[Jacob-list] Lamb horn / eye problem

[Jacobflock at aol.com]

Sue, The cause of the problem is the horn growth stress against the very 
maleable lamb skull plates.  I think there are four skull plates that meet 
around the eye orbit and these plates are lightly tied to each other by 
sutures which allow the skull to grow.  The top of the eye orbit is probably 
less than 1/2 inch from the bottom point of the horn cores which are growing, 
and because of the stress created by the entwining, the horn growth has 
stressed the plates and eye orbit.  If he is butting, additional stress is 
created.  Creases open between horn and skin, eye lids become involved.

If the skin around the horn base has separated from the skull and caused 
bleeding and oozing, it suggests to me that the skin around the eye sockets 
may also be involved as the immediately surrounding skull plates get 
stressed. Add some bacteria to any opening between horn and skin and around 
the eyelid.

There is a staph dermatitis or periorbital exzema which involves the skin 
around the eye or horn and it oozes and weeps with blood.  It can spread but 
is not lethal; it can lead, in the extreme, to blindness.  It happens in the 
feedlots at San Angelo quite often becasue the sheep are fed at roughs and 
they beat each other upside the head to get their space at the trough.  
Doesn't kill any sheep but the infection is in the 'lot',  it gets spread 
because it is a feed lot. The cure is antibiotics and segregation; and time.  

I'd separate him or put him with a freezer buddy.  A culture of the ooze 
might help; get a tube with agar and see what you can grow?  The state should 
be able to identify it by type rather quickly.

Fred Horak