Ponker
Loving the herd life
I had four lambs delivered this July 15th from a well known and respected farm in New York. They were all tested and proven disease free. The ride took 2 days and when they got here they were fine except for some road dirt...
Everyone was quarantined.
After quarantine, the ram lamb went into the pasture with the other boys without a problem. They're getting along fine.
The three little ewe lambs went into the pasture with the other girls. They also adjusted quickly and settled in. Then about three weeks ago, the smallest ewe lamb, Marilyn who is also the youngest but only by a week, became anemic with a solid case of bottle jaw with weeping sun-intolerant eyes. I just about fell over in tears. They were dewormed before travelling and dewormed ten days prior to her bottle jaw. I separated her and Rosa and began with Nutridrench, a shot of iron, and B Complex vitamins. I called the vet and told him I was bringing in four fecal samples. I waited around until each of the new girls pooped and then one of my own ewe lambs as well, for a control sample.
The following day, I dropped off the four separately bagged and labeled fecal samples and waited around for an hour in town and then went back to his office for the result. Below is how the conversation went -
Me: Do you have the results?
Vet Assistant: He said (the veterinarian) they have worms.
Me with eyes like saucers: What worms would that be exactly?
Vet Ass: Let me ask the veterinarian.
She disappears into the bowels of the office only to return a moment later.
Vet Ass: Homunchus or something like that.
Me: Did he say Haemonchus contortus, by any chance?
Vet Ass: THAT'S IT!
Me: Who? I brought in four different samples.
Vet Ass: Let me check.
I wait with steam coming out of my ears and my hands shaking. The whole time thinking with shame of my very good microscope and Vet Reference to Parasites Manual sitting on my work bench unused.
Puffing with exertion the Vet Ass responds: They all do.
A zen-like calmness had settled over me: I want a copy of the counts for all four samples I brought in.
I see an eye-roll and with a heavy sigh the Vet Ass says: Lemme check.
I wait knowing beyond a shadow of a doubt there will be no records forthcoming.
Vet Ass: He said he didn't keep records.
I slap myself (figuratively) for already having paid $12.50 EACH for these fecal tests. A cool fifty gone.
Me: Why do you think I bothered bringing in four separate samples? Do you suppose I could have mixed them all together and gave you ONE sample and only paid $12.50 for this information?
Vet Tech: I suppose you could have.
I feel my blood pressure pounding against my eardrums. Me: What would the Vet have me do?
She down't bother saying, "Lemme check" and just spun on her heel and disappeared. I do a few deep breathing exercises to calm down.
Vet Ass: Worm with Ivermectin.
At this point I have to leave before I leap across the client doctor barrier and wreck the place.
Marilyn recovered from her bottle jaw and I ran my own fecal sample. I found a liver fluke egg. I used the methodology from USDA Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education Program (LNE10-300). It involves the McMaster's Slide. Besides finding the Liver Fluke Eggs, I found Cocci. Not unsurprisingly, barberpole wasn't even on the map. I've been aggressive in treatment since losing two young lambs in July. I had high regard for this Vet having visited my farm twice in the last year but this lackadaisical attitude has cooled my enthusiasm for his practice.
I drenched poor Marilyn with Valbazen and treated her with Sulmet. She wasn't showing any symptoms of Cocci except a little bit of dirty wool on her backside but I'm not a Vet so I doubt myself. But she has a clearly distended belly, losing her wool around her underbelly, and not growing like the others. These symptoms, are associated with advanced liver fluke infestation. God forbid. If Valbazen doesn't have any effect, there is one other medicine that I might be able to try. Unbelievable that in the USA we are absolute AGES behind in approved medicines!
The other Vets in my area are not large animal vets, (my sheep are small but still fall under that category). One Vet told me that he's "a cow man". My search for a competent Vet is ongoing but meanwhile, I have a very sick little lamb. Although, you'd have to tell Marilyn that she's sick. She's heartbreaking with her big balding belly and lovable countenance.
I'm in tears over a Vet that that just doesn't care. I'll do my best for her as long as she's not in any pain.
I've also emailed Pipestone in hopes they can help me.
Maybe some other sheep people can shed some light on Marilyn's condition. Or treatment. Thanks in advance for any help.
Everyone was quarantined.
After quarantine, the ram lamb went into the pasture with the other boys without a problem. They're getting along fine.
The three little ewe lambs went into the pasture with the other girls. They also adjusted quickly and settled in. Then about three weeks ago, the smallest ewe lamb, Marilyn who is also the youngest but only by a week, became anemic with a solid case of bottle jaw with weeping sun-intolerant eyes. I just about fell over in tears. They were dewormed before travelling and dewormed ten days prior to her bottle jaw. I separated her and Rosa and began with Nutridrench, a shot of iron, and B Complex vitamins. I called the vet and told him I was bringing in four fecal samples. I waited around until each of the new girls pooped and then one of my own ewe lambs as well, for a control sample.
The following day, I dropped off the four separately bagged and labeled fecal samples and waited around for an hour in town and then went back to his office for the result. Below is how the conversation went -
Me: Do you have the results?
Vet Assistant: He said (the veterinarian) they have worms.
Me with eyes like saucers: What worms would that be exactly?
Vet Ass: Let me ask the veterinarian.
She disappears into the bowels of the office only to return a moment later.
Vet Ass: Homunchus or something like that.
Me: Did he say Haemonchus contortus, by any chance?
Vet Ass: THAT'S IT!
Me: Who? I brought in four different samples.
Vet Ass: Let me check.
I wait with steam coming out of my ears and my hands shaking. The whole time thinking with shame of my very good microscope and Vet Reference to Parasites Manual sitting on my work bench unused.
Puffing with exertion the Vet Ass responds: They all do.
A zen-like calmness had settled over me: I want a copy of the counts for all four samples I brought in.
I see an eye-roll and with a heavy sigh the Vet Ass says: Lemme check.
I wait knowing beyond a shadow of a doubt there will be no records forthcoming.
Vet Ass: He said he didn't keep records.
I slap myself (figuratively) for already having paid $12.50 EACH for these fecal tests. A cool fifty gone.
Me: Why do you think I bothered bringing in four separate samples? Do you suppose I could have mixed them all together and gave you ONE sample and only paid $12.50 for this information?
Vet Tech: I suppose you could have.
I feel my blood pressure pounding against my eardrums. Me: What would the Vet have me do?
She down't bother saying, "Lemme check" and just spun on her heel and disappeared. I do a few deep breathing exercises to calm down.
Vet Ass: Worm with Ivermectin.
At this point I have to leave before I leap across the client doctor barrier and wreck the place.
Marilyn recovered from her bottle jaw and I ran my own fecal sample. I found a liver fluke egg. I used the methodology from USDA Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education Program (LNE10-300). It involves the McMaster's Slide. Besides finding the Liver Fluke Eggs, I found Cocci. Not unsurprisingly, barberpole wasn't even on the map. I've been aggressive in treatment since losing two young lambs in July. I had high regard for this Vet having visited my farm twice in the last year but this lackadaisical attitude has cooled my enthusiasm for his practice.
I drenched poor Marilyn with Valbazen and treated her with Sulmet. She wasn't showing any symptoms of Cocci except a little bit of dirty wool on her backside but I'm not a Vet so I doubt myself. But she has a clearly distended belly, losing her wool around her underbelly, and not growing like the others. These symptoms, are associated with advanced liver fluke infestation. God forbid. If Valbazen doesn't have any effect, there is one other medicine that I might be able to try. Unbelievable that in the USA we are absolute AGES behind in approved medicines!
The other Vets in my area are not large animal vets, (my sheep are small but still fall under that category). One Vet told me that he's "a cow man". My search for a competent Vet is ongoing but meanwhile, I have a very sick little lamb. Although, you'd have to tell Marilyn that she's sick. She's heartbreaking with her big balding belly and lovable countenance.
I'm in tears over a Vet that that just doesn't care. I'll do my best for her as long as she's not in any pain.
I've also emailed Pipestone in hopes they can help me.
Maybe some other sheep people can shed some light on Marilyn's condition. Or treatment. Thanks in advance for any help.
