[Jacob-list] Fwd: sheep update... still need some advise

[Hannah]

Hey,

To the people who wrote me back about probiotics:  I totally agree.  I am
always aprehensive about administering antibiotics to animals that are
dependant on the organisms that the antibiotics kill.  I always give
probiotics in conjunction with antibiotics to replenish the beneficial
bacteria in their digestive tract.


> ---------- Forwarded message ----------

> From: Lynette Frick <lynettefrick at gmail.com>

> Date: Wed, Nov 26, 2008 at 9:11 AM

> Subject: sheep update... still need some advise

> To: jacob-list-request at jacobsheep.com

>

>

> Hi Hanna,

>

> Have you visited a vet?


*No.  I am quite certain that she is suffering from pneumonia.  I spoke
with my friend this afternoon who told me that pneumonia causing bacteria
in sheep in my area are resistant to pen-g.  We started her on naxcell
last night.


>If she still has a partial blockage then he may be

> able to tube her and deal with it.


*I think that the olive oil, baking soda, and charcoal might have helped,
but a blockage was only a concern until I got her isolated.  Then I was
able to monitor her symptoms more closely.


>If she is grinding her teeth, usually

> that suggests she's in some sort of extreme discomfort, which you

> obviously

> know since you have been treating her with banamine. The tooth grinding is

> what has me most concerned. Have you located the source of her pain?


* I think she hurts when she breathes.  By the way, can you give banamine
to sheep for longer than three days without causing liver damage?


>Are

> her

> feet sore, and how does her breathing sound? You also said that she is

> standing arched backed, that points towards feet or abdominal pain.


* Her feet look great.  She is breathing semi-rapidly with short stops in
between (a little less than a second).


>If you

> don't have a stethiscope, they are pretty cheap, and now may be the time

> to

> get one. You can listen for both stomach sounds, and breathing/heart

> sounds.


* We have two.  I'm not an expert, but my mother (an RN) should be able to
tell me whether there is liquid in her lungs.


> Does she have good capilary refil, meaning if you press your thumb against

> her gums does the color come back emidiatly or does it take a while?


* I did not check for that, but her upper and lower conjunctivas have
really good color.


> What's

> her heart rate, and breathing rate? Check healthy lambs for reference

> first,

> measure cap. refil in seconds, and heart in bpm, breaths in breaths/min.

> You

> need to know this, and you need to need to know an average in your flock

> to

> compare against for future reference. It is good info to share with your

> vet

> should you choose to call one.

>

> You also mentioned that she is scouring slightly, what does the poo look

> like, is it watery, is there blood, etc.?


*Its black, thicker than molasses.


>If it isn't a blockage, or a

> disease, it may be hardware disease, especially considereing that she

> doesn't sound like she is responding much to tons of antibiotics. Is your

> hay pretty clean, or was the bale you fed a roadside bale with lots of fun

> stuff, or is you barn kind of rough like mine and maybe she ate a small

> roofing nail/ screw?


*There is very little chance of there being a problem with the hay.


>I'm just tossing out possibilities, but if you have

> access to a vet and *if this ewe is* *valuable get her in!* If you aren't

> particulary attached, and she doesn't start clearing up, butcher her and

> get

> a nice pelt off of her so *she is not completely wasted*. A good pelt is

> worth more than a sick lamb through the auction.


*I have considered this and have been giving her injections in sites that
will not damage the hide.


>Don't let her die first,

> you run the risk of the hide being on too long and loosing wool in

> patches,

> not to mention it is *unethical* and selfish. If you wait too long she

> will

> either be too sick and miserable to be utilized in any way, or if she

> lasts

> long enough, she will have a break in the fleece rendering the pelt and

> fleece worthless.


*I have no intentions of letting this animal suffer.  It is obvious that
she is uncomfortable now, however I possess the common sense to know when
she needs to be shot and have the resources to do so.


>When stock get sick, its not the time to be sentimental,

> even if she has a name.


*She has a name, but she isn't tame and doesn't really care for me.


>Tough decisions have to be made to prevent

> prolonged

> suffering.


* This is not the first time I have had to consider difficult decisions. 
I am sure you can imagine how difficult it was to be present when the doe
that I had since I was 12 had to be shot because the vet could not get out
to euthanize her properly.  Had we waited until evening, yes the vet could
have put her to sleep, but that would have been pure torture for her and
for my family.


>These decisions will also affect how you can treat more

> valuable

> stock in the future.

>When a good proven producer goes down, and its time

> to

> call the vet you will have the funding to do so if you haven't emptied you

> pocket book and medical cabinet on animals of lesser value. If it sounds

> harsh, thats because it is.

>I had to learn this lesson a long time ago,


*So did I.


> and

> if you ask any rancher or farmer who makes a living from what they do

> they will all tell you with heavy hearts, there is a time to cut your

> losses.

> I honestly wish the best, but if push comes to shub, I really hope you do

> the right thing and don't let her suffer. Call a livestock freind and have

> them show you how to butcher,



* We butcher about approx. 10 goats and 100 chickens a year.


>you'll feel bad about it at first, but just

> know in your heart that you did the right thing, and enjoy your healthy

> animals and the thought that you you can probably save the next one.

> You'll

> get over it quickly if you keep that in mind. It also comes in handy to

> know

> how to butcher if you ever have to deal with victims of dog attacks that

> need to be dispatched immidiatly and humanely.


* Shoot, shovel, shut-up... =-)


Thanks for the advise.  She's a tough gal, I think she'll pull through.  I
just wish that I had known that pen-g wasn't effective for pneumonia 3
days ago.

TTYL,

Hannah K



>

> Good luck,

>

> --

> Lynette Frick

> IDEAL FARM

> Jacob Sheep

> www.idealjacobsheep.com/

>

>

>

> --

> Lynette Frick

> IDEAL FARM

> Jacob Sheep

> www.idealjacobsheep.com/

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