[JMB]

Hi.
Sorry if this has been covered before, I'm in a panic. My favourite lamb, Happy Lamb, who is nearly a year old is looking really flukey with a puffy jaw. We wormed them and fluked them with combinex this morning and I decided to put him in the stable as he looks a bit weak. He is eating and drinking, but I had 2 sheep go downhill rapidly from this stage before and we lost them.
Is there anything else I should be doing for him?
We put him in the stable in case I had to administer anything else, but I'm not sure if this is more stressful than being out and about.
Any advice gratefully received
Thanks
Joanne xxxxx

[SallyintNorth]

I'd make sure he has a pal with him if you are keeping him in.  Personally, unless the weather is evil, or he is bullied by the others and you have no other way of ensuring he gets to eat whatever food you put out, then I'd think he'd be better outside - but if he's a favourite I am sure you can judge whether he's happy indoors, or not. 

Give him a few days for the fluke to get knocked on the head, then give him a toip quality chelated mineral drench.  So long as he's eating and drinking and you are giving him the best of feed, there's not much else you can do at the moment.

If he doesn't show some improvement in a week or so, talk to your vet.  There is some resistance to some of the fluke drugs now, and this year we have found that we needed to use one of the others besides Combinex/Fasinex (triclabendazole.)  But I don't know how soon it would be safe to treat him with a different drug if the triclabendazole doesn't do the trick.

Good luck.

[Blacksheep]

As Sally says there have been some problems with triclabendazole not being effective against fluke, I think as well as due to resistance there are also problems with it not working if the liver is not functioning well, which it won''t be if the fluke is severe. So would also think that you should try and another flukicide, I would speak to your vet asap to get advice on what to use and how soon it would be safe to use it, as you need to be giving it as soon as you can at this stage of fluke.
Would also agree re keeping him out with his friends unless the weather is very severe, or bringing a companion in as you need to keep any stress to a minimum.    for Happy Lamb

[Marches Farmer]

I'd suggest talking to your vet about a flukicide strategy for the future.  If it's got as far as bottle jaw for this lamb then all the others are likely to have liver fluke.

[JMB]

How depressing to have this again. We wormed and fluked them in January so I wasnt expecting any problems yet.
Thanks for your replies.
I'll ring the vet on Monday if he's no better.
Xxxxxx

[Blacksheep]

I think I  would be inclined to ring your vet today rather than wait a couple of days, if your flock was treated in January then it seems likely that the flukicide you used has not been very effective and you need to be using another one as soon as your vet says it is safe to do so, as bottle jaw indicates the damage is now very severe.

[SallyintNorth]

I agree with Blacksheep - phone the vet now, two days could make a difference.  The vets will be on duty, it's that time of year.

[Calvadnack]

I had this problem two years ago using Combinex and now use separate wormer and fluke drench.

[Marlboro]

We had this problem after using combinex, one of the old girls developed bottle jaw and the vet advised to redo them all with flukiver. The old girl in question was put on special rations and loads of tlc, she now has a lovely pair of twins which she is feeding well. I still have her in and companions vary, often every day.
She is still very thin and needs a lot of extras to keep her and the lambs going.

[JMB]

Well that cheered me up a bit Malboro.
Our vet came out this morning and gave him a steroid and I've got him in a stable keeping warm.The vet didn't have any vitamins to jag him with so I gave him twin lamb drench, only thing I have to hand.
She advised not to redo the fluke drench though yet. We have Mebadown handy but she advised to wait. I hope that's the right thing to do.
I asked if I should get a fluke only drench rather than a combi but she thought not.
Looks like it will just be more TLC for now. He did eat a bit of food, and he took some bread off me which he loves, but his appetite isn't great.
If anyone has any genius ideas of picking his appetite up let me know .
Thanks again for your replies
Joanne xxx

[Bramblecot]

Try fresh young ivy leaves on the stem, and young willow leaves/twigs - mine love both.  Good luck

[mmu]

Yep, ivy is really good for helping restore apetite, especially when there's nothing else about.

[JMB]

Hi.
Our lamb is still not eating much. The vet gave me some rumen stimulant which I add to water and feed him. He drank quite alot earlier and nearly chewed the end off the syringe, but it's supposed to get his appetite going and he refuses anything else.
I tried ivy and corn and tup and lamb mix and bread, but he's not interested.
The vet came on Sunday, we'd fluked on saturday, he still has some bottle jaw but the vet advised not to refluke.
Am I being impatient? I just don't want him to suffer.
We had a ewe 2 years ago that staggered on for 2 weeks before I had her put down and I don't want to go there again.
When do you know that he's not going to get better?
Thanks.
Joanne xxxxx

[woollyval]

Try digestive biscuits....almost as good as willow, apple and ivy and sometimes preferred. Good luck. If his liver is very damaged it might not be able to recover.....