Pinkeye

[glensman]

We've had a closed flock bar bought in tups for over ten years. This year as we were low on stock we bought in a batch of mules with lambs at foot, now about four or five weeks later, pinkeye is going through our own ewes like wildfire, the mules are unaffected. We've been treating them with a jag of terramycin and opticlox eye tube which has been clearing them up. This morning I see some ewes which have been treated and appeared to be better becoming reinfected. It's now a real problem, have any of you had a similar experience and is there other better treatment options than mentioned above?

 

[DavyG]

Had the same issue a few years ago. Found it best to treat everything at once not just the ones showing obvious signs. I know the argument about blanket antibiotic treatments, but if you just treat the obvious ones you'll miss a sub clinical case and she will re infect the others. Its a real pain and I still get the very odd one, someone else will maybe know a better way. Don't know whether flies can spread it as well. It might not have come from your new stock.

 

[glensman]

Had the same issue a few years ago. Found it best to treat everything at once not just the ones showing obvious signs. I know the argument about blanket antibiotic treatments, but if you just treat the obvious ones you'll miss a sub clinical case and she will re infect the others. Its a real pain and I still get the very odd one, someone else will maybe know a better way. Don't know whether flies can spread it as well. It might not have come from your new stock.

The bought in sheep are totally unaffected so far and neither are their lambs, we've never had an outbreak like this before just the very odd mild case in a few ewes that would take it a number of times over their life.

 

[Kiwi Pete]

Possibly still brought in, even though those animals aren't showing any signs?
Flies can definitely be a vector.

From what I remember it can be chlamydia or mycoplasma infection, the stock you bought may have had it prior and recovered/been treated?

Are you feeding them anything or are they just grazing, if they are getting a lick (for eg) then that could perhaps be where they're transmitting it?

I remember Dad's ewes had an outbreak the year he was getting his radiation therapy, I used pinkeye powder on them and it vanished, it was one of those "bad fly years" that year as well. For what that's worth!

 

[glensman]

Possibly still brought in, even though those animals aren't showing any signs?
Flies can definitely be a vector.

From what I remember it can be chlamydia or mycoplasma infection, the stock you bought may have had it prior and recovered/been treated?

Are you feeding them anything or are they just grazing, if they are getting a lick (for eg) then that could perhaps be where they're transmitting it?

I remember Dad's ewes had an outbreak the year he was getting his radiation therapy, I used pinkeye powder on them and it vanished, it was one of those "bad fly years" that year as well. For what that's worth!

No they're not being fed, rotation/mob grazing. I'm guessing they brought the infection with them but they have resistance/immunity (the bought in sheep). Pinkeye powder I've never heard of over here but I'll make enquiries.

 

[Kiwi Pete]

If it wasn't so cold outside I'd shoot over to the shed and see exactly what it is, I grabbed it out of the old farm shed after the men passed away, in case I ever needed it.
From memory it's Terramycin Pinkeye Powder.

It's good to use, I just put a glove on and tipped a little into the palm, and basically tipped it into the eyes with the head between my knees, and raddle the head to show she's been done.

 

[glensman]

If it wasn't so cold outside I'd shoot over to the shed and see exactly what it is, I grabbed it out of the old farm shed after the men passed away, in case I ever needed it.
From memory it's Terramycin Pinkeye Powder.

It's good to use, I just put a glove on and tipped a little into the palm, and basically tipped it into the eyes with the head between my knees, and raddle the head to show she's been done.

Terramycin would make sense that's the recommended drug to jag them with for pinkeye, I think I have heard of terramycin powder before. I'll ask the vets tomorrow, thanks.

 

[Kiwi Pete]

Terramycin would make sense that's the recommended drug to jag them with for pinkeye, I think I have heard of terramycin powder before. I'll ask the vets tomorrow, thanks.

No worries, hope you get it sorted soon!

 

[Al R]

The bought in sheep are totally unaffected so far and neither are their lambs, we've never had an outbreak like this before just the very odd mild case in a few ewes that would take it a number of times over their life.

Similar case to you years ago after being totally closed including rams for 12 years, bought a “special breed of ram” paying big money, within 6 weeks every ewe on the farm was being treated with orbenin eye ointment, I can’t remember exact bill but seem to remember £1200 in orbenin to treat it.

 

[glensman]

Similar case to you years ago after being totally closed including rams for 12 years, bought a “special breed of ram” paying big money, within 6 weeks every ewe on the farm was being treated with orbenin eye ointment, I can’t remember exact bill but seem to remember £1200 in orbenin to treat it.

Is orbenin a more potent treatment than opticlox/dry cow tube.

 

[Al R]

Is orbenin a more potent treatment than opticlox/dry cow tube.

I’m not sure but the fact orbenin is classed as eye ointment and dry cow tube is for the teats I think it’s self explanatory.. opticlox is 16.7% cloxacillin like orbenin - I’ve just googled..

 

[glensman]

I’m not sure but the fact orbenin is classed as eye ointment and dry cow tube is for the teats I think it’s self explanatory.. opticlox is 16.7% cloxacillin like orbenin - I’ve just googled..

That's why I phrased it like that, opticlox is basically a dry cow tube with a different label.

 

[Downunder]

I know how you feel, have just finished treating mine (fingers crossed!). Nextdoor is a stock dealer, a month ago fifty odd store lambs found their way into my ewes. Only one treated this weekend but in total 20% of the flock. No flies here - winter.

 

[glensman]

I know how you feel, have just finished treating mine (fingers crossed!). Nextdoor is a stock dealer, a month ago fifty odd store lambs found their way into my ewes. Only one treated this weekend but in total 20% of the flock. No flies here - winter.

We're up to about 80% infected now, it's bad, what have you treated them with?

 

[yellowbelly]

We've had a closed flock bar bought in tups for over ten years. This year as we were low on stock we bought in a batch of mules with lambs at foot, now about four or five weeks later, pinkeye is going through our own ewes like wildfire, the mules are unaffected. We've been treating them with a jag of terramycin and opticlox eye tube which has been clearing them up. This morning I see some ewes which have been treated and appeared to be better becoming reinfected. It's now a real problem, have any of you had a similar experience and is there other better treatment options than mentioned above?

Feel your pain
We had it a long time ago and it just ripped through our ewes, no sooner did they seem to be over it, then they got re-infected, some had it three times. They just don't seem to get any immunity. IMHO, you're treating it with the best that's available.
Had another outbreak in our Feb lambers this spring - just appeared out of nowhere. Lambed another batch through the same shed in April, fully expecting them to get it too but never saw another case. No idea how or why

 

[glensman]

Feel your pain
We had it a long time ago and it just ripped through our ewes, no sooner did they seem to be over it, then they got re-infected, some had it three times. They just don't seem to get any immunity. IMHO, you're treating it with the best that's available.
Had another outbreak in our Feb lambers this spring - just appeared out of nowhere. Lambed another batch through the same shed in April, fully expecting them to get it too but never saw another case. No idea how or why

That helps to know some of yours got reinfected, when I noticed the first few to get reinfected this morning I was most concerned as I wasn't expecting that. I'll just have to keep at them until it runs it's course.

 

[Agrivator]

This is one example of powder puffers.

https://specialistsales.com.au/terramycin-pinkeye-powder-50-gram-oxytetracycline-hydrochloride.html

 

[yellowbelly]

I'll just have to keep at them until it runs it's course.

It's a terribly frustrating thing to have in your flock. You wonder whether it's ever going to end. It also must be very painful for the sheep. Be careful if they get it in both eyes as they can walk into dykes, becks, etc and drown.

I'm wondering if giving something like Metacam alongside the oxytetracycline might help

 

[Macsky]

Blue alamycin spray? The aerosol stings them but it’s basically a dry powder so stays put very well.

I’m sure I’ve read before that an iodine deficiency can increase the susceptibility to pink eye also.

 

[yellowbelly]

I’m sure I’ve read before that an iodine deficiency can increase the susceptibility to pink eye also.

Interesting - our last ewe blood profiles showed iodine to be a bit low.