[milliebecks]

I have one shetland gimmer (of a flock of 12) which has, over the last day or two, developed bald patches around her eyes and on her ears. They are obviously itchy - I applied some vaseline with a tiny drop of tea tree and lavender ( a potion given to me by a local crofter to treat, she says, just about anything external!), which seems to have eased the itchiness ... she's not scratching this morning. She's otherwise moving normally with the flock and grazing.

I spent most of yesterday reading up on what this might be and am now a complete sheep hypochondriac!

Advice please. Should I:
- give her an antibiotic jag (facial excema)
- dose her with crovect (biting lice)
- just keep applying a topical lotion (vaseline+ or some other)
?

[Foobar]

I have a massive problem with this this year.  I think mine is caused by them having eaten something that has caused photo-sensitisation (ie sun burn) and the bl**dy midges are eating the raw skin and making it worse.  Absolute nightmare. I wish the cold weather would just come soon!!


Stockholm tar is my weapon of choice.  Smelly, sticky and a right pain to put on but, it works.  It soothes the skin, keeps the flies away and has natural anti-septic properties, and lasts fairly well in the rain.  I've tried the spray on stuff but it doesn't work as well as getting a handful of the goopy stuff and slapping it on .

[Backinwellies]

Be careful in case its ringworm .......... you could catch it.

http://www.nadis.org.uk/bulletins/ringworm-in-sheep.aspx

[Marches Farmer]

Do you have photographs?

[Anke]

Ringworm could be a possibility - scratching their head on fence posts etc etc. - and yes you can catch it easily (ask me how I know... - Daktarin ointment for the human case is quick and easy solution). Can't see it not working on sheep as well, especially on the hairy areas where you can reach the skin easier.... just be careful in applying it around the eyes.

[Fleecewife]

Until you know what it is, wear latex or nitrile gloves whenever you touch the sheep.  They're cheap enough for a box of 100 online and once you've got them you find loads of uses for them - and you don't go round with that daggy stink on your hands afterwards 

I'm not going to attempt a diagnosis..........

[milliebecks]

Sorry to be dumb, but I've been out and taken photos, but can't now attach them (too big) or insert as an image (doesn't seem to allow me to select an image to insert) .... Any advice please?

Thanks for your replies.

I didn't think ringworm was itchy and she was definitely scratching yesterday.

I haven't used stockholm tar before, but I know it's used on chickens ... or used to be ... for feather pecking and skin conditions. I suppose my potion would have a similar effect ... lavender is soothing and tea tree has anti-bacterial and anti-fungal properties.

[milliebecks]

And thanks ..... yes I always have nitrile gloves in my pocket. My life has become so glamorous

[Fleecewife]

I absolutely love the ad that has come up below your original posting - Ziering Hair Transplant 
A bit of a last resort for sheep 

[Foobar]

I absolutely love the ad that has come up below your original posting - Ziering Hair Transplant 
A bit of a last resort for sheep 

"bare minerals makeup" was the advert I got...hahahaha

[Anke]

I didn't think ringworm was itchy and she was definitely scratching yesterday.

I can tell from personal experience that ringworm is as itchy as hell....

[Foobar]

re your photos (which we'd love to see) ... you need to make them smaller.  Google should help you depending on what OS you are using.  or email them to me and i'll shrink them for you

[milliebecks]

OK, I have shrunk the images (I think) and saved them as gif rather than jpg files.  They are attached although I have no idea how they'll appear ......

[Backinwellies]

I didn't think ringworm was itchy and she was definitely scratching yesterday.

I can tell from personal experience that ringworm is as itchy as hell....
[/quite]
Me too!

[Backinwellies]

I've not seen ringworm on sheep before ... But that does look a bit like the cows I've seen with it.  Worth a word with the vet.