Author Topic: IMPT re Fluke (Read 8173 times)

woollyval · « **on:** September 05, 2012, 10:12:52 pm »

http://www.fwi.co.uk/Articles/05/09/2012/134986/Liver-fluke-warning-as-wormer-resistance-rises.htm

FiB · « **Reply #1 on:** September 06, 2012, 08:46:44 am »

Thanks Val - very timely, though clear as mud what I ought to do. I'm sure the vet will be very keen to sit down and develop an individual program with me for my 14 sheep. Not !! I did treat for fluke in June and was told to treat gain in October, so I might just bring that forward a bit. The article contradicts the leaflet I picked up in the vet (as does the vets recommendations!!) which says recent weather paterns have produced low fluke conditions and that treatment should be evidence based to prevent resistance (like worming). Maybe it was true before the wettest summer? Preventative medication of sheep, I hate the subjectivity of it! Autumn goal is to understand the Soil Association organic guidance (not that I am, but am hoping that is guidance on what is the absolute 'must do' medication and what is the stuff that has leached to smallholding sheep care from commercial farming systems. Anyone on here organinc - what do you do re fluke?

in the hills · « **Reply #2 on:** September 06, 2012, 10:27:34 am »

My vet told me recently that it was too early to treat for fluke

. Never know what to do for the best

Met a lady the other day who kept a flock of over 80 Soay. Never did any routine treatment - no heptavac, fly strike stuff or routine worming/fluke. Said she never had any serious problems/ did not lose sheep as a consequence.

Interesting.

Foobar · « **Reply #3 on:** September 06, 2012, 11:25:35 am »

All depends on your local environment really.
And the weather. I think the change in weather patterns is changing when certain things are hatching/breeding etc.

I have small snails all over the place here (south wales), and have done all summer, and have I streams in half of my fields, so I treat from Sept/Oct to May. I follow Nadis's advice every year, which changes year on year. Just started my fluke treating this week.
I think Fluke is one of those things that once you notice symptoms it's quite well developed and sometimes too late for the poor sheep.

SteveHants · « **Reply #4 on:** September 06, 2012, 11:44:05 am »

I bashed my sheep with a combined wormer/flukicide beginning aug, cos I had cocci as well as worms which is so odd for the time of year, I thought I might as well use a wormer that does fluke too, just in case.

Your fluke incidence probably depends where you live. We don't see much of it down here, better to take local advice rather than a 'one size fits all' for the entire country.

suziequeue · « **Reply #5 on:** September 06, 2012, 06:00:10 pm »

We were told to treat for fluke with a separate preparation this month by the vet. I guess that's local conditions.... But when I mentioned this at the agri store they looked at me a bit gone out and suggested the usual Combinex - otherwise the smallest bottle of pure fluke stuff was for 50 sheep (we have 16).

So - haven't done anything yet......

VSS · « **Reply #6 on:** September 06, 2012, 06:07:14 pm »

It defiantely depends on if you have a problem with fluke on your land. It tends to be related to the type of land you have rather than the way it is managed.

Quote from: FiB on September 06, 2012, 08:46:44 am

I'm sure the vet will be very keen to sit down and develop an individual program with me for my 14 sheep. Not !!

Have you asked them? You might be surprised.

shep53 · « **Reply #7 on:** September 06, 2012, 07:39:47 pm »

Quote from: suziequeue on September 06, 2012, 06:00:10 pm

We were told to treat for fluke with a separate preparation this month by the vet. I guess that's local conditions.... But when I mentioned this at the agri store they looked at me a bit gone out and suggested the usual Combinex - otherwise the smallest bottle of pure fluke stuff was for 50 sheep (we have 16).

So - haven't done anything yet......

If you have fluke in your sheep, 3 treatments over the winter period would be a minimum so you would use all of the bottle , if you don't have fluke then you don't need any, i have fluke in the sheep and treat at least 5 times . F I B when i was organic i still had to treat as normal , animal welfare comes first but i was encouraged to drain or fence wet areas. IN THE HILLS all my ewes are treated at weaning in august

in the hills · « **Reply #8 on:** September 06, 2012, 08:04:56 pm »

shep53 - thanks for that. Will get back in touch with our vet because I was told by a neighbouring farmer that we probably would get fluke due to stream through all our paddocks and rushes in places. And with all the rain we've had .......

suziequeue · « **Reply #9 on:** September 06, 2012, 08:09:48 pm »

Right - we've also got wet land - rushes in the fields and boggy bits in places etc. I shall start this weekend.

The vet probably took one look and advised accordingly!!

Hazelwood Flock · « **Reply #10 on:** September 06, 2012, 08:22:06 pm »

I have never treated for fluke, but my main field has been boggy all summer so have just got some Cydectin TriclaMox to do them with just in case as it has a persistent effect on roundworms which have been very active lately!

shep53 · « **Reply #11 on:** September 06, 2012, 08:31:12 pm »

Your vet can take blood samples to test for fluke which may be cheaper than treating for something you may not have . I f you have to treat remember their are three different chemicals NITROXYNIL _ Trodax CLOSANTEL_ Flukiver / Closamectin /Supaverm TRICLABENDAZOLE _ Fasinex / Ttibex /Endofluke/ Combinex /Fasimec

FiB · « **Reply #12 on:** September 06, 2012, 08:50:12 pm »

Thanks for that - I think I will get a blood test - is it likely that they will all have it or not or could one have it and not the rest?. When 2 died over the winter and had PM there was no sign in the liver, but there were only ewe lambs so vet said that didnt rule it out and as we are in a wet anf fluky area vet suggested dosing (not based on positive ID in our sheep). Thanks all for great thread informative as ever.

shep53 · « **Reply #13 on:** September 06, 2012, 09:00:42 pm »

It is possible for afew sheep to have fluke and not the rest or to have different levels of infection , it depends on where they graze

ScotsGirl · « **Reply #14 on:** September 06, 2012, 10:43:19 pm »

This worming lark is very confusing and contradictory. I regularly FEC and worm accordingly. Eventually, having asked for fluke test, vet says eggs for this and other worms don't always shed and therefore not always identifiable even if affected.

I wormed in June for everything regardless of egg count and will do same in autumn.

Will blood testing definitely show up fluke? Does it show up anything else?