Two of our American Blackbelly ewes appear to becoming skinnier, and skinnier.

[soarwitheagles]

I am not sure if this constitutes an emergency...

Two of our American Blackbelly ewes appear to becoming skinnier, and skinnier by the day...

To be 100% with you, they are starting to look totally emaciated.

When I look toward their rear end, their sides are beginning to indent in quite a bit. Also, it seems as if their ribs are sticking out.

The strangest thing is, these two sheep appear to be out eating all the other sheep! I am giving all sheep unlimited hay, lots of greens daily, and super healthy grain every other day.

It makes no sense to me at all.

We see no signs of diarrhea [scours]. All sheep were dewormed the day we purchased them.

I have no clue what it could be.

Please help us figure out what is happening here before we lose them.

Thank you,

Soar

 

[norseofcourse]

Have you checked their eyelids lately? The inside of the lower lid should be a nice medium to dark pink. Too white (or light) can be a sign of anemia which can be a sign of a heavy worm load. Taking a fresh fecal sample in to your vet for a worm check would be a good idea, too. Not all worms cause anemia.

Diseases can cause weight loss, too - the ones that come to mind first are Johnes (yo-nees), scrapie, and ovine progressive pneumonia.

I would be contacting my vet. You may have some sheep with worms resistant to whatever they were wormed with, or you may have something more serious going on. Good luck.

 

[promiseacres]

Parasites is the first thing I think of

 

[purplequeenvt]

My first thought would be parasites. A big tape worm or coccidia load possibly.

Another possibility would be one of the more serious contagious diseases like Johnes or OPP.

 

[soarwitheagles]

Local rancher recommended Corid in the water, so that is what we did. He also mentioned that American Blackbellies are kind a skinny by nature [body shape ] compared to most other sheep.

So perhaps I have been too worried again...

Will check the eye lids and do the body score asap.

So sorry!

 

[Goat Whisperer]

First I'll say that I don't own sheep but I do have goats. Some by nature look thinner than others in comparison by breed. However, if they are looking totally emaciated I think you have a problem on your hands.

Are these the ewes that recently lambed? Lambing/ kidding can cause a parasite bloom. Can you have a fecal run on them?

 

[soarwitheagles]

First I'll say that I don't own sheep but I do have goats. Some by nature look thinner than others in comparison by breed. However, if they are looking totally emaciated I think you have a problem on your hands.

Are these the ewes that recently lambed? Lambing/ kidding can cause a parasite bloom. Can you have a fecal run on them?

First I'll say that I don't own sheep but I do have goats. Some by nature look thinner than others in comparison by breed. However, if they are looking totally emaciated I think you have a problem on your hands.

Are these the ewes that recently lambed? Lambing/ kidding can cause a parasite bloom. Can you have a fecal run on them?

Thank you for your concern Ghost Whisperer!

These two ewes weren't pregnant when we purchased the flock. About 6 weeks after purchasing this flock of AB's, the ram began to chase after and mount these two ewes. I think they are pregnant now. Two of the ewes already gave birth to singles. A few more of the ewes appear obviously pregnant.

It's these two ewes that seemed skinnier than normal. I do see the ribs showing, but that may be normal for this species of sheep.

I will do my best to do a body score tomorrow and also check the eye lids as suggested.

We went to a friends house yesterday and a few of his AB's also appeared kinda skinny, so we are beginning to think it may be normal for this type of sheep.

I hope you do not mind my asking, how do we do a fecal run on them?

Is this the test that I purchase a microscope and slides, then examine for eggs/worms?

 

[Goat Whisperer]

Thank you for your concern Ghost Whisperer!

These two ewes weren't pregnant when we purchased the flock. About 6 weeks after purchasing this flock of AB's, the ram began to chase after and mount these two ewes. I think they are pregnant now. Two of the ewes already gave birth to singles. A few more of the ewes appear obviously pregnant.

It's these two ewes that seemed skinnier than normal. I do see the ribs showing, but that may be normal for this species of sheep.

I will do my best to do a body score tomorrow and also check the eye lids as suggested.

We went to a friends house yesterday and a few of his AB's also appeared kinda skinny, so we are beginning to think it may be normal for this type of sheep.

I hope you do not mind my asking, how do we do a fecal run on them?

Is this the test that I purchase a microscope and slides, then examine for eggs/worms?

Yes.
You do not have to buy a scope and slides, although its a great asset to any farm with livestock IMO. Because a parasite issue is suspected it would be best for your sheep vet or lab to look at a few samples until you are familiar with it.

I don't know how it is over in CA but over here in NC lots of classes are taught on running your own fecals. You might want to look around for something like that.

@Southern by choice did a few articles on it, I'll see if I can pull it up.

 

[Southern by choice]

Corid would be for cocci. Although cocci can affect adults it is usually much more dangerous to lambs/kids. I would suspect a parasite bloom. Diseases like Johnes are an issue but before testing for Johnes, considering you are not at a scour stage... I would just run a fecal to your vet...

Just because they were dewormed doesn't mean they do not have a parasite issue. You have to know what dewormer was used and also its efficacy. Often with a high load several treatments 10days -2 weeks apart are required.

Without running a fecal you have nothing to go on. You must know what kind of parasite. If cocci then no dewormer would help... they are two different things.

You can always start looking into scopes and methods later for now- vet!

Ny the way- most sheep breeders test for nothing ever! But I advise you to draw blood send test out to UC Davis for Johnes (serum- PCR) and OPP.

Here are the 3 articles I wrote...
UNDERSTANDING what it is all about-
http://www.backyardherds.com/resources/understanding-famacha-fecal-analysis.56/

Part1-
http://www.backyardherds.com/resources/the-mcmasters-method-fecal-analysis.55/

Part 2-http://www.backyardherds.com/resources/mcmasters-method-fecal-analysis-part2.57/

 

[Southern by choice]

I forgot to add CL in sheep is often internal and not external. Again, sheep people just don't seem to care as much about disease and few test... symptoms for internal CL in sheep are as follows...

from goat-link
The Clinical Signs of CL in the Visceral form are long term emaciation, coughing, and general poor health. The internal organs most affected are the lungs, kidney and liver- mostly in sheep, but can appear in goats.