Drench
How to administer
- always use a proper drenching ‘gun’
- sheep should be standing
- stand behind the sheep (if you do not have a chute or an assistant to hold the sheep, you may wish to back the sheep into a corner to prevent it from backing up as the dose is given)
- place your free hand under the jaw and hold the head in a natural position, avoid pulling the head too far back or to the side.
- inserted the nozzle of the gun into the side of the mouth over the tongue towards the throat; give the dose gently.
When to use
Used to administer individual doses of liquid medication (i.e. liquid dewormers)
Tips and precautions
- check nozzles for rough edges that may cause damage to the back of the throat.
- do not insert the nozzle to far into the throat. The trachea (windpipe) lays directly beneath the esophagus (leading to the digestive system). If the liquid is forced into the trachea, the sheep will inhale the drench.
Bolus
- insert the bolus gun (or balling gun) as given under “drenching”
- ensure that the gun is far enough in the throat, and depress the handle of the gun
When to use
Used to administer individual doses of medication in pill form
Tips and precautions
- be sure proper size boluses are used in sheep (big cattle pills could become stuck halfway down and cause choking and bloat).
Stomach Tubing
(lambs)
- specially designed tubes are commercially available or any new, flexible (3/8 ” diameter) tubing can be used with a 60 cc plastic syringe to deliver the milk.
- lay the tube alongside the lamb and measure from the last rib to the mouth. Make a mark on the tube at this point with a piece of tape or a marker pen, and allow an extra foot of tubing past this point
- hold the lamb on your lap and ensure that the lamb’s head is upright (don’t tube while the lamb is laying flat on it’s side).
- put your thumb in the mouth, between the teeth, and gently pry the mouth open.
- insert the tube through the side of the mouth and feed it slowly into the mouth as the lamb swallows. Keep a finger in the mouth while the tube goes down to prevent the lamb from chewing it. Keep passing the tube until the mark on the tube is level with the mouth.
- there may be a small amount of resistance as the tube passes into the throat, however, if the lamb struggles violently or if you can only pass the tube half way to your mark, the tube may have accidentally entered the trachea (windpipe). Pull the tube out and try again.
- attach a syringe full of milk to the tube and slowly inject it (10-15 seconds).
When to use
Giving colostrum or electrolyte fluids to young lambs to weak to suckle
Tips and precautions
- depending on the amount inhaled, the sheep may develop pneumonia or suffocate.
- unless it is absolutely necessary, avoid stomach tubing lambs. When lambs suckle they activate a reflex that by-pass the rumen and leads the milk into the abomasum. Without this reflex the milk will end up in the rumen possibly cause digestive upset and preventing the antibodies in the colostrum from being properly absorbed.
Feed and water
- medicated feed can be purchased premixed from the feed mill. Feed at the recommended level
- if mixing medication in feed or water on farm, always follow label instructions exactly
- check mixing and feed/water distribution
- if mixing or administration errors are made, contact your veterinarian
When to use
Mostly used as prophylactic (preventative) treatment of certain diseases (e.g. coccidosis or shipping fever)
Tips and precautions
- do not rely on this method if animals are off-feed
- label bins with medicated feed to prevent mistakes in feeding
- ensure there is adequate feeder space for all animals in the pen
Stomach tubing
(adults)
- hold sheep as with drenching
- insert a speculum (stiff metal tube) into the throat (don’t force it too far); speculum prevents the sheep from chewing on the hose
- pass a pliable rubber hose (3/4″ in diameter and 3 to 5 feet long) through the speculum into the rumen (as with tubing lambs, mark the approximate distance on the hose)
- administer medication directly into the rumen
When to use
- treating for bloat or other digestive upsets
Tips and precautions
- as when stomach tubing lambs, do not force tube if there is undue resistance
Topical Medications
This type of medication can be placed directly on the skin for absorption into the system (i.e. deworming medications) or to treat localized infections (eye ointment, antibiotic creams etc.). If you use topical medications, particularly dewormers, ensure that the recommended withdrawal time have been met before allowing the animals to be shorn.
