

Okay, will try the home made remedy, thank you! Would Soy yoghurt work if it's got live cultures?
He does bring up cud however, so his rumen seems to be doing a bit at least, but I guess a bit of help can't hurt, right?

[SallyintNorth]

Yes, any live yoghurt will be fine.

And yes, there's nothing in the mix will do any harm, so it's probably worth a try, even though he is cudding (which is very good to hear.)  Obvs don't go mad on the quantity of bicarb until you see how he responds to the first dose.  (It should make him belch / fart.)