Healthcare

The information provided in this section is purely for educational purposes and you should check with your veterinarian for advice on dealing with health issues with your animals.

Parasite Management Webinars

Weekly Worm Webinar #1 – Periparturient Egg Rise, Susan Schoenian, Runtime: 1: 12: 40, https://youtu.be/IimCsrayBpQ Weekly Worm Webinar #2 – Fecal Egg Counting Primer, Dr. Dahlia O’Brien, Runtime: 51:01, https://youtu.be/EZK9ptRnzo0 Weekly Worm Webinar #3 – Public Enemy # 1: The Barber Pole Worm, Dr. Kwame Matthews, Runtime: 1:48:55, https://youtu.be/M9Iprr7v8Jw Weekly Worm Webinar #4 – Pasture…

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Fecal Egg Counts-Instructional Videos

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EZK9ptRnzo0&feature=youtu.be https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZZQymZKe_hs

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Obstetrics & Lambing Problems

Clell V. Bagley, DVM, Extension Veterinarian Utah State University, Logan UT 84322-5600 July 1997 AH/Sheep/12 Lambing season is a busy time and a critical step toward a productive year. The first rule is for frequent observation of ewes due to lamb. Extra help during this season will usually more than pay for the cost because…

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Copper Toxicity in Sheep

by Larry L. Berger, Ph.D.Professor, Animal SciencesUniversity of Illinois Importance of Copper Copper toxicity in sheep is more often a problem of nutritional management than it is excess copper intake. The purpose of this paper is to look at such factors as nutrient interactions, animal management, and environmental conditions that may increase the risk of…

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Diarrhea

Diarrhea is condition where the feces (manure) is more fluid or watery than normal.  It can be caused by bacteria, parasites or diet.  The following are the various situations you can experience when lambs have diarrhea. 1.  Lamb is eating normally and appears to be okay except that it has diarrhea.  Your lamb probably has…

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Cough

Coughing can be caused by dusty pens, dusty feed, or infectious agents.  If the lamb only coughs at feeding time, dusty feed is the problem. You can dampen the feed by adding a tiny bit of water or molasses. If the lamb only coughs after running and jumping, the dust in the pen is probably…

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Boils

CORYNEBACTERIUM PSEUDOTUBERCULOSIS –  Boils – this disease is caused by bacterium CORYNEBACTERIUM PSEUDOTUBERCULOSIS. OCCURRENCE – CL occurs in sheep across the U.S. The infective bacteria reside in the environment and on the skin of sheep. Wounds caused by shearing, thorns, splinters, grass awns, etc. are invaded by the bacteria which then find their way to regional…

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Acidosis

Acidosis is a condition caused by the over feeding of grain. The bacteria in the rumen make acid from the carbohydrates in the grain. If too much acid is formed, it is absorbed into the blood stream and causes the whole body to become acidic. This can be a life-threatening situation. Severe acidosis may resemble…

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Tubing a Lamb

TUBE A LAMB, SAVE A LIFE Clell V. Bagley, DVM, Extension VeterinarianUtah State University, Logan UT 84322-5600July 1997 AH/Sheep/09 Sheep producers can have a major impact on lamb survival by using a stomach tube and a large syringe. When a lamb is born weak or under stress and just doesn’t nurse well immediately, just do the following:…

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A Timeline for the Ewe & Her Lambs

The EweDAYS 0–7 > Greatest risk of embryo loss due to heat and humidity stress DAYS 30–90 > Critical period for placental and mammary gland development. Reduced fetal growth, birth weights, vigor, and lower milk production result from poor nutrition at this time. Macro- and micro-mineral supplementation is vital. Impairment cannot be made up for…

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Ram Epididymitis

Ram Epididymitis (RE) is the major cause of reduced fertility in rams from western range flocks. This disease is common and was found in 95% of Utah range flocks, affecting an average of 35% of the rams in a flock. Although the disease has been present for many years, some producers have only recently become…

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External Parasites

Click here for Animal Health Fact Sheet Clell V. Bagley, DVM Extension VeterinarianUtah State University, Logan UT 84322-5600

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Limping

Limping can be caused by injury or infection.  Infection can be located in the hoof or the joints. Infection in the joints is called arthritis.  Infection in the hoof can be several things.  Footrot, or foot abscess are two foot diseases. First determine which leg the lamb is limping on.  In a disease called polyarthritis,…

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Pneumonia

Coughing and snotty noses are diseases of the upper respiratory system. Pneumonia is a disease of the lower respiratory system. Although snotty noses and coughing can also be present when an animal had pneumonia, they usually aren’t a sign of pneumonia. Signs of pneumonia are droopiness, rapid breathing, and lack of appetite. If it is…

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Infectious Foot Problems

Foot Rot The foot of the leg that the lamb is limping on should be inspected and trimmed. If it is moist and has an extremely bad odor, it may be footrot, a very contagious disease caused by bacteria. The loose part of the foot should be carefully trimmed and the foot soaked in 10%…

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Polio

Polio, polioencephalomalacia, is a disease caused by a deficiency of thiamine and is seen most commonly in lambs on high grain diets. The first sign of the disease is blindness. If your lamb bumps into things that it ordinarily would see and avoid, he may be showing signs of blindness. An injection of 3 cc…

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Polyarthritis

The lamb will be reluctant to get up and move around.  It may act stiff.  If you force it to move around, it will gradually become less lame and stiff.  If you watch it closely, it will seem to limp on one leg and then another.  Its temperature will be over 104.  It will usually…

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Sick Lamb

When you spend a few minutes at feeding time observing your lamb, be sure to observe his manure and watch to see how he urinates and how long it takes him.  Watch his breathing and be familiar with the ease and rate that he normally breathes when it is cold outside and when it is…

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Snotty Nose & Bluetoung

A snotty nose is caused by irritation of the nasal sinuses and passages. Nasal botts, a maggot of the bott fly, Oestrus ovis, is often the cause. If there is more than a month before sale time, use Ivermec drench to treat. Contact your leader or veterinarian to obtain the drug. If the Ivermec does…

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Sore Mouth

This disease of young sheep and goats is usually not a serious disease but it is important because it is transmissible to humans.  In other words, if you aren’t careful when you handle a lamb with soremouth, YOU CAN GET IT! Other names for soremouth are Orf, Scabby Mouth and Contagious Ecthyma.  It is caused…

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