[wellies]

Ted the tup is constantly itchy. We have taken a wool sample and the vet looked at it under the microscope but couldn't find anything. I am going to take a skin scraping on Thursday again so the vet can have a look under the microscope. None of the other sheep are itchy but poor Ted is either eating, sleeping or scratching. He even started rubbing against me the other day. I've had a look at his skin which looks in good condition, he doesn't have any scabs or bald patches. Anyone got any ideas? 

[shep53]

The most common cause is lice, treat with a pour-on or dip. Next is scab treat with an injectable or dip ( when you take the skin scraping go for the waxy areas in the folds of the leg pits ) . Then there is brain damage which can cause constant rubbing

[wellies]

oooh, lets hope its something simple brain damage doesn't sound very hopeful 

[SallyintNorth]

We had all our hoggs itchy one winter, no-one could find anything in wool or skin scrapings, but we decided to try Dectomax as they were so miserable.  Not much of an improvement, so we tried Crovect (thin line right down onto the skin, not a broad mist over the fleece like you would for fly) and that did the trick.  Vet said it must've been biting lice as they are not affected by Dectomax but are by Crovect.

[FiB]

We had biting lice (after a mis 'diagnosis' by a neighbour and  a dose of dectomax) - ours had lots of bald patches by the time I got the vet in and she showed me under the microscope one of the 'bits' in the fleece - a ferocious scopion looking beasty!  Now I can see them - buff coloured bits in the fleece quite close to the skin.  I thought they were just bits of lanolin, but if you keep looking they slowly move! they wernt gone after 2 weeks so will have to redose (spot  on -  5ml for my sheep put onto the skin down the midline at shoulder) if not gone this weekend (vet says thay can take 2-3 weeks to go).  Good luck

[Tilly]

Hi Wellies 
..... lets hope the skin sample sheds some light on Teds problem 

[Haylo-peapod]

Each winter we always seem to have a few cases of lice so are always on the look out for any individuals having a good old scratch (in our case skinnier ones tend to be more prone). Spot On seems to work pretty well if lice is your ram's problem - just bear in mind the withdrawal period (albeit I'm not sure it'll matter in his case  )

Hope he's feeling more comfy soon.

[plt102]

We had a horse with lice and I am pretty sure the sheep have them. I am a little nervous of treating it as my ewes are due to lamb. Is there any risk of using crovect on pregnant ewes or those that have just given birth?

[wellies]

my vet gave me coopers spot on to treat Ted and we are going to do the ewes in the next couple of days 

[plt102]

cool thanks for that - I'll ask the vet

P