[Wendy01287]

Hi all.. I am new to this site and to owning Orphaned Lambs...My question is can you get vet insurance cover for sheep and goats like you can with dogs horses cats etc...? Incase of illness or disease etc...

[SteveHants]

Dont think so - I have farm insurance, but thats more for public liability should my stock get on the road. At the end of the day, the animal fully grow would not be more worth more than £100 in most cases, so I guess there isn't a market for it.

[WhiteHorses]

You can also get farm livestock insurance but that is for Los due to mortality or theft not vets fees.

[SteveHants]

You can also get farm livestock insurance but that is for Los due to mortality or theft not vets fees.

Thats what I have, although it'd have to be pretty dire for me to claim on it.

[Wendy01287]

Mmm that's what I was thinking..They are pets, so if they need treatment they will get it, subject to the cost ofcourse...!!! I guess there are not many pet sheep/goats waranting this type of policy, compared to other animals...Lets hope they stay healthy n happy...Thanks all for your responses.x

[lachlanandmarcus]

One thing to bear in mind is that vets do try to keep farm animal treatment costs down, some of them seem to cross subsidise it from the pet and horse work, I try to remember that when I get the pet vet bill. :-))

[plumseverywhere]

You can help keep vet bills down by avoiding call outs (ie. if you have a trailer or vehicle to transport an animal in). Call outs can be up to or around £60 before vet even puts his wellies on!
Our largest bills so far have been on sick goats..like you say, they get the treatment subject to cost and at some point we all have to be sensible 

[SheepCrazy!]

I'm a bit cheeky when I go to the vet for example If my dog has to go but my mum's cat has to have it's routine stuff tick, worm ect I take them both and get away with one consultation fee! And if I need sheep advice I ask at the same time,
I also email information for example FEC results to the vets avoiding an appointment and consultation fee

As it cost £32 to have a ewe lambed last year plus £25 call out! ( and a dead lamb)  Jags now I buy a bottle of penicillin or emgimicin and jag everything myself. (ask for a long use by date)

I also invested in hippie scub  £7 a bottle to treat all minor wound infections, bites, I also now clean the lambs years before I tag them to hopefully prevent any infections, sores in my show lambs as sowing up ears are never cheap!

If it's nothing serious ie castrating a funny lamb, ask the vet to pop in next time he's PASSINGand they should half the call out fee!  You can save so money  I have the vet was making a fortune of me