[mab]

hello everyone,


one of my two shetlands has stopped eating; I noticed yesterday that she seemed to be sitting down a lot and not chewing cud or eating, then yesterday eve when I came out with the usual small amount of ewe-nuts she only ate a little and then stood with a 'look' which, on the dog, I would have interpreted as the 'I want to throw up' face. Otherwise she looks OK - no scouring, no sign of flystike, etc, just not eating.


this morning she was just standing and not eating - sometimes moving a short distance - didn't sit down once all morning - Time to talk to the vet (midmorning); well he gave me a couple of injections for her (metacam), one for today and one for Saturday.


didn't look good when i came back with the meds - she just stood there and let me approach and give her the injection - not at all her usual flighty self. But having done that she has perked up a bit and is moving about a bit more and sitting down again.


Once she'd perked up I looked at her teeth as per vets instructions (which was not so easy as she'd started moving away from me again) - can't see anything wrong and doesn't react when prodding her cheeks - so am not sure if vet is right with his teeth problem theory.


other factors to consider: she had access to some oak logs which might have had 'young' acorns on them yesterday/ day before - but that might be a red-herring. I did find in the shelter a 'grassy' lump that looked as though it might've been regurgitated - it smelled of sheep pee - though it may just have been pee'd on.


any suggestions?


oh, I picked up a sachet of 'rumen stimulant' but I don't think she's going to take it voluntarily - any advice on 'drenching' (I've never done this before - though I've just looked at a couple of u-toob vids, they're not filling me with confidence)?


thx


marcus

[shep53]

Could be anything every one should buy a simple digital thermometer, if your sheep has a fever then it may need  antibiotics or if sub normal, all  information for a vet . Dosing is easy so don't panic a gun or narrow necked bottle or  the syringe from a lamb stomach tube will work , into the side of the mouth on top of the tongue and pour or squeeze slowly so she has time to swollow , if she starts coughing stop give her time and then begin again

[ZaktheLad]

Agree that a plastic syringe is the easiest way to drench if you don't have a drenching gun.  Get someone to hold her for you or tie her up with a halter so you have both hands free - one to hold her head and the other to insert the syringe to her mouth. Hope she picks up soon 

[mab]

Thanks for that; got the syring - i'll give it a try. I have managed to get her to eat a tiny amount of the powder mixed with a little ewe-nut-dust.


she does seem a bit more perky again but wondering how much of that is the short-term effect of the jab.


 

[funkyfish]

Have you weaned lambs off her recently-mastitis?

[shep53]

Metacam is a pain killer and anti inflamatory , so you may be right ,time will tell

[Anke]

I would have given her a vitB injection (like Combivit) - it acts as a stimulant for appetite and would safeguard against possible CCN (although if she had that she would be dead by now). You can get Combivit from the merchants, about 5ml into the muscle.
 
It has worked very well for me this summer with a couple of goats (milkers) that stopped eating their concentrate.

[jaykay]

I'm betting 'gut-rot' from the acorns.

Is she bloated?

[JMB]

We had a lamb off colour a few weeks ago. Just not eating. It took 2 lots of antibiotic injections before it picked up. Fine now.
I had rumen stimulant which I fed with a syringe. You need to make sure it has fluids.

My sheep  book suggests ivy or willow as an appetite stimulant.
Good luck
Joanne xxxxx

[mab]

Have you weaned lambs off her recently-mastitis?

no, it's a couple of years since her last lamb - she has a lump in her udder from then so I don't breed from her.

I'm betting 'gut-rot' from the acorns.

Is she bloated?

That is my guess - she doesn't really look bigger than normal, but considering she probably hasn't eaten in 24hrs +, I'd expect her to look thinner. It would also explain her reluctance to sit down (although, I would've expected scouring). I should add that she has a history of eating fallen acorns (though never enough to make her ill), but when I let her near the logs I didn't think about acorns - didn't see any - and just supposed she was after the green ivy (I was focused on clearing the road where the oak had fallen) - now feeling like a bit of an eejit    .


Oh, JMB, you posed whilst I was typing!

We had a lamb off colour a few weeks ago. Just not eating. It took 2 lots of antibiotic injections before it picked up. Fine now.
I had rumen stimulant which I fed with a syringe. You need to make sure it has fluids.

My sheep  book suggests ivy or willow as an appetite stimulant.
Good luck
Joanne xxxxx

I have seen her standing over the water bucket several times today, and with drips on her chin, so I think she is drinking. I'll offer her some ivy &willow tomorrow (oak free).

[mab]

Well she's a bit more perky today - so much so I can't get hold of her    - but I'm still not seeing her eating, and she's still standing around a lot.


I did wonder about vitamin jabs /antibiotics but thought the vets would've suggested them if appropriate - am wondering if this vet is on the ball or waiting for me to bring the sheep in for a consultation fee (though, to be fair, they may not be able to advise more without seeing the sheep themselves)


Well I'll try & corral her again in an hour to give her more rumen stimulant.

[Foobar]

If you get her in, check her temperature.

[mab]

I had my digital probe thermometer handy earlier - but didn't get hold of her.


trouble is my usual method of confining them is to entice them in with ewe-nuts; but it doesn't work as well when they're off their food    ....

[mab]

At last! (she's moving faster than earlier, but managed to corner her)


temp 39°C which I think is normal? (my sheep deseases book doesn't give a temp for adult sheep - only lambs).


ivy / willow (and ewe nuts) not enticing her - is it worth trying apple/ carrot?

[Shenleysouthdown]

Try an apple - my sheep love apples. Hope she gets better soon