[Jacob-list] Re: Polio in sheep

[Kelley Rambo]

Fred,
I don't think I was really clear on my trailering question.  I've never
had any trouble moving my sheep until this vet moved them.  He put in a
bunch of alfalfa-mix stuff for them to munch on and had that to feed them
when they arrived.  They had never been on alfalfa before.  He also moved
them during a big snow storm.  Two of my girls stopped eating and started
showing signs of the sheep polio (blindness, bumping into things,
"stargazing").  I almost lost one of them and had of had I left her in his
care.  He has been going around blaming it on me that two of them got
sick.  I'm looking for the information that would prove otherwise.  As I
said, I had never had any trouble with any of them any of the MANY times
that I have moved them (short and long distances).

I have seen those two books that you mentioned.  Do they talk about the
polio in them?  
Thanks,
Kelley

Jacobflock at aol.com writes:
>In a message dated 4/29/2003 10:12:44 PM Central Standard Time,
>Kelley_Rambo at antiochne.edu writes:
>
>
>
>Polio in sheep,calves, and especially goats is a vitamin B deficiency, =
>often brought on by dehydration. I don't know how helpful this is. I =
>have never seen it in our sheep, even after doing without water for a =
>week in the winter. The water line runs on top of the ground to the =
>water trough. I have seen sheep walk up to the warm water that I had =
>carried by hand out to them after a week when it did not get above 32, =
>say "hmmm look at that!", turn around and walk off. Neal Grose in the dry
>balmy south 
>Neal -- Are you still on the list?  Where did you get this information
>that sheep polio is caused by dehydration?  I'm researching it.  I have
>heard of a book listing a couple of other things causing it as well.  Any
>information would be appreciated. 
>
>
>
>Fred Horak here.  I think that Neal's response in the original posting
>was suggesting the "cure" (vitamin B series) was the cause of polio ( a
>thiamine deficiency).  It happens that vitaimin B  (early on) can arrest
>polio.  The thimaine deficiency can be exacerbated by dehydration.  
>
>A good basic set of books for ewe and lamb management are "Managing your
>Ewe" and "Lamb problems: detetcting, dioagnosing and treating" by Laura
>Lawson.  Each book is about 400 pages long with detailed descriptions of
>symptoms, pictures, corrective action, etc.  The neat think about the
>book is in the flow charts that allow you to look up the symptoms and by
>answering "yes" or "no" to questions, leads to possible causes and
>corrective action.  They are available at $30 for the ewe book and $25
>for the lamb book ... postage paid/no tax.
>
>
>
>Another question, does anyone have information on trailering sheep and
>what can happen with that?
>
>
>Sheep trailer just fine.  some "wind break" will help prevent pink eye,
>stop once in a while to provide water.   Just don't let them out on the
>hiway.  If they are going to be "on borad" for, say more than 24 hours,
>consider something for "shipping fever".
>
>Fred Horak
>
>
>
>THanks,
>Kelley
>