[steve_pr]

Got a one month old ram lamb with what is either the worst case of orf I have ever seen or something else.  Opinions welcome. Sending photos to my vet today to see what she thinks. Orf cream is on but doesn't seem to be working very fast!  He is still eating and suckling but just looks so painful.

[SallyintNorth]

Yes that looks like orf.

Not sure what you mean by "orf cream".  Orf is a virus and nothing stops it, but then you get secondary bacterial infection. 

So wash it (Daz is good when it's orf!  A vet told me about it and it does do a good job.  And safer than hibiscrub around the mouth), then use an antibacterial spray. 

It does take time to clear up.

Then think about how it is feeding.  It will put orf on the ewe's teats, so unless she is vaccinated or immune, she may get orf on her teats which can lead to mastitis.  Keep a very close eye on her, and her other lamb if she has two, or consider putting this lad on a bottle to protect his mum and any sibling.

Some powdered milks sting on open wounds, so when I used to get an orfy lamb I used to feed it on fresh raw Jersey milk.  Or goats milk would be just as good.  No stinging and they seemed to heal well once started on that.  Of course keep everything thoroughly disinfected, and remember you have orf virus on you once you've handled this lamb or anything he has touched, so change clothes before going near any other sheep.

You may want to consider vaccinating your other lambs (and their mums if not immune) - but again, remember it's a live vaccine and anything that's been vaccinated plus you who did the vaccinating (and your clothes), and the pens in which you held the vaccinated sheep, can then spread orf to other sheep.

[twizzel]

Yes definitely, wear gloves as you can catch it too. Blue spray will dry the sores up, put rock salt out for the other lambs in field or a brinnicombe frobut bucket. No need for antibiotics unless the sores become pussy.

[SallyintNorth]

Yes definitely, wear gloves as you can catch it too. Blue spray will dry the sores up, put rock salt out for the other lambs in field or a brinnicombe frobut bucket. No need for antibiotics unless the sores become pussy.

Blue spray is antibiotics

[steve_pr]

Thanks all for the confirmation.  Just wanted to check since it was much bigger than the usual irf sores/blisters I have seen in the past.

[twizzel]

Yes definitely, wear gloves as you can catch it too. Blue spray will dry the sores up, put rock salt out for the other lambs in field or a brinnicombe frobut bucket. No need for antibiotics unless the sores become pussy.

Blue spray is antibiotics

Injectable antibiotics    don’t need injectable antibiotics 

[Fleecewife]

Poor lamb - it does look a severe case.
I just wanted to emphasise the 'now wash your hands' bit - in the pic, someone is holding the lamb's head with bare hands.  That virus is so easy to transfer to your own nose or mouth, an open cut or even more delicate parts ( ) if you go to the loo and don't clean your hands very thoroughly beforehand as well as after.  Orf can be extremely painful (apparently ) and we all know about hand sanitisers and hand washing these days, we're just not used to having to do it around the farm.
Wearing gloves and disposing of them immediately after use is the best option.
Here's hoping the lad clears up soon and it doesn't run through the whole flock.