Bunch of lambs with a cough?

[Red dogs]

I have a small bunch (60) Welsh mule ewe lambs, they came in about 3/4 weeks ago and were given a fluke drench of combinex and dipped, they are looking well and are in good nick with no shitty arses, I have noticed that a few are coughing when under pressure ( when run to new grazing with the dogs) they are on clean ground, before I do a fec test on them I was just wondering if any one had any advice

 

[ford7000]

tested for covid?

 

[Red dogs]

Haha bugger I hadn’t thought of that, I best keep away from them for two weeks and see what’s left after that

 

[Agrivator]

Coughing up dead lungworms?

 

[Dkb]

Sounds like lungworm. Ive used bimectin under the skin injection with good results in the past.

 

[Red dogs]

Coughing up dead lungworms?

Hopefully it’s this and the drench they have had has cleaned them out

 

[Red dogs]

Sounds like lungworm. Ive used bimectin under the skin injection with good results in the past.

Thank you for your reply, I will look into bimectin, I do try and keep away from injectable wormers/fluke drenches as they are drought in lambs I don’t know the history of them and I like to start at a lower level as it always gives me something else to go to if that doesn’t work??

 

[neilo]

Thank you for your reply, I will look into bimectin, I do try and keep away from injectable wormers/fluke drenches as they are drought in lambs I don’t know the history of them and I like to start at a lower level as it always gives me something else to go to if that doesn’t work??

It does sound like it 'might' be lungworm, in which case pretty well any wormer should clear them out. The levamisole in the Combinex will have done for them, if that's what it was. They'll carry on coughing for a bit afterwards though.
A FEC won't show up a lungworm infection reliably, as the eggs are laid in the lungs not the gut, but you might see the odd lungworm egg that has been ingested when they are coughing them up. If I see a couple of lungworm eggs, and coughing symptoms, I assume they must have a pretty heavy infestation and treat. Not uncommon in ewe lambs in the Autumn IME, but some vets might say otherwise.

It could also be pasteurella of course...

 

[Red dogs]

It does sound like it 'might' be lungworm, in which case pretty well any wormer should clear them out. The levamisole in the Combinex will have done for them, if that's what it was. They'll carry on coughing for a bit afterwards though.
A FEC won't show up a lungworm infection reliably, as the eggs are laid in the lungs not the gut, but you might see the odd lungworm egg that has been ingested when they are coughing them up. If I see a couple of lungworm eggs, and coughing symptoms, I assume they must have a pretty heavy infestation and treat. Not uncommon in ewe lambs in the Autumn IME, but some vets might say otherwise.

It could also be pasteurella of course...

Thank you for your reply, they had a obivac when they arrived, I am just being a little bit jumpy with them as you can imagine what they cost this year!!! And to be fair they are some smart lambs and I just want to keep them going forward, would there be any point in giving them some albex as I have some in the store and they will be in the prattley next week??

 

[neilo]

Thank you for your reply, they had a obivac when they arrived, I am just being a little bit jumpy with them as you can imagine what they cost this year!!! And to be fair they are some smart lambs and I just want to keep them going forward, would there be any point in giving them some albex as I have some in the store and they will be in the prattley next week??

I wouldn't have thought so, unless a FEC shows nematodirus and no strongyle eggs. I'd leave the Albex in store to use on lambs next Spring personally.

 

[Red dogs]

I wouldn't have thought so, unless a FEC shows nematodirus and no strongyle eggs. I'd leave the Albex in store to use on lambs next Spring personally.

Thank you, it’s the first time in a long time I have brought replacements in and it just reminds me how lucky I am to be able to breed my own replacements in my flock and know their true vet and med history. The worst thing is these are the other half’s and if I get these wrong I will be up sh** street without a paddle!!

 

[Agrivator]

It does sound like it 'might' be lungworm, in which case pretty well any wormer should clear them out. The levamisole in the Combinex will have done for them, if that's what it was. They'll carry on coughing for a bit afterwards though.
A FEC won't show up a lungworm infection reliably, as the eggs are laid in the lungs not the gut, but you might see the odd lungworm egg that has been ingested when they are coughing them up. If I see a couple of lungworm eggs, and coughing symptoms, I assume they must have a pretty heavy infestation and treat. Not uncommon in ewe lambs in the Autumn IME, but some vets might say otherwise.

It could also be pasteurella of course...

Eggs and larvae, produced by lungworms, are coughed up and swallowed. They pass through the gut, where some of the eggs hatch, and both eggs and larvae are deposited in the dung.

 

[neilo]

Eggs and larvae, produced by lungworms, are coughed up and swallowed. They pass through the gut, where some of the eggs hatch, and both eggs and larvae are deposited in the dung.

Which is pretty well what I posted.

FEC does not reliably tell you what level of lung worm infestation the animal may, or may not, have.

 

[TelesnaAg]

How long after drenching should they cough if there is some lungworm present? I have a pet lamb who has ling damage from pnemonia when he was young, he seems to be a bit worse since drenching, i have vet coming out wednesday nite as he was much better 2 months ago, i had agistment sheep on the place which were a nightmare, never again.

Ant...

 

[surreyhillsjacob]

if it continues, perhaps send sample to the vet... wormer immunity seems to be increasing

 

[TelesnaAg]

I had vet out for my 2 pets, 1 coughing bad, has pneumonia damaged lungs from when young, we gave him a metacqm to cqlm down inflamation and is on 10 day course of oxytetra antibiotics, hes has improved 10 fold, running and showing off and not coughing afterwards, and to hold for injections he is as strong as an ox.

Henry has had 2 metacams for a joint injury he sustained at yards i suspect when i bought 1 mob, there were 3 that were a bit lame and i pay 30 bucks each for them. Its getting better with metacam and also oxytetra.

We suspected possible worms being coughed up but? As it occured after drench but metacam seems to have done job.

Ant...

 

[johnflimston]

How long after drenching should they cough if there is some lungworm present? I have a pet lamb who has ling damage from pnemonia when he was young, he seems to be a bit worse since drenching, i have vet coming out wednesday nite as he was much better 2 months ago, i had agistment sheep on the place which were a nightmare, never again.

Ant...

No drench will cure the lung damage which they will either have to live with or die of

 

[TelesnaAg]

No drench will cure the lung damage which they will either have to live with or die of

Yes fully realize this, its trying to make the distinction between legacy issues and new issues.

The metacam has calmed down the inflamation and Leo is back to his check self. The antibiotics is continuing, some good studies out of the uk into long course treatments.

Luckily my boys dont have to walk to far a feed and sleep on soft hay. Spoilt rotten the buggers are.

Leo's strength for his size is phenomenal, they get daily grain and faba beans and thats clearly paid off.

Ant...