Agri Vehicles Insurance from Greenlands

Author Topic: Coughing lamb  (Read 1117 times)

Amcla1234

  • Joined Apr 2022
Coughing lamb
« on: June 18, 2022, 10:41:30 pm »
Hi guys I have a 10 week old Hebridean lamb who was bottle fed as mum had no milk he’s been back out with the flock for 4 weeks now and stopped having any milk replacer 2 weeks ago just on feed hay and grass and he’s doing brilliantly but he has developed a dry cough that none of the others have he has had it for about 10 days and occasionally has a snotty nose what should I do?  ??? :thinking:

twizzel

  • Joined Apr 2012
Re: Coughing lamb
« Reply #1 on: June 19, 2022, 08:14:56 am »
Ring the vet…

Anke

  • Joined Dec 2009
  • St Boswells, Scottish Borders
Re: Coughing lamb
« Reply #2 on: June 19, 2022, 09:38:58 am »
Take his temperature before you speak to the vet, also did he get colostrum and was his dam vaccinated with Heptavac (or similar clostridial vaccine containing stuff for pasteurella)?


If no colostrum and/or un-vaccinated dam - he will need a vaccine shot soon, but you will need to sort out his cough first.


It could be dusty hay (if that's what he is mostly on). If it has been going on for a while it is unlikely to be pneumonia, as he would be dead by now. But you need to rule it out.


Lungworm is another possibility, so get that checked out.

Amcla1234

  • Joined Apr 2022
Re: Coughing lamb
« Reply #3 on: June 19, 2022, 09:40:58 am »
Quite new to sheep how would I know about the lungworm?

shep53

  • Joined Jan 2011
  • Dumfries & Galloway
Re: Coughing lamb
« Reply #4 on: June 19, 2022, 10:12:24 am »
speak to or take the lamb to your vet , it could be 3 or 4 different things

Anke

  • Joined Dec 2009
  • St Boswells, Scottish Borders
Re: Coughing lamb
« Reply #5 on: June 19, 2022, 11:54:04 am »
Quite new to sheep how would I know about the lungworm?


Lungworm causes anaemia, so his eye lids and gums would be quite pale - however unless you know what they should look like it seems better to get in touch with your vet. Unless he has got a temperature, I would wait until tomorrow though - vets' rates on a Sunday are eyewateringly high... (if you can bring him to the surgery it is a lot cheaper as no call-out fee. He may fit into a large dog crate, or if you have another person around, you can hold him in the car if the journey is relatively short - I wrap my errant goat kids/lambs into a large towel if a trip to the vet is required for only one. Also halter or collar/lead if not in a crate).


However often you will not get a definite diagnosis, so it may just be "observe and get back to us if things change for the worse" scenario. But definitely get him checked out by the vet, they will teach you how to deal with something like this in the future - so money well spent usually.

 
Advertisement
 

Lamb coughing

Started by Frieslandfilly (11.44)

Replies: 2
Views: 8288
Last post April 12, 2011, 03:33:32 pm
by ellisr
Coughing ram-lamb

Started by dyedinthewool (11.44)

Replies: 9
Views: 7049
Last post December 29, 2011, 12:13:59 am
by SallyintNorth
Coughing lamb

Started by yvonne.s (11.44)

Replies: 5
Views: 4066
Last post August 28, 2012, 10:36:23 am
by Sbom
Coughing lamb

Started by laurelrus (11.44)

Replies: 2
Views: 3346
Last post May 26, 2016, 06:44:33 pm
by Marches Farmer
New Lamb Coughing

Started by JadeL (11.44)

Replies: 4
Views: 1724
Last post June 17, 2020, 07:09:24 pm
by Buttermilk

Forum sponsors

FibreHut Energy Helpline Thomson & Morgan Time for Paws Scottish Smallholder & Grower Festival Ark Farm Livestock Movement Service

© The Accidental Smallholder Ltd 2003-2023. All rights reserved.

Design by Furness Internet

Site developed by Champion IS