[Jacob-list] pepto-bismol for sheep

[Linda]

That's Scour-Halt. Before I went to the vet, I was thinking of trying that. I did read on another sheep list that it does cure scours, but is very hard on the sheep. I haven't ruled out Johne's Disease as I haven't really considered it, nor did the vet.  This has been going on for a couple of weeks - if it goes on longer or if she starts to lose weight, it might be something to consider.  I think that in sheep, wasting is more common that scours, although I may be wrong. She certainly is not wasting away! She is bright and alert and tired of having her bottom washed :-).  How common is Johne's Disease? I know what it is, but I've never known anyone to have it in their flock.
I just googled Johne's Disease Jacob Sheep and came across this interesting site: http://www.johnes.org/goats/truecases.html The second case is regarding Karen Kerr's farm, where she had goats positive for Johne's running with her Jacobs (obviously she didn't know they had Johne's when she put them together). 

Linda
 
www.patchworkfibers.com
Registered Jacob Sheep, Angora Rabbits, Handspun Yarn

Spectromyacin?  Not sure the spelling.. But its for Pig Scours... this is what I have in my notes....

 Have you ruled out Johne's Disease?




 -----Original Message-----
 From: Linda <patchworkfibers at alltel.net>
 To: gotothewhip at aol.com; jacob-list at jacobsheep.com
 Sent: Fri, 22 Aug 2008 5:41 pm
 Subject: Re: [Jacob-list] pepto-bismol for sheep


I also treat with probiotics. I think the Pig Swig is just piperazine - another wormer, isn't it? Definitely never immodium for sheep!!! 

I appreciate your thoughts. I don't know much (like nothing) about encysted worms. What tests would determine if that was the case?  

Linda
  
www.patchworkfibers.com
Registered Jacob Sheep, Angora Rabbits, Handspun Yarn
 
I was advised to try the "Pig Swig" pig scours treatment on my sheep.... It is a red liquid.... I didnt have the "opportunity" as the scours cleared up with my Kaloin I buy in the Gallon Jug...I was also advised against OTC human diarreha treatments.. especially Immodium , as it will shut down the rumen.  I also treat all of mine witha probiotic when they get the scours as it seems to help, and  also gets the bugs going... They loose lots of bugs with the scours! 

  Any chance of encysted worms?  I know int he horse industry right now there is lots of problems with Ivermectin resistance and encysted protozoa that dont show up in fecals... But I think you would have a weight loss if that were the issue.

 Just some random thoughts....




 : Jacob-list <Jacob-list at jacobsheep.com>
 Sent: Fri, 22 Aug 2008 4:05 pm
 Subject: [Jacob-list] pepto-bismol for sheep



I took a fecal sample from my ewe, Olivia, to the vet today.  Olivia has been dealing with persistent diarrhea that nothing seems to help. I do my own fecal egg counts and couldn't find any evidence of coccidia or other parasites, but thought the vet might find something I'd missed. He didn't, so we are treating for bacterial scours. I about fell over when he handed me four pills, each about the size of a puppy and told me to stick them down her throat! I've always shied away from learning to use a balling gun as it looks like you could do some serious damage with one. The option was wrestling the pills down her throat with my hand or just facing the balling gun. After I got over the fear of putting the gun too deep and Dave saying "are you sure you aren't going to choke her?" (the vet said it's hard to get it too deep, so just relax), it was surprisingly easy. 


During the conversation, I told the vet that I'd tried Pepto-bismol with no effect for a few days and just was able to find kaolin-pectin this morning, which is my first choice for diarrhea, but hard to find these days. Kaopectate is no longer kaolin-pectin - it's the same as Pepto-dismal now.  Dr. Lent cautioned strongly against using bismuth preparations for sheep. He said that sheep nutrition relies so much on absorption and bismuth works by coating the digestive system linings, thus greatly limiting absorption. You might cure the diarrhea, but could possibly induce a nutritional problem. Perhaps limiting absorption is a good thing if you are using it as a treatment for poisoning? I don't know, as I didn't think to ask him. He recommends a kaolin-pectin treatment over a bismuth treatment for diarrhea.


If anyone has suggestions for a cause for her scours, I'd like to hear.
She is not ill. She eats, drinks, and chews her cud. She is not losing weight. She has been locked in for the last week, eating only hay. She has Martha for company and Martha is pelleting normally. Our sheep get their water from one of our creeks, so protozoa of some type are a possibility, although she is the only one out of 22 sheep with scours, and the vet didn't see any evidence.  The creek is fed by the spring where we get our water, although we get the water directly where the spring comes out of the ground and not after running above ground for 1000 feet or so. She has not been exposed to any weeds that might cause scours.  I'm hoping the pills will take care of it. 


Linda



  
www.patchworkfibers.com
Registered Jacob Sheep, Angora Rabbits, Handspun Yarn
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