Itchy ewe lambs

[will6910]

Have ewe lambs inside and some seem itchy and little wool falling out, can't seen anything visible on wool or skin. What should I give them if anything ?
Thanks

 

[GTB]

Take a wool sample (as close to the skin as possible) to the vet / lab for diagnosis. No point treating for lice if it's scab and vice versa.

 

[will6910]

Thanks

 

[Kevtherev]

Is scab a notifiable disease?

 

[GTB]

Is scab a notifiable disease?

No I don't think it is now.

 

[will6910]

Can sheep pick it up even tho no contact with other sheep or sheep ground for about 4 months ? Had store lamb break in start of October and now thinking it could have brought something with it

 

[GTB]

Can sheep pick it up even tho no contact with other sheep or sheep ground for about 4 months ? Had store lamb break in start of October and now thinking it could have brought something with it

It can stay dormant for a while

 

[will6910]

It's only other sheep they'v been in contact with other than ram since then so if they have something its probably been caught of it

 

[M-J-G]

Most likely lice at this time of year.

Lice can be seen with the naked eye, but you'd need a microscope to see mites.

If in any doubt, as has already been suggested, collect a wool sample and take it to the vet.

 

[M-J-G]

Is scab a notifiable disease?

No I don't think it is now.

It is in Scotland and NI.

 

[bovine]

Don't take wool to the vet, take the sheep. The scab mite needs scraping with a scalpel blade. Lice would be seen in a wool pluck, but mixed infections are common. Doesn't live long off the sheep.

 

[will6910]

Not a great photo I know but this is on the worse scratchy one

I didn't make bald patch it was already there

 

[Al R]

Magpies and crows can carry the wool over from other farms which is contaminated with scab. No neighbours with sheep for almost a mile and we had 1 ewe lamb have what we think was scab, all cleared up and healing over well! Haven't had scab for years here apart from that.

 

[bovine]

Not a great photo I know but this is on the worse scratchy one View attachment 458612
I didn't make bald patch it was already there

I tried zooming in, but I need 1000X magnification and the picture simply doesn't have the resolution........

 

[will6910]

I tried zooming in, but I need 1000X magnification and the picture simply doesn't have the resolution........

Il know for again, thanks

 

[Frank-the-Wool]

There is a blood test for Scab that is much more reliable than scraping skin.
Trying to find Mites is a lottery.

The beauty of the blood test is that it can be done on a flock scale and will show antibodies after as little as 10 days of the flock becoming infected and before any clinical signs.

 

[GTB]

There is a blood test for Scab that is much more reliable than scraping skin.
Trying to find Mites is a lottery.

The beauty of the blood test is that it can be done on a flock scale and will show antibodies after as little as 10 days of the flock becoming infected and before any clinical signs.

Thanks. Every day is a school day.

 

[Giles1]

Scab is definitely notifiable in Scotland.We weaned lambs in September,we have no neighbours with stock,our lambs were well away from any of our other sheep,had one diagnosed with scab10 days ago.A couple of others had lice just starting up.No idea where the scab came from.These lambs had no contact with our bought in ewes or tups which were treated before arriving anyway.We have history of a random sheep picking it up about once every 8 years.My theory is wildlife vectors,vet suspects similar.I wondered if two visits to mart to sell fat lambs by me could have a bearing,but I'm hardly leaping in and out of pens handling everyone elses sheep.It is about in the hills around us on occasions,but no direct access and nearest is a couple of miles away.

 

[GTB]

As said a crow could carry a piece of wool or carcass for miles. Same thing happens with abortions, birds or foxes can carry infected afterbirth too.

 

[bovine]

There is a blood test for Scab that is much more reliable than scraping skin.
Trying to find Mites is a lottery.

The beauty of the blood test is that it can be done on a flock scale and will show antibodies after as little as 10 days of the flock becoming infected and before any clinical signs.

If you bring me a few sheep with scab lesions I will find you mites 9/10. Multiple animals may need to be examined and multiple scrapes taken, but almost always find them.

Finding mites allows immediate treatment (welfare issue), and confirms the infestation is ongoing. I use the blood test when I have a reasonable suspicion of mites, but can't find any. It will be less than 10% of cases where we diagnose scab. It costs more and takes longer as needs to be sent away.

Skin scrape and mite ID is still the gold standard and the 'best' way.