[Amcla1234]

Hi guys I have a 10 week old Hebridean lamb who was bottle fed as mum had no milk he’s been back out with the flock for 4 weeks now and stopped having any milk replacer 2 weeks ago just on feed hay and grass and he’s doing brilliantly but he has developed a dry cough that none of the others have he has had it for about 10 days and occasionally has a snotty nose what should I do? 

[twizzel]

Ring the vet…

[Anke]

Take his temperature before you speak to the vet, also did he get colostrum and was his dam vaccinated with Heptavac (or similar clostridial vaccine containing stuff for pasteurella)?


If no colostrum and/or un-vaccinated dam - he will need a vaccine shot soon, but you will need to sort out his cough first.


It could be dusty hay (if that's what he is mostly on). If it has been going on for a while it is unlikely to be pneumonia, as he would be dead by now. But you need to rule it out.


Lungworm is another possibility, so get that checked out.

[Amcla1234]

Quite new to sheep how would I know about the lungworm?

[shep53]

speak to or take the lamb to your vet , it could be 3 or 4 different things

[Anke]

Quite new to sheep how would I know about the lungworm?

Lungworm causes anaemia, so his eye lids and gums would be quite pale - however unless you know what they should look like it seems better to get in touch with your vet. Unless he has got a temperature, I would wait until tomorrow though - vets' rates on a Sunday are eyewateringly high... (if you can bring him to the surgery it is a lot cheaper as no call-out fee. He may fit into a large dog crate, or if you have another person around, you can hold him in the car if the journey is relatively short - I wrap my errant goat kids/lambs into a large towel if a trip to the vet is required for only one. Also halter or collar/lead if not in a crate).


However often you will not get a definite diagnosis, so it may just be "observe and get back to us if things change for the worse" scenario. But definitely get him checked out by the vet, they will teach you how to deal with something like this in the future - so money well spent usually.