Author Topic: Should I start over with heptovac (Read 2833 times)

kdmitch · « **on:** January 10, 2014, 11:04:13 am »

Hi All
Happy New Year.

I wonder if anyone can give me advice. I have four pet sheep (not to be bred from). Born appox April 2013. I bought them from a smallholding in June. They had been given Heptovac, but I did not realise I needed to re-administer a few weeks later. Should I now start over and vaccinate now and administer again this year. Any other advice on vaccinations to use would be most welcome.
I did go on the sheep keeping course with The Accidental Smallholder, and have all my note, but I am still getting a bit confused over vaccinations, worming and tick and fly prevention. Everything else is going well and they are happy, clean and well fed babies who love lots of hugs and attention, and love playing with my rough collie, and are fascinated by my cat.

Thanks in advance for any help.
Kerrey

Rosemary · « **Reply #1 on:** January 10, 2014, 12:00:42 pm »

Heptavac needs two doses, 4-6 weeks apart, to be effective - then an annual booster. On another post, some members say they never use it and haven't had any problems. Personally, I'd use it but the choice is yours.

With your sheep, I wouldn't routinely worm. I would do a faecal worm egg count in spring and autumn and worm if required. If your land was clean ie free of sheep for a year or more and you can rotate the grazing, you might never need to worm. Adult sheep build a resistance to worms.

Fluke is a bit more complicated and your vet is probably best able to advise on the fluke issues in your area. Faecal testing isn't reliable for fluke. If you vet advises fluking, he may be able to give you enough for four sheep - ours does.

I wouldn't have thought that you need to vaccinate for anything else, especially if you aren't breeding

Bramblecot · « **Reply #2 on:** January 10, 2014, 03:49:47 pm »

Speak to your vet and ask if they will break down a bottle of vaccine for you to share with another client. Some will, some won't bother or will only sell a full bottle (25 doses).

mojocafa · « **Reply #3 on:** January 10, 2014, 04:38:35 pm »

I have just realised that aim 7 weeks lated with annual booster, will that matter?

smallflockshearing · « **Reply #4 on:** January 10, 2014, 05:14:11 pm »

Hi Kerrey, mojocafa, yes, start over again. I'd differ from Rosemary, and recommend definitely to keep your heptavac up to date. It's not worth it for you or for the sheep - clostridial diseases are nasty.

jacoblambuk · « **Reply #5 on:** January 10, 2014, 08:23:46 pm »

Hi i didn't bother with heptovac for about 4 years then last year a lovely jacob gimmer went down i thought worms so i wormed her but the next day she was dead took her to the vets they opened her up and after that i was told to use heptovax and now i never miss its easy to say they don't need it but THEY DO.

Rosemary · « **Reply #6 on:** January 11, 2014, 03:07:14 pm »

Quote from: smallflockshearing on January 10, 2014, 05:14:11 pm

Hi Kerrey, mojocafa, yes, start over again. I'd differ from Rosemary, and recommend definitely to keep your heptavac up to date. It's not worth it for you or for the sheep - clostridial diseases are nasty.

Where did I not recommend keeping Heptavac up to date, please?