[agri293]

i have had to separate a pregnant ewe from the rest she is losing wool and has bear bits this was late evening so I will need to check her first thing in the morning I have notice the last couple of days several of the ewes with wool about there mouths as if they have been chewing if it is scab or lice what is the best way to treat pregnant ewes

[landroverroy]

Obviously you won't want to be dipping them so you'll need to inject them with an ivomec type wormer eg rycomec, dectomax, or whatever your local stockist/vet keeps.

[SallyintNorth]

I'd advise trying to get a diagnosis, or you risk having to treat them several times.  (Ask me how I know  )

If you take a fresh skin scraping (with the wool you scraped too) to the vet they should be able to see what the problem is, and prescribe the appropriate remedy.

Could be (probably amongst other things) scab, biting lice, sucking lice, keds, or no beastie just weather related / mineral deficiency...

[moony]

Definitely get it tested to determine what it is. We had a problem this summer and ended up treating them time after time before relenting and dipping. Getting a skin scrape would have saved a lot of time and hassle.

[Me]

If you want to save a visit fee take it in the trailer to the vets so they can sample from the right areas in the right way and check for lice etc at the same time or you will probably be wasting your time.

[Me]

LLR I appreciate you are trying to be helpful but Dectomax may not cover long enough to prevent scab reinfection from the environment - and needs to be given twice to be effective IME. Cydectin LA can lead to severe neurological problems and even kill if the sheep have been Footvaxed etc etc the devil is in the detail so contact your vet who will talk to you or may even (god forbid) know your situation having seen it and be able to give more appropriate advice.

[landroverroy]

 

LLR I appreciate you are trying to be helpful but Dectomax may not cover long enough to prevent scab reinfection from the environment - and needs to be given twice to be effective IME. Cydectin LA can lead to severe neurological problems and even kill if the sheep have been Footvaxed etc etc the devil is in the detail so contact your vet who will talk to you or may even (god forbid) know your situation having seen it and be able to give more appropriate advice.

Well dectomax was what I used on my highly pregnant ewes some years ago. I chose it on the vet's recommendation and because one dose was sufficient and it sorted the problem.

[Me]

The problem being itchy sheep, or scab or do you not know?

[Marches Farmer]

A vet job - in this case it'll save time, hassle and money.  If the ewes are nabbing at their wool they're irritated enough to interrupt grazing or possibly reabsorb/slip their lambs.

[moony]

From personal experience one of the most embarrassing things is concerned sheep neighbours knocking on the door offering to dip/treat them. That's what we had because I was too tight to get the vet in the first place, although in hindsight it would have saved a lot of time and money. As they are in lamb really less is more for treatments hence a further need for the vet. If they are chewing their wool not only does it completely knacker their fleeces, it stops them eating at the most critical time, can lead to infections from eating dirty wool and it provides the perfect place for flies at the first opportunity. We also had a couple get their teeth stuck in the wool.