- Location
- Yelverton, UK
I have a microscope for FEC. I can't find anywhere that explains how to take a skin scraping or wool sample to discover what is making my sheep itch.
Any experts out there?
Any experts out there?
Wondering,if the cattle lice are the same as sheep?and can they catch from each other?
Indeed, pulled a bit of hair from cattle & put it in a clear plastic bag ( the plastic tounge & groove type ) can roll the hair about without any escaping to see what's what. Did all ours for lice earlier in the year but had to do them again with something else, think we have it this time, last stuff may as well have been water but worked ok last year.Lice are quite easy to see by eye or with my specks on
If it is scab you can't put dipping off until August, if that is the option you go for it needs to be done asap as long as lambs are strong enough dip everything,I have dipped lambs at 8-10 weeks old before, however if you didn't feel comfortable at that age inject as you can't leave it if it is scab!I have discussed the symptoms with the neighbour who has offered to dip in August. Can't dip now, we're already lambing. Just have to keep it under control till then. Dipping is coming back into fashion round here.
Isolation is probably futile when the problem is on the common but I will set up double boundaries where I can.
It will all depend on the handling system to if it is going to be easier or not than dipping, however it my sometimes be more practical to inject in certain cases!.If you could describe the skin it would help. Lice either leave no mark as such, the hair just comes away in clumps, or they form patches and the hair comes away clumped together leaving a larger sore. If the skin is relatively intact, it is lice. Really if you aren't sure what to do you should get the vet out. Lice are an annual annoyance and unsightly, scab is a serious matter that must be dealt with sooner rather than later.
Inject with Cydectin for scab. Easier than dipping, you know it's in there, and no mess from spraying eg Crovect.