Author Topic: Sheep not grazing (Read 4138 times)

Cycle gladiator · « **on:** June 21, 2012, 11:53:29 am »

Our ewe, who has given birth to twins 9 wks ago has stopped grazing over the last 24hrs, she is just standing there. There is some scouring, not a massive amount, and we wormed her about 3 wks ago. Any ideas on what I can give her, I have tried hard feed and hay but she will not be tempted. I have checked for fly strike and no sign of that. Any advice would be useful.

Foobar · « **Reply #1 on:** June 21, 2012, 01:55:00 pm »

Personally, I would ring the vet for advice asap. If she's not eating and scouring then she will go down hill very rapidly.

Is she drinking? Have you tried tempting her to eat sheep nuts/mix or some other tasty treat that your sheep like? Ivy? Digestive biscuits? Hay ...etc

lachlanandmarcus · « **Reply #2 on:** June 21, 2012, 01:58:33 pm »

Definitely get the vet, whatever it is is likely to be fairly serious as sheep try to look well to put off predators. In the meantime, try her with ivy or dock leaves as they love both or at least one of them.
If she doesnt eat her rumen will stop working and that can be fatal without drastic treatment like our vet did with a twin lamb disease ewe where he took rumen juices from one of his own (unamused I imagine) ewes and we drenched her with them, bit like reactivating a septic tank bacteria. But she might also need urgent jabs eg of calcium or magnesium.
good luck

omnipeasant · « **Reply #3 on:** June 21, 2012, 03:02:33 pm »

Could be so many things, mastitis, worms again even after 3 weeks ( could be reistant worms) teeth problems. Yes get the vet quickly. Are the lambs still suckling?

SteveHants · « **Reply #4 on:** June 21, 2012, 05:04:16 pm »

If it isn't grazing, theres something wrong. Can you catch it? Are there any other sympyoms?

jaykay · « **Reply #5 on:** June 21, 2012, 05:09:36 pm »

Bring her in, with her lambs - to a pen in the field probably, unless you have something under cover that is open to the air?

I'd talk to the vet but might also try injecting her with Calciject. Doesn't do any harm and I have had sheep with milk fever who didn't collapse immediately but just did this, stood and stared.

Also agree with trying her with a bit of ivy.

Something is definitely wrong with a sheep that doesn't eat!