Author Topic: Rhodedendron  (Read 13142 times)

Rosemary

  • Joined Oct 2007
  • Barry, Angus, Scotland
    • The Accidental Smallholder
Rhodedendron
« on: December 17, 2011, 03:57:16 pm »
Our wether, Dickie, has eaten some rhodedendron leaves. He's very ill and the vet says he's a 50/50 chance of pulling through. He's a wee sweetheart and was one of my first lambs.  :'(

Please keep your fingers crossed for him.

The terrible thing is I KNOW rhodedendron is poisonous but there was a plant in an old sink - I never even clocked it it's been there so long.

The vet said try kaolin and morphine but our pharmacy don't make it any more, so we're trying to get activated charcoal. The vet's on his way - he's going to give vitamins, steroids and charcoal more in hope than expectation - his words not mine.


doganjo

  • Joined Aug 2012
  • Clackmannanshire
  • Qui? Moi?
Re: Rhodedendron
« Reply #1 on: December 17, 2011, 04:06:32 pm »
Try this website - http://www.goatworld.com/health/plants/antidotes.shtml
Irene's Recipe for Rhododendron Poisoning.

Ingredients:
15 mls Renco (rennet)
15 mls Mylanta (milk of magnesia)
5 mls brandy
Mix all together
This is the adult dose!
Always have been, always will be, a WYSIWYG - black is black, white is white - no grey in my life! But I'm mellowing in my old age

plumseverywhere

  • Joined Apr 2013
  • Worcestershire
    • Its Baaath Time
    • Facebook
Re: Rhodedendron
« Reply #2 on: December 17, 2011, 04:48:16 pm »
Oh no Rosemary, really sorry to hear this. WIll keep everything crossed for you  :(
Smallholding in Worcestershire, making goats milk soap for www.itsbaaathtime.com and mum to 4 girls,  goats, sheep, chickens, dog, cat and garden snails...

Hazelwood Flock

  • Joined Sep 2011
  • Dorset.
Re: Rhodedendron
« Reply #3 on: December 17, 2011, 05:10:10 pm »
Fingers crossed for Dickie  :hshoe:
Not every day is baaaaaad!
Pedigree Greyface Dartmoor sheep.

lachlanandmarcus

  • Joined Aug 2010
  • Aberdeenshire
Re: Rhodedendron
« Reply #4 on: December 17, 2011, 05:12:46 pm »
Have everything crossed for poor Dickie, fingers and toes.

deepinthewoods

  • Guest
Re: Rhodedendron
« Reply #5 on: December 17, 2011, 05:16:08 pm »
the best of luck to you guys.

Fleecewife

  • Joined May 2010
  • South Lanarkshire
    • ScotHebs
Re: Rhodedendron
« Reply #6 on: December 17, 2011, 05:56:42 pm »
I hope he pulls through  :hshoe:
We had two biddies who ate laurel which is similar - one died, one survived  :sheep: :sheep:  The laurel has since been pulverised  :thumbsup:
"Let's not talk about what we can do, but do what we can"

There is NO planet B - what are YOU doing to save our home?

Do something today that your future self will thank you for - plant a tree

 Love your soil - it's the lifeblood of your land.

woollyval

  • Joined Feb 2008
  • Near Bodmin, Cornwall
    • Val Grainger
    • Facebook
Re: Rhodedendron
« Reply #7 on: December 17, 2011, 06:02:32 pm »
Very sorry to hear this news.....

Need to make him regurgitat/vomit as much rumen content as poss then charcoal and coffee...v strong can help good luck....
www.valgrainger.co.uk

Overall winner of the Devon Environmental Business Awards 2009

SallyintNorth

  • Joined Feb 2011
  • Cornwall
  • Rarely short of an opinion but I mean well
    • Trelay Cohousing Community
Re: Rhodedendron
« Reply #8 on: December 17, 2011, 06:04:51 pm »
Oh Rosemary, so sorry to hear this news.  :bouquet:   Crossing all my fingers and toes for Dickie  :-* :sheep:
Don't listen to the money men - they know the price of everything and the value of nothing

Live in a cohousing community with small farm for our own use.  Dairy cows (rearing their own calves for beef), pigs, sheep for meat and fleece, ducks and hens for eggs, veg and fruit growing

Rosemary

  • Joined Oct 2007
  • Barry, Angus, Scotland
    • The Accidental Smallholder
Re: Rhodedendron
« Reply #9 on: December 17, 2011, 06:24:42 pm »
Vet's been. Dickie has had pen & strep, vitamin injection, steroid injection, energy drench and activated charcoal (twice 'cos I gave him some earlier). Vet's left stuff called "Birp" (truly) in case Dickie bloats.

Vet says that it all comes down to the amount of poison he's eaten relative to his size  - so on the plus side, he's eaten about six smallish leaves and he's quite a big, adult sheep. He was also fighting the vet, which is good. He was also burping and seemed to be swallowing better. He was foaming at the mouth earlier - hypersalivation. It's not that they actually salivate any more than usual but the poison stops the gut and the oesophagus closes so they can't swallow. Now he seems to be swallowing.

The next 24 hours are crucial. I've to give him more charcoal before bedtime and again in the morning. If he doesn't eat, he's to have more of the energy drench - it's standard stuff used for twin lamb disease. I'll be picking ivy leaves and breaking out the oatcakes in the morning.

Keep everything crossed for my boy - and thanks for all your good wishes.

Anke

  • Joined Dec 2009
  • St Boswells, Scottish Borders
Re: Rhodedendron
« Reply #10 on: December 17, 2011, 09:36:00 pm »
Boots still do Kaolin and morphine, but as far as I know no other chemist sells it anymore.

Hope he gets through.

Big Light

  • Joined Aug 2011
    • Facebook
Re: Rhodedendron
« Reply #11 on: December 17, 2011, 10:11:49 pm »
Bit late with this advice but however for others - sheep will not normally eat rhodedendron however when theres a frost it  apparently makes the leaves especially sweet and palatable, the next thing you know you have sheep dropping down foaming not good -hope all goes well!

Rosemary

  • Joined Oct 2007
  • Barry, Angus, Scotland
    • The Accidental Smallholder
Re: Rhodedendron
« Reply #12 on: December 17, 2011, 10:54:05 pm »
He's just had another dose of charcoal and a cuddle. I think he'd rather just have had the cuddle  ::)

He's not bloated and he's not dribbling as much so we'll see how he is in the morning.

I've passed on your good wishes - means a lot  :)

doganjo

  • Joined Aug 2012
  • Clackmannanshire
  • Qui? Moi?
Re: Rhodedendron
« Reply #13 on: December 17, 2011, 11:11:33 pm »
Bet you're out to check him a couple of times too - an extra cuddle from me if you do, and one for you too, I'm sure you need it. :love:
Always have been, always will be, a WYSIWYG - black is black, white is white - no grey in my life! But I'm mellowing in my old age

Miss Piggy

  • Joined Mar 2011
  • Cardigan Bay, Ceredigion
Re: Rhodedendron
« Reply #14 on: December 17, 2011, 11:31:38 pm »
In our thought wishing you and Dickie all the luck needed to pull him through safely and more. Glad to hear he is no worse tonight   :wave:

 

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