[melodysheep]

I have a castrated shetland boy of 4 years.
On Friday of last week (had to be the first time I was going away with husband for years - of course) on checking in the morning, I found him almost contracting (best description I can offer) every few minutes. Rang vet and advised metacam and buscopan - duly administered. He was not really much easier by late afternoon so called vet out. No temperature/heart rate normal/no adverse other noises from within. Only explanation seemed to be bunged up so to let drugs take effect.
Our neighbour checked them last thing and he was still at it so she called on duty vet who said couldn't give anything else on top of what he'd had. As he didn't look distressed, leave until the morning and re-check.
Next morning, still at it so next vet out. Ruled out stones and waterwork problems so suggested epsom salt drench and ?lube to flush him through.  After 2nd drench he did start to scour a bit and the 'contractions' seemed to ease while he was at rest. He started nibbling grass and drinking.
On checking him this morning, although no where as bad as originally, he seems to still be contracting, again, not as badly, when he moves.
He doesn't seem particularly distressed although not mixing with the girls either.
Does anyone have any suggestions? Could it be tapeworm although surely there would have been evidence of that.
They were last treated with Oramec which doesn't appear to cover that. They are not overgrazed and he's not been 'off colour' before.
I'm waiting for next call from the vet, but thought I'd see if anyone on here had any bright ideas!
Thank you in advance
p.s. just spoken to original vet and she is putting out another dose of metacam and worming injection. She didn't think it was tapeworm but worming would do no harm.

[Fleecewife]

My first thought was stones in the urethra, but you say that has been ruled out.
Second thought, some kind of poisoning.
Let's hope someone else has a better idea !

[shep53]

Absolutely  sure its not Urolithiasis ? Normally a sheep constantly straining has the runs

[melodysheep]

Don't think so as pretty bunged up until epsom salts etc, but thank you.

[YorkshireLass]

If your sheep were a dog (bear with me!) I'd wonder if they'd eaten a lump of tennis ball that can't pass all the way through? As in something is causing an obstruction, and even if the faeces are loosened enough to flow around the blockage, the actual blockage is still there?

[SallyintNorth]

I think sheep, like cattle, divert foreign bodies into one of the stomachs - and they stay there, don’t pass through. But my knowledge of ruminant digestion is a bit sketchy...

[shep53]

ruminants have 4 stomachs and often in cattle metal objects ( wire ,nails , screws ) can get lodged in the second somach  ( reticulum )  and have to be removed . Was a programme a few years ago about cows in India eating large amounts  of plastic  and dying if not operated on

[farmers wife]

Any feedback?  I am suspicious of some kind of infection from the castration.  Def Metacam and anti biotics.