Runny nose and coughing

mystang89

True BYH Addict
Joined
Jun 23, 2012
Messages
1,051
Reaction score
1,996
Points
298
Location
Charlestown IN
I just brought home 3 young sheep, 2 about 4 months and one 6 weeks. The older one looks like she had sore mouth but maybe someone can be sure from the pics. I just read a little online.

The lamb has yellowish snot and has been coughing. Something I should be concerned about? I don't have a vet around me that takes care of farm animals.
20170525_080451.jpg
20170525_080717.jpg
 

mysunwolf

Herd Master
Joined
Nov 23, 2012
Messages
1,237
Reaction score
1,655
Points
343
Location
Southwest Virginia
I would definitely be worried about a respiratory issue. Dairy sheep, including Awassi (I assume these are originally from Karras' lines? Or are they Larry's?), are more prone to have these kinds of problems. The first photo does look a little like soremouth, if so that's nothing to be concerned about, just make sure not to touch it with your bare hands and to wash your hands frequently. But a better photo would help, I can't see much of the details. Could also be something like nasal bots. The second photo with the lamb that has discharge, I would take her temperature and possibly administer an antibiotic. You can get LA200 over the counter at a farm supply store (feed mill, Tractor Supply, or local place) which we have had good success with, but a vet will have access to more powerful antibiotics and the tools/knowledge to tell if the lungs are being affected and how soon you need to take action.

Please, please try to find a vet that will see your sheep. Our closest livestock vet is a 30 minutes drive, but I know some people who drive over an hour. You can even load your sheep into a large dog crate in a car to take them there, sometimes this is a better option than paying them to come all the way out to your place. I also know a small animal vet here that will see some smaller farm animals: sheep, goats, rabbits, etc. You are going to need a vet sooner or later, and not having one puts your animals' lives at risk.

In the meantime, do you have anyone you know who has shepherding experience, or any vet experience, and could administer injections, etc?

Your sheep are beautiful, by the way. I think I saw more photos of them on another thread. I really hope they do well for you.
 

mystang89

True BYH Addict
Joined
Jun 23, 2012
Messages
1,051
Reaction score
1,996
Points
298
Location
Charlestown IN
Thanks for the reply. I'm still looking for a competent vet that deals with farm animals but yeah I definitely will need to find one soon. Add for people who have expirience with shots my wife is a nurse, does that count?
 

mysunwolf

Herd Master
Joined
Nov 23, 2012
Messages
1,237
Reaction score
1,655
Points
343
Location
Southwest Virginia
Thanks for the reply. I'm still looking for a competent vet that deals with farm animals but yeah I definitely will need to find one soon. Add for people who have expirience with shots my wife is a nurse, does that count?

I definitely think that counts! It means you can go to a farm store, buy antibiotics, needles, and syringes, and give your sheep needed care. Hard part is often figuring out what that care is ;)

I'd start by taking that lamb's temp (thermometer in the butt, your wife probably knows all about that! :)) and go from there.
 

mystang89

True BYH Addict
Joined
Jun 23, 2012
Messages
1,051
Reaction score
1,996
Points
298
Location
Charlestown IN
We took the temperature and it was 104.3 which from a quick Google search seems to be high. I think i read a lambs temp was supposed to be around 100 to 103.
 

mysunwolf

Herd Master
Joined
Nov 23, 2012
Messages
1,237
Reaction score
1,655
Points
343
Location
Southwest Virginia
We took the temperature and it was 104.3 which from a quick Google search seems to be high. I think i read a lambs temp was supposed to be around 100 to 103.

Yes, that's too high, 103 is usually our young black lambs out in full sunlight. I would start her on antibiotics--a vet could give you something that would really knock out pneumonia or bronchitis, as well as banamine to reduce the pain and/or fever, but as a home remedy you can always try giving LA200 (generic name is oxytetracycline) every 48hrs at 1cc/20lbs subcutaneously and see if she stops the discharge/coughing... plus aspirin for pain/fever (not sure on this dose).
 

mystang89

True BYH Addict
Joined
Jun 23, 2012
Messages
1,051
Reaction score
1,996
Points
298
Location
Charlestown IN
So just an update and another question for the sick sheep. After we weighed and took the temp of the ram lamb this morning we found his temp to be 105.6. Since the temp had gone up plus nasal discharge and coughing we went ahead and gave him 1.5cc of LA 200 at 30lbs. We took his temp again just before turning in for the night and it had gone down to 102.8. That seems like a good sign and I pray it continues to stay that way.

We then checked our other lambs as we figured if one had it then more than likely others did. One ewe was 103.2 with no signs of anything so we didn't do anything for her. The other was 105. Glad we checked because she never made it seem like anything was wrong. We went ahead and weighed her and gave her 4.5cc of LA 200 at 109 lbs. She's hefty.

Now on to the question. Should we give another dose if, after 48 hours has passed, the sheep are still running fevers and/or have other signs of sickness, I.E Coughing. On the box label it says, "For cattle, a single dosage of 9mg/lbs of body weight given sub Q" These are the directions we followed. The box also said something about only giving 3-5mg/lb body weight and that this could be repeated 24-48 hours but since we did the single dosage we weren't sure if this could be repeated. We don't want to hurt them.
 

Latest posts

Top