[ZaktheLad]

  for Susie - very sad.  :hug:to Remy.  Where does Remy live - I'm Bristol area but very close to M5 motorway access if down South or Gloucester way?

[Pedwardine]

She's Shrewsbury way.

[NLL]

shes stayed with us a few times, feel for her at this time.

[smee2012]

I'm just outside Shrewsbury but am a complete novice with sheep - only in my first year - so wouldn't be any help looking over the flock.

Poor Remy, and poor Susie    I hope things improve soon

[Marches Farmer]

I think the thing you always have to keep in the back of your mind with sheep is that they are a prey animal and therefore pre-programmed NOT to show any sign of weakness so that the wolf won't pick on them as its next dinner.  That's why it sometimes seems that you spot a problem too late to do anything constructive.

This last year has been so hard for all classes of stock - higher than usual losses reported in even the biggest and best flocks and herds around here.

[in the hills]

   So sorry.


Good idea for someone to look over the flock if she thought it might help. Fresh eyes are always a good idea I think. I'm not too far from Shrewsbury but in no way am I experienced enough to help. Always worry that I'll miss things in my own flock and its care that others might see.


Hope someone can help. That feeling of despair with your animals is so miserable. 

[moprabbit]

Remy - so sorry to hear that Susie died. It is so upsetting when you've tried your hardest and you always just hope that next time you go to see your sheep there might just be a small improvement. Don't give up, you've obviously got lots of love to give to your sheep.

[SallyintNorth]

I would say that unless someone experienced comes forward soon, it is worth one of you guys who are saying you are "not experienced enough" but are nearby to go and see Remy and her sheep.  Firstly, I bet you know a lot more than you realise, and secondly, a second pair of eyes - and hands, get your hands on one or two of them too, if you can, to see how their condition feels as well as looks - is always helpful.

[Pedwardine]

Ditto what Sally says.

[BadgerFace]

She's still with us but no improvement, not eating just drooling with laboured breathing, I'm sure it must be pneumonia as she hasn't responded to the TL drench or calciject.  She has laboured breathing and was attempting to drink when I put the water under her chin but not sure she was swallowing ..

Sorry I'm a bit late to this thread and very sorry to hear your ewe has died.
Reading above, drooling rather than foaming from the mouth indicate (IMO) Listeriosis. I have lost two ewes myself to it recently in spite of spotting it very early, seeking veterinary advice and treating aggressively with antibiotics. It's a horrible disease.

(sorry don't know what has happened with the quote?)

[Blacksheep]

so sorry to read that Susie didn't make it.
I am not sure if Remy is having a pm done this time but I think it can be worth asking at the rendering place if they can take a look, if we lose any sheep we have found that they will have a look and can tell you if it is pneumonia, about the state of the liver, parasites etc and they don't charge us anything for this.
We are in South Shropshire and have sold lambs to Remy in the past and would be happy to visit later in the year if Remy wanted us to ( I currently have a broken leg and so my OH is busy coping with lambing on his own at the moment so could not visit for a few weeks). However Remy is very experienced with keeping sheep so I am not sure whether or not we could help at all and have been in contact with Remy previously over some of the problems, OH is an experienced ecologist and would be able to identify any native plants that may be a poisonous, but the pms that Remy have had done have shown  heavy parasite burdens and pneumonia.

[colliewoman]

If anyone near me fancies going up, I'll come too. But alas I have no transport of my own and hubby is working flat out at the moment

[SteveHants]

Listeria hadn't occured to me because she was saying that they had gone straight down and they tend to 'list' with it. But it could be an explanation for why they keep dropping if she is feeding contaminated fodder.


If its any consolation, experienced sheep men and women are losing stock this year, its been such a bad year with fluke/worms appearing in huge ammounts and in places they haven't been before. I have had more morts than I expected, for a variety of reasons here and there. Its sad, but sometimes thats just the way sheep are.

[MarvinH]

Listeria hadn't occured to me because she was saying that they had gone straight down and they tend to 'list' with it. But it could be an explanation for why they keep dropping if she is feeding contaminated fodder.

Good point SH. Probably worth her getting her haylage checked out - or use alternative.

[Roxy]

So sorry about Susie.  Its terrible losing animals, and more so when they are favourites. Having been through a terrible year with my goats, and losing quite a few to various illnesses, I know the despair you must feel.  Sending you lots of  .