[ladyK]

Some of my Soay sheep have developed 'patchy' noses in the last few days.
From a little distance it looks like the hair on the nose has gone 'crumply', from closer up they look more like 'moth eaten', i.e. the fur seems to be thinning in wriggly thin lines rather than round patches.
I had a good close look and I can't see any redness or sore skin, maybe the skin is a bit flaky, but not crusty. no swelling or bumps, and they don't seem to be itchy or uncomfortable either.
Still it looks quite odd, and I'm concerned that it appears to be spreading: two of them seem to have it quite pronounced, and two more I think I can see it just starting (and anoher 3 seem just fine).
It's unlikely but not impossible that they have been in contact with other sheep - there are sheep in the next field but there is a hedge along that fenceline.

I did try to take a photo today, not sure it's of any use as it's very blurry (just couldn't hold both the animal and the camera still for long enough...), but I'll try to attach it anyway.

Any ideas on what this could be?

[shygirl]

orf??

[ladyK]

I thought orf lesions are bumpy/crusty, a  bit like cold sores?

[Shropshirelass]

I instantly thought orf when you 1st described it - contact your vet & sort it before lambing if it is as the ewes can pass it on. Now I'm not sure if they can be carriers ect but best to get it sorted asap x

[Foobar]

Hard to tell with that photo, but some of mine have some bits of hair missing on their noses as they have been rumaging in the brambles over the past week and nicked themselves.

[ladyK]

Thanks for your suggestions.
I know the pic is useless... I will try again but probably not today as it's pouring down.
I like to hope it might just be bramble scratches, they can certainly access a lot of that in the hedge boundaries.
Will look into the orf possibility (I have never seen a case myself, so can't really tell, but  the images I can find online really do look quite different). Not lambing until April, so at least I don't have to worry about that.

[Anke]

If they go and dive into a hayrack they also quite often end up with bald patches on their noses, especially if they really have to push in to get at that last bit of hay...

Orf definitely looks more like cold sores, and is usually around the mouth/lips, not really on top of their noses.

[Fleecewife]

My Soays tend to look a bit moth-eaten around the noses like that, esp in winter.  I don't think it can be orf as it never spreads to the other sheep.  I'm sure it's from poking their noses in obscure places 

[shygirl]

wev only had orf once and it started crinkly rough skin that sheds off to leave scabs and sores.

[goodlifer]

When I bought my 4 soays this time last year one of them had the same symptoms as you describe and I couldn't find anything. It didn't spread to the other 3 and just went after a few weeks 

[ladyK]

Thanks for the further replies, I'm ecouraged that this maybe a breed-specific 'Soay winter nose 
Today the affected noses looked about the same, maybe a bit more 'tatty' but still no sores/bumps/crusts, and their lips/mouths all look fine too. So it doesn't seem to be developing into something nasty, but I'll keep watching closely.

[shygirl]

itd be worth using eprinex anyway. our cows and goats have had bald patches at this time of year so a routine dose isnt a bad idea.

[ladyK]

What is eprinex used for? I'm not aware of it.
I thought there is no direct treatment for orf as it is a virus? (only secondary treatment for possibly infected lesions?)

[Anke]

Eprinex treats mange, lice and other ectoparasites. I think also used as a wormer in cows/cattle. I have never used it on my sheep, and only for heel mange in the goats. Quite expensive. I wouldn't use it routinely, only if you have a clear diagnosis and on advice of the vet.

I have treated lice in the sheep with either Cooper's spot-on (also quite pricey but lasts for years), or with one of the fly strike pour-ons. But lice are quite different - tatty fleece and sheep trying to nibble/scratch themselves. Lice can also be seen moving in the fleece.