Tup with cauliflower ear.

[Longlowdog]

I have a tup lamb who must have taken a bash to the ear, It has blown up. Is there anything I or my vet can do to bring the swelling (presumably blood filled) down to make him more comfortable. Would a dose of antibiotics be appropriate?
As an aside, would a crinkled lug put you off buying an otherwise decent tup?

 

[neilo]

Personally I would lance it to drain it, then squib a dry cow tube in the cavity. Do it at night though, when any vets that can read data sheets can't see. He'll be a lot happier once you relieve the pressure, but it would likely go down in time if you left it anyway. A jab of ab's and an anti-inflammatory would be prudent I'd have thought.

It certainly won't help his value, but if he's a good tup otherwise, he'll certainly make more than if you kill him (which I presume is the other option).

 

[Longlowdog]

Indeed, he's a decent commercial Beltex, I'd be loathe to put him away to the feeder ring when he's otherwise sound.
This is the first instance of this I've had and just wondered if it was the end of the road for him. First loss costing less and other old adages being as they are.

 

[Jerry]

Had a couple lambs last year that caught their tags and ears blew up.

Lance and AB’s.

It’s amazing how much crud can come out of an ear.

When you lance them and the pressure drops you can almost see the relief in the lamb.

 

[Al R]

Could it be a snake bite?

Pierce and push the gunk out, apply antisceptic spray, maybe some tar too and a jab of amoxicillin and he should be fine!

 

[yellowbelly]

I've done what @neilo suggests in the past. (Texels seem a bit prone to it) IME, sometimes it works and sometimes it's a bit like milking a cow - the more you draw off, the more fluid they seem to make.
Nothing to lose, just go for it

 

[MJT]

Indeed, he's a decent commercial Beltex, I'd be loathe to put him away to the feeder ring when he's otherwise sound.
This is the first instance of this I've had and just wondered if it was the end of the road for him. First loss costing less and other old adages being as they are.

Lance it and spray him up he will be fine .

But If you’re worried about him I don’t mind taking him off your hands

 

[Green farmer]

I’ve a ram with something similar. It’s like the ears go rock hard and thicken up. Coincidentally a texel as well.

 

[llamedos]

Have had 3 over the years, first one a silly vet made a complete hash of, and it took months to finally stop draining, ended up with really screwed up ears, proper boxer jobs, deaf as a door post.

Second I lanced kept clean, drained regularly, if eventually healed with just a droopy ear, much messing and the tup hated me for ever more.

Third, I left alone, except for as with others abs and metacam,and a wash with salt water, the ear drooped a little, it drained its self, never re filled, and was much less stressful for me and it.

 

[llamedos]

Inner ear full of crud/ear mites has them shaking their heads, just like dogs with bigger ears are more prone to the same haematoma, the ear is a pocket, the bulge is a great big blood blister, viscous circle, the more they shake the worse it gets, with sheep by the time we see it they have usually rubbed like heck and infection has got in, and the gunk just keeps on coming.

Were it a dog, the vet would cut a thin v flap out and stitch the 2 sides together from back to front through the ear with a drain in.

 

[liammogs]

It be the last reason for me send a lamb as a cull!! Had a ewe this year......4/5yr old out of nowhere just before tupping both ears are now mis shapped but doesnt effect her in any way.....even after draining each day for 3 days.....she now nicknamed spaniel

 

[Northeastfarmer]

I bought a tup lamb of a local well known texel breeder a while ago with big thick horrible cauliflower ears, he was going to show him but could because of his lugs,....cost me £190, he was hands down the best tup I ever owned, I thought that much about him I let him die on the farm

 

[Longlowdog]

If he was my breeding tup he'd be forgiven a lot more than ugly lugs but I have to manage to sell him.

 

[neilo]

Could it be a snake bite?

Pierce and push the gunk out, apply antisceptic spray, maybe some tar too and a jab of amoxicillin and he should be fine!

You really are in a different climate. I wouldn’t be too concerned about putting tar on to keep flies away in January here, let alone in Aberdeenshire.

 

[Al R]

You really are in a different climate. I wouldn’t be too concerned about putting tar on to keep flies away in January here, let alone in Aberdeenshire.

Tar is also antiseptic i think?
I had a ewe lamb catch maggots after a ram put his feet on her back when mating in late November and she was empty so she’s in the freezer now. We had daffodils appearing on the farm before Christmas if that’s a good guide

 

[neilo]

Tar is also antiseptic i think?
I had a ewe lamb catch maggots after a ram put his feet on her back when mating in late November and she was empty so she’s in the freezer now. We had daffodils appearing on the farm before Christmas if that’s a good guide

Have you thought about growing pineapples down there?

 

[Al R]

Have you thought about growing pineapples down there?

We don’t have trees on the farm....

 

[Ysgythan]

There’s always something or other running around here with a crinked ear. Sometimes lancing it is worse as it runs and runs. Judgement call case by case. It won’t effect commercial value much.

 

[bovine]

Question 1 - is it blood or puss? Clean ear with disinfectant and sample with a small sterile syringe and needle.

If blood and just happened then DO NOT LANCE, needs time and pressure to let things clot. If still large and uncomfortable after a few days/week then can lance

If puss then lance and flush out cavity. We want a slit 2.5cm/1" as a minimum length. Squeeze everything you can out and flush, ideally with mild antiseptic (like Hibiscrub).
​

Question 2 - is there an underlying cause?

If has crusty/waxy ears then mites and head rubbing/shaking may have contributed. Treat appropriately.​

Question 3 - what drugs do we need to give?

In the past I would have given antibiotics, but don't routinely now. If the animal has no temperature then I don't give them, even if I get puss out.

I'd always give painkillers of some sort. Sometimes I use steroids.
​

These are not all the same and can't be treated in the same way.

 

[Adam@Rumen]

I always drop a syringe into mine & suck after a bash at rugby, sorts my ears out, shame the rest of my face can't be sorted the same way