Severe allergic reaction in lambs

[Katarina]

Brought Texel ewe lambs in for heptavacing Tuesday afternoon and found 2 lambs out of about 300 with swollen heads, barely able to see. Apart from the swollen head and obvious discomfort they came down okay. Vet suggested a sting or something they'd eaten, gave steroids directly into vein and terramycin to be repeated in two days. On Sunday afternoon I'd dosed with a mineral drench (no copper) and fluke. The two of them were grazing on a hillside bordered by stone walls, mature trees and hedging all of which are native species with no known poisonous species. The field has several different types of fungi growing in it but to be honest their field matches just about every other field on the farm. Any ideas as to what it could be?

Apologies for the dark photo, was took when I got back from the vets.

 

[Northeastfarmer]

Sounds like photosensitisation

 

[Longlowdog]

They could have disturbed a bumble bees/wasps nest. My teckel looked like that when he dug out a wasps nest. A dose of antihistamines from the vet and a couple of days feeling sorry for himself and he was back to business as usual.

 

[rancher]

Yea, It's photosensitisation , Our vet give a steroid and I leave them with shade from the sun, better to put them in for the first 24 -48hrs.
I've seen the ears fall off

 

[Al R]

Give it Betamox LA and let it be, don’t stress it out, had one lose it’s ears and all it’s wool around 6-7 weeks old, jabbed with Betamox and gave it high sheltered fields with its group, came back as 22.1 E3H the other day Have a few ewes and lambs a year that go like bowling balls, caught early it’s just an ugly glitch.

 

[Katarina]

Thanks for the replies. Would have thought them more susceptible to photosensitisation in the summer months but everything you are describing fits. One lamb is looking much better, the other one does look as though she might lose her ears but otherwise at least not as deaths door. She was probably one of the best of this year's batch (of course) so wasn't being sold thankfully!! Thanks for your help .