[Jamie12]

So I have a ewe lamb hopping lame already. Arrived Thursday, been dosed, dipped, foot bathed before coming to me. Parts of the field are quite stubbly and have a few thistle type plants in places. My issue is I can't get any hurdles until Monday and I'm at work until Monday afternoon so it doesn't give me much time during the days I'm at work, going to try make a make shift pen tonight and catch them. What is the best course of action? I have foot spray handy, should they go onto a footvax system?. Also one has a cough and I'm panicking about this too, and then odd ones has a dirty bum   

[Hellybee]

Could have a touch of scald.  Antibiotic spray I d use x

[Porterlauren]

I'd tip them all over and look at their feet, you are looking for either redness / whiteness between the hooves, or a nasty smell. It will usually either be scald or foot rot (the latter being the same thing but worse). If it is mild, I would give them a spray, if in any doubt, i'd give it a shot of alamycin, and spray, it should clear up in five days max, usually gets better in 2 or 3. Don't be tempted to trim it, unless it's desperate, you will often make it worse.

While they are in, i'd collect some faeces samples from some of the scourers and have an FEC count done, that way, you will know if they have a worm burden or not.

R.E the coughing, could be something, or nothing, How bad is it, and how regular?

[Old Shep]

Dirty bums are normal when they have moved to different pasture, plus there is a bit of a grass growth spurt at the moment and lots of sheep have dirty bums.  That should clear up in a week or so. If they were wormed before coming to you - don't do them again!  See also if the cough clears up in a couple of days - as long as she is looking bright and eating OK don't worry too much.  If she is doing an Eyeore impression (head down looking miserable) then there may be something more sinister. 


If they have been footbathed they shouldn't have scald again so soon.  Do you trust that all these procedures were actually done before you got them?

[Jamie12]

Plan is to gather them in tomorrow once I've made a make shift pen  . Cough only seems apparent after she's run and is contionious for a short period, will have a closer inspection tomorrow and sort out the lame one.

[shygirl]

been dosed, dipped, foot bathed before coming to me.

personally i wouldnt believe anything a buyer says, and treat them all yourself, that way you know they have been done right.

[Anke]

Plan is to gather them in tomorrow once I've made a make shift pen  . Cough only seems apparent after she's run and is contionious for a short period, will have a closer inspection tomorrow and sort out the lame one.

How old is the girl that is coughing? Just maybe think about Jaagsiekte - google it and maybe talk to your vet.

[Jamie12]

She was February born. I'm planning to put them on heptavac and worm them, taking things with a pinch of salt!

[Jamie12]

Managed to get a few into my pen (which didn't stand up to much!), no foot rot in any, overgrown feet and one of them lame so Itrimmed her back a bit. Should iI be trimming them all or just any slightly lame?. Purchased 20 6ft hurdles this evening so round two is Sunday and hopefully I can contain them all!

[Anke]

She was February born. I'm planning to put them on heptavac and worm them, taking things with a pinch of salt!

Ah, I had assumed that they were vaccinated. Do the vaccination as soon as possible, and it's a double dose of 2ml per sheep 4 weeks apart. Injection under the skin only.

[Marches Farmer]

Just remember shepherds never sell their very best stock!  We were lucky and took on a whole flock to begin with, so we got the good, the bad and the ugly, and have culled ruthlessly ever since. 

[Jamie12]

They have apparently been done with ovivac but again taking it with a pinch of salt! Anything lame now that is a persistent problem will definitley be culled