Pneumonia
- any animal under stress may develop pneumonia – weak lambs are the most susceptible
- lambs become feverish (40 to 41ºC ;104 to 106ºF), stop suckling and/or go off feed, become listless, weak and gaunt
- fast shallow breathing at first, followed later by laboured breathing (puffing of sides), discharge from the nose
- in poor conditions there can be a high death losses in a short time.
- some affected lambs appear initially to respond to treatment but will show chronic signs (coughing, especially after moderate exercise and poor growth), that do not respond to antibiotics
- post mortem: lung abscesses
Cause
- stressed lambs (cold/wet, underfed) in presence of a variety of bacteria and viruses normally found in environment (PI-3 virus, pasteurella bacteria)
- stress factors such as sudden changes in temperature, drafty, poorly ventilated overcrowded conditions
- sudden chill, starvation, exhaustion, allows the bacteria and viruses to invade the lungs.
Treatment
- make sure of diagnosis before treatment is started
- take dead lambs to a veterinary clinic or laboratory immediately to differentiate from other causes.
- treatment with antibiotic, as recommended by veterinarian.
Prevention
- keep lambing area clean and dry
- ventilation of lamb barn is very important. If pneumonia is a persistent problem consider contacting an agricultural engineer or government specialist to assess barn
- avoid stress and overcrowding of lambs
- vaccine may be helpful in some cases
Shipping Fever
- following weaning, transport, auction sales and other stress factors.
- high fever, droopy ears, off feed, reluctant to walk, rapid shallow breathing, progressing to laboured, frothy open- mouth respiration
- sudden deaths are common when septicemia (blood poisoning) occurs.
Cause
- variety of viruses and bacteria that are normally present in the respiratory tract take advantage of lowered resistance of lambs causing pneumonia.
Treatment
- separate healthy from sick lambs
- treat sick lambs with antibiotics (consult a veterinarian)
- drench or stomach tube to prevent dehydrated lambs.
Prevention
- avoid excessive stress at weaning
- delay deworming, castration, vaccination until about ten days after shipping
- introduce lambs to feed gradually provide good housing, dry bedding and avoid overcrowding
- try not to mix lambs of various sources too quickly after arrival
- using medicated feeds during stress periods may help (consult with vet)
Maedi Visna
- slowly progressing disease of sheep usually seen after 3 years of age
- some infected animals never show symptoms, but can infect others
- gradually increasing respiratory distress, loss of body weight and death. (occasionally neurological)
- decreased milk production due to ‘hard-bag’ mastitis of both sides of udder (decreased lamb growth)
Cause
- virus, spreads primarily from ewes to their lambs through colostrum and milk
- also spread from sheep to sheep by direct contact (respiration)
- possibly through blood
- healthy seeming, infected sheep can spread the virus
Treatment
- none
Prevention
Active Prevention
- Contact your veterinarian or OSMA for details on the Maedi-Visna testing program
- Blood sample flock and cull positive animals
- Maintain tight biosecurity to prevent re-introduction
Passive Prevention:
Cull all sheep showing signs of progressive respiratory disease.
