[Tania]

Having had a  problem free period for a few months now, last night we noticed that some of our soays have swollen looking scabby mouths. Reading up on potential causes it would appear that they may have 'soremouth' which according to what I have read is a virus and hence antibiotics wouldn't help - does anyone out there have any experience of this and/or any suggestions as to what I can do?

[Marches Farmer]

If the skin is damaged I would suggest you spray with antibiotic, just to stop bacterial infection setting in.

[Foobar]

Aka Orf.  Yes be careful not to touch it with bare hands as you can catch it and it is painful.


There are plenty of threads on here about Orf.  My treatment would be to spray with Net-Tex Bactocyde (a disinfectant), and put out lumps of salt (rock salt ideally), which help to dry the sores up.  And separate the affected ones to stop it spreading.  You don't need antibiotics unless it gets very bad and infected.  It will clear up by itself.
If your sheep are breeding ewes and they are still milking then check the udders for sores too and treat.


I had it one year, and since then I have had rock salt available all the time and I've never had it again.

[Pundyburn Lynn]

Yep, our Soays had sore mouth earlier in the year.  The advice was to leave well alone unless it appears to be infected.  The sores tend to fall off after a couple of weeks without intervention.