Cough? Gag? Rumen issue?

[Alaskan]

It is best to worm only when needed, since that way you are less likely to make the worms resistant to the drugs.

For parasites in general, I think it is best to know what is in your area, then learn their life cycles so you can manage them.

And if the vet has already been out....

Then if he needs to come out again... well... not sure.... I hate paying money for a vet to come out, so I have always done it as rarely as possible. You just have to decide if the visit is worth it to you. Completely personal choice. Because so often with livestock, by the time it looks serious it is often too late... so, lots of guessing is always involved.

 

[Ridgetop]

She sounds like she is calling rather than coughing. Where is the ram? If she is a Dorper and her lamb is 5 months old she might be calling the ram to be bred again.

I rebreed my Dorpers when their lambs are 3 months old.

 

[Mrs.Gray1211]

She sounds like she is calling rather than coughing. Where is the ram? If she is a Dorper and her lamb is 5 months old she might be calling the ram to be bred again.

I rebreed my Dorpers when their lambs are 3 months old.

The ram is no longer on our property. We traded him for a ewe at the end of October. At first, I thought maybe she was doing some sort of call as well, as they always baa when they see us because they know they're going to get food.

Here's another piece of the puzzle that we didn't consider until last night. Our neighbor came and pulled some weeds for us last week. He tossed them near the fence, not far enough away that they couldn't stick their head through and eat them. All four of the sheep we keep in that paddock ate nearly all the weeds. I have no idea what kind they were, as they came from all over our property. After what @Alaskan said about asking the vet about toxic plants in the area, I'm wondering if she didn't eat a weed that is toxic to her. That being said, is it possible that she is the only one who got sick from this even though they all ate the weeds?

I do have a call into the vet, he is going to try to come by today or tomorrow and I'll update y'all once he visits.

 

[Alaskan]

Some individuals are more sensitive than others.... and maybe she grabbed more than the rest....

But if it was a weed thing.... since she isn't getting any more... the symptoms would subside.

 

[Ridgetop]

Extended coughing usually means pneumonia. Eating poisonous weeds would either kill her outright or make her very sick. Since they were eaten last week she should have recovered. If her stool is normal and she has no temperature check the Famacha score to see if it is worms. Otherwise, maybe this is just her normal "baaing".

 

[Mrs.Gray1211]

Thank you, everyone, for your help! We are treating her for lungworm with Valbazen. The vet still hasn't been able to come out. It has been 24 hours since her first dose. The cough is still there, but it is better.
Hoping she continues to improve.

 

[Alaskan]

Thank you, everyone, for your help! We are treating her for lungworm with Valbazen. The vet still hasn't been able to come out. It has been 24 hours since her first dose. The cough is still there, but it is better.
Hoping she continues to improve.

Improvement is great!

Keep updating please.

 

[Baymule]

Thanks for updating! Lungworm is one of those sneaky parasites. Sometimes you have to rule out everything else to figure out what the problem is. Let us know how she is doing!

My daughter and family live in Corpus Christi, in Cal Allen, not too far from you. At least you are close enough to the coast, do you ever get to go fishing?

 

[Ridgetop]

Bought a horned Dorset ram in Bakersfield once that had lungworm. Was not sure what those worms swimming in his water bucket were after he sneezed into it! Meds took care of it. Glad she is doing better. Is this something you need to treat everyone for? The ram was segregated when I realized he had it.

 

[Mrs.Gray1211]

Thanks for updating! Lungworm is one of those sneaky parasites. Sometimes you have to rule out everything else to figure out what the problem is. Let us know how she is doing!

My daughter and family live in Corpus Christi, in Cal Allen, not too far from you. At least you are close enough to the coast, do you ever get to go fishing?

Small world! We drive through that area all the time, that's the nearest "big" city to us. We definitely want to go fishing, but neither of us have much experience with it so have been looking for someone to hook up with to show us the ropes! Would love to do a deep sea charter one day! Hubby's grandfather caught a Sailfish in the gulf in the 50's that hangs on our wall and is our inspiration!