[Michelle.L.]

Hello again,

I noticed very strange behaviour from our two pet sheep (1 year old Cheviot wethers) today. They stomp, not at their belly just stomp, jerk their head down, sniff at seemingly nothing, lie down, get up again. Otherwise they seem fine, graze and ruminate, I've seen them urinate and poo looks normal as well, last FEC was clean.
They seem confused somehow whenever this happens - as far as you can tell with a sheep... Which made me fear it might be something neurological? But then again, both at once  I will also talk to our vet tomorrow morning. But was wondering if anyone has seen anything like this before?

Thank you!

[landroverroy]

Possibly due to the irritation of maggots. Have you noticed any blue/greenbottles round them?

[Michelle.L.]

No, nothing of the sort. They are also very cuddly, so I think I would notice any bigger parasites like maggots. I checked them when I noticed this behaviour and couldn't see anything.

[silkwoodzwartbles]

My first thought, given the weather, is flystrike. I have seen similar behaviour before though when my sheep were being bitten by midges.

This has just reminded me to buy Red Top Fly Traps!

[twizzel]

My thought was flystrike too. Sounds classic behaviour. Get them in and go over with fine tooth comb paying particular attention to between shoulder blades, bum, back, tummy.

[Penninehillbilly]

Fly strike is first thought, but if you are 100% positive, (also have a good sniff round, not sure about early stages, but you can smell when maggots are there, presumably their excretia), then it may be lice or mites, .
Also check round their feet and between toes.

[Michelle.L.]

I've just had a good look at the one who showed that behaviour first (thanks to floodlights and headlamps  ) but couldn't find anything - bum, belly, legs, back shoulders all just healthy looking skin under the wool. But I mean there is a lot of sheep and a lot of wool...(everyone up here shears end of may/early June - I was planning to do it this week) How would I best go about finding an affected area?

[SallyintNorth]

Hopefully what you saw was them shaking off some flies or midges. 

Usually, once they are actually struck, you will see repeated behaviours that indicate
intermittent severe irritation.  If you don't see, recognise or find it at that stage, you will eventually see grey damp patches, caused by the maggots' exudate.  It's pretty severe by that stage, so it's better to catch it sooner if you can.

I usually watch the sheep for a while and conclude where they are struck from their behaviour - flinching, moving as though to bite or kick at themselves, and so on.  You often can"t see the actual maggots until you are taking the wool off.

I once had my steely blue Wensleydale acting like she was struck on the top of the rump, so penned her and did the "start at the outer edges of a dinner plate sized patch with the maggots in the middle, and shear inwards, so that once you get to them, the maggots cannot escape into long wool" thing.  Got to the middle of the patch - one solitary maggot, not yet actually broken the skin.  Good catch! 

[shep53]

Have seen a few ewes doing this in the last week as large flies and bees are waking up and buzzing around

[twizzel]

The only other thing I can think of is nasal bot fly, have they got snotty noses?