Damara throat swelling

[Upsondowns]

We have a Damara ewe, 15yrs old. Wormed twice 3 months ago for barbers pole infection. She hasn’t appeared to lose condition but recently we’re concerned with her throat flap. She’s on good pasture and has a few handfuls of sheep nuts every 2nd day. She’s with 3 young weathers that were also wormed and appear to be in good condition. What do you think is happening?
Thanks.

 

[purplequeenvt]

15 years or months? That is a “milk goiter”. In healthy sheep, it’s a sign that they’re getting excellent nutrition.

They can also get a goiter due to iodine deficiency, but based on the pictures, I highly doubt she’s got that issue.

 

[Upsondowns]

Thanks for your reply. Definitely 15 years. So what do you think?

 

[purplequeenvt]

She looks great for her age! I wouldn’t worry about the goiter too much unless it’s making her uncomfortable.

Is it hard, squishy, or just loose skin?

Since she’s 15yrs old, it could possibly be due to other things like a tumor.

 

[Upsondowns]

I got a feel of it, loose skin.

 

[Ridgetop]

The Old Ram has Damaras. Maybe he has seen this before. Does this breed have a loose throat skin? IM him?

 

[frustratedearthmother]

I've seen bottle jaw that looks similar...

 

[Ridgetop]

Bottle jaw swelling is thick and solid. Damaras are not susceptible to parasites, and @upsondown just wormed her.

 

[frustratedearthmother]

I've never seen thick and hard bottle jaw. It is edema and is fluid filled - at least in goats.

"A sign sometimes seen with barber's pole worm infection is the so-called ‘bottle-jaw’, a fluid swelling beneath the jaw."

Barber's pole worm in sheep | Agriculture and Food

Barber's pole worm (Haemonchus contortus) is a potentially harmful roundworm parasite of sheep which can cause a disease called haemonchosis. It is mainly found in coastal and high rainfall areas of Western Australia. In some cases large worm burdens can develop very rapidly and cause sheep...

www.agric.wa.gov.au

Bottle Jaw in Goats: Why is my goat’s jaw swollen?​

Bottle jaw is the term that is often used to describe a fluid accumulation that builds up underneath and between the two jawbones in sheep and goats.

Worming doesn't always work....just sayin'.

But if the poster says it's just loose skin - that's probably what it is.

 

[Ridgetop]

I've never seen thick and hard bottle jaw. It is edema and is fluid filled - at least in goats.

I meant solid as in not loose skin. I should ask how long they have had this 15v year old Damara sheep. Could just be old age.