VERY lethargic and thin corsican sheep, fell down tonight.

[DutchBunny03]

Hope she gets better!!

 

[babsbag]

(we haven't given her vit B since the corid because corid mimicks thiamine and thats what coccidia feed on per internet research).

Very interesting statement and I have wondered about that as well. Sheep produce their own Thiamine on an as needed basis so if Corid mimics the thiamine then the thought is that the sheep won't make the thiamine that it needs since the body thinks it already has the thiamine. Cattle do the same, as do goats. You can ask 10 people about using Corid and get 10 different answers. But if you want to not worry about Corid and the possibility that it can cause a Thiamine deficiency you can use DiMethox 40% injectable and give it orally.

 

[dejavoodoo114]

Because most people do not have gloves on hand, the easiest way I have found to take a fecal sample is the flip the ziploc bag inside out and use it as the glove. Pull out two pellets, or a pellet size of diarrhea, then flip the bag the right way, seal and deliver to vet clinic (until you learn to do it yourself lol).

 

[TAH]

I agree with what the others have said. Hope she gets well soon

 

[Quarterhorse]

Thank you for the glove/ziplock tip! I will do that tomorrow if the hubby can't get one 'au naturale' while I'm at work.
The corid and thiamine/vit b... I feel like every time I try to research how to treat anything with our sheep/goats, there is always a bazillion methods and every one says any other method is detrimental to your sheep/goats. That is why I love sites like this. Everyone adds to other peoples treatment ideas. It's not "pick A, B or C" but more of a group effort of what has and what hasn't worked for a variety of people. I cannot thank you all enough. I will post updates as she gets better (because I have hope she will!).
Thank you all again <3

 

[babsbag]

And BTW...welcome to BYH. Sorry that you joined us with a problem, but hopefully this will get fixed and you will stick around and share pictures and stories with us. Please keep us updated and your sheep, she is very cute.

 

[Sheepshape]

Only just seen this post (different time zone....same issues!).

A severe worm load would sound to be the most likely, and tapeworms use all the food whilst roundworms suck the blood. Panacur should kill the tapes. Tapes never kill on their own, but you'll never fatten a ewe with tapes.

Hopefully you'll have your faecal sample now.....even if that meant gloves and fingers!

Just a thought...Over here, where rain is VERY plentiful....liver fluke can wipe out animals pretty fast (though the sheep is often a fat and fast growing lamb). I have had to treat for fluke more often this year which has been wet and mild and encourages the snails which are the secondary host. If fluke is an issue where you are, treat her.....the medication names may be slightly different 'across the pond', but ivermectin, Panacur etc don't treat fluke.

I DO hope she pulls through, she looks a lovely girl.

 

[Green Acres Farm]

Only just seen this post (different time zone....same issues!).

A severe worm load would sound to be the most likely, and tapeworms use all the food whilst roundworms suck the blood. Panacur should kill the tapes. Tapes never kill on their own, but you'll never fatten a ewe with tapes.

Hopefully you'll have your faecal sample now.....even if that meant gloves and fingers!

Just a thought...Over here, where rain is VERY plentiful....liver fluke can wipe out animals pretty fast (though the sheep is often a fat and fast growing lamb). I have had to treat for fluke more often this year which has been wet and mild and encourages the snails which are the secondary host. If fluke is an issue where you are, treat her.....the medication names may be slightly different 'across the pond', but ivermectin, Panacur etc don't treat fluke.

I DO hope she pulls through, she looks a lovely girl.

Ivermectin plus treats flukes. Valbazen claims it does...

 

[farmerjan]

I agree that a fecal is the number one thing to do so that you know what you are dealing with at this point. On top of that I would take her to the vet and ask for a test for Johne's. It has been known to show up in sheep as well as cattle and if it is the problem, she needs to be disposed of as there is no cure and it is highly contagious. We had a ram that had it and he was laying down and still eating. Had tried everything else, and finally one of the vets at the practice did the blood sample and came up with Johne's. It is seen in cattle and some animals can shed it without showing clinical signs, but it is something you really need to rule out before you possibly infect anything else. Worm loads will drag down the animal and even cause death, but if they have Johne's, then they are susceptible to everything else as their immune system is compromised. Don't know if there is a fecal test for the johnes, but I would look into it as well.

 

[farmerjan]

Also, you can find gloves used for AI breeding at some farm supplies, they are long and go up to the shoulder and are great for getting fecal samples and such without getting your hands/arms contaminated. Or ask the vet for some. A box has like 100 or more, but are great to just get the sample, pull the glove off from the top turning it all inside out and not having to get anything on you. One farmer uses them to also get a silage sample since he can grab a handful and pull the glove off inside out and it is "pre-packaged" in the plastic glove.