Sheep Clinic

I am not a veterinarian.  This is a documentation of health issues encountered, what I have done and the outcome. Consult your Vet. or trusted sheep advisor prior to sheep care.

We had our first major wildlife related casualties this summer.  I came home from work and the sheep were in the paddock behind the house, not where the should be. A quick survey and the electonetting was down and dragged around. Not good since this meant a sheep got tangled up and dragged it. Sure enough, there she was tangled in the mess of netting.  Amazed she was still alive, I untangled her.  One major wound.  She was missing an ear.  The entire ear. Not a trace left as you can see from the picture left. The wound is a week old at this time.

She got up and walked over to the rest of the flock and laid down.  My sister-in-law the veterinarian (specializing in horses) suggested antibiotic shot, tetanus shot and goop up the wound with antibiotic ointment.  Ointment and a bandage went on but I waited on the shots.  Figured I would see what the night brought.  If she was looking worse, then a quick sale and off to the slaughter house was another option.  Antibiotics committed you to several weeks of care due to the pre-slaughter interval.

Still alive after 24 hours, she received the tetanus shot and LA 200 antibiotic. Used screw worm spray extensively around the wound but not on it.  The dressing was replaced daily.  Keeping a bandage on the head was challenging .  Also needed to get non sticking bandages. Used gauze and a self sticking wrap used for horses.  Stayed on for 24 hours about half the time.
After three days from the first LA 200 shot, she got a daily shot of PEN G for several days.

After several weeks, she is looking pretty good. Never would have thought she would look so good.  Turned the ram in with her for a March lambing.

One other ewe received puncture wounds in her neck that have healed up as well with similar treatment.  One other ewe was found several days later in the woods.  She had been killed by wildlife and fairly well consumed by critters. 

Sunburned Sheep

Two of my ewes started to develop this facial issue. Now the local vet said it was fungal. These ewes did not go to the show and our show animals were just fine.  A shot of  steroid and some fungal shampoo and that would take care of it.  Would have preferred a cream of some sort.

Now my sister-in-law the horse vet, said that light colored horses would get sunburn on their noses.

A lady in the office said she had a horse that developed something that looked just like this and had to put sun screen on its face for some time during the summer. If I have to sun screen a ewe it will be in the freezer.

I followed the vets advice.  Shampooing the face was exciting but not something I would do again. I think it would have cleared up either way.

They are both fine now.  One was sold for breeding stock and the other is back with her friends in the pasture. No one else showed any symptoms.  This young gal also has a humped back so will go for slaughter at the sale barn.  Two strikes and your out on Foxtail Farm.

Dealing With a Prolapse Ewe

Lambing season is an exciting time. It can also be stressful when issues arise. My most feared issue is a prolapse. Nothing worse than heading out to the sheep pasture and seeing one. We have dealt with three of these in three separate years. First time I saw it, we had been raising sheep for four years or so. I called a friend and explained what I was looking at and he told me what I had. There are two methods for dealing with this. Both involve pushing the uterus back in then securing it either by sewing the vagina shut or using a harness and retainer. I borrowed a harness and retainer.

With some lubricant and force, the uterus is pushed in. This involved cupping the exposed uterus and using the palm to push it in. Then your fingers and much of your hand is in the vagina to hold it in wile you insert a retainer. The retainer is secured in place with a harness.    

The hope then is when the ewe decides to lamb, you can either remove the harness or "they say" the lamb can deliver past the retainer. 

First time we tried this, all looked good. We closed the lamb up in the barn for night thinking that would be best. The ewe did not appreciate this. Sometime in the night, she decided she wanted out and got her head stuck in the gate. Dead ewe found in the morning. No way to sugar coat that.

Second time this happened,  the harness and retainer was installed but by morning it slipped out. The prolapse had not reappeared so I left her alone. By night, it was out again. Everything was installed again and cinched down a little tighter. Success! She continued like this for about two weeks. Fortunately, my wife was home and saw she was in labor and removed the harness. She lambed fine.

The third time this happened, we were still a good three weeks out from lambing. I had a broken leg and could not get to the barn. My wife had assumed all lambing duties.  The harness was not an option. The vet could come out for $120. Or, the butcher down the road said he could find a home for her.  Mutton seemed to be a better option for us given my situation. Keep in mind that if the butcher was unable to get her, then I would have had the vet come out. Vet costs would have been a break even scenario if she had twins and everything went well.

Three prolapses and three different outcomes. We were able to trace all of  these back to one mom ewe and that line will be eliminated from our flock. She never prolapsed but it appears her offspring have that genetic trait.