Healthy animals are a source of income and progress.
Keeping sheep healthy is not difficult
They are hardy and resistant to many diseases.
The best way to take care of your sheep is preventing diseases. |
PREVENTING DISEASES
Here are some tips based on experience:
Pay attention to each of these tips and see what practical consequences you can derive from them.
Is there anything you should change in the way you raise your sheep?
YES | |
NO |
Are there some agreements you and your neighbours could make to prevent diseases?
YES | |
NO |
Answer: We do not know what your answers were, but:
- Drying or fencing ponds with stagnant water,
- Rotating pastures,
- Recognizing disease signs,
- Vaccinating animals, and
- Keeping sick animals apart
can be cooperative efforts.
RECOGNIZING DISEASE SIGNS
Diseases have different signs. But there are some general signs of diseases. Read them carefully.
Healthy sheep | Sick sheep | |
Coat | shiny | dull |
Body | no hollows | deep hollows in the flank |
Appetite | good | poor |
Activity | full of life | dull and inactive |
Eyes | bright | cloudy-pale |
Temperature | 39 to 40°C 102 to 104°F |
May have higher temperature |
Complete:
A sick sheep may show:
1. A ______ coat.
2. Deep ______ in the flank.
3. ______ appetite.
4. Temperature higher than ______.
Answers:
1. A dull coat.
2. Deep hollows in the flank.
3. Poor appetite.
4. Temperature higher than 40°C or 104°F
In the next pages you will find the list of the most common diseases of sheep in the Caribbean and their description. |
COMMON DISEASES OF SHEEP IN THE CARIBBEAN
Major diseases in sheep are:
INTERNAL PARASITES (worms)
EXTERNAL PARASITES
FOOT ROT
PREGNANCY TOXEMIA
We will study: The main signs of these diseases, their consequences and treatments.
INTERNAL PARASITES
WORMS:
Unfortunately internal parasites (worms) are very common in sheep. They live in the stomach, liver, lungs or kidneys of the sheep.
Worms live in the sheep and eat the sheep.
Study the following graph:
Worm life cycle
It is important to know about the worm life cycle in order to prevent internal parasites.
According to the graph:
1. The adult worms live in the sheep's body.
2. Their eggs fall on the pasture through manure.
3. Eggs in the pasture hatch into a larva (an intermediate worm form).
4. When eating pasture, the animal also eats the larvae.
5. These larvae develop into worms in the sheep's body.
What to do in order to break this cycle?
1. Do not graze the same place for more than 2 weeks and let it rest for at least 3 weeks.
2. Do not graze sheep near stagnant or dirty water.
3. Keep pens and housing clean (See Appendix III - Facilities).
4. Do not allow dogs to eat uncooked meat.
5. Keep sick animals apart and eliminate their droppings.
6. Apply a routine deworming programme. Read the manufacturer's label and follow directions carefully.
7. Avoid manure contamination of feed and water (See Appendix III Facilities).
How to drench a sheep
Liquid medication can be given as a drench.
- You will need a dose syringe or a soft drink or beer bottle with a rubber hose attached.
- Measure the correct amount of drench.
- Hold the head slightly upwards and place end of the tube over the top of the tongue.
- Slowly pour drench into "food pipe" (esophagus).
MAIN INTERNAL PARASITES: WORMS AND COCCIDIA
Internal Parasites | Main Signs | Consequences | Treatment* |
Worms (there are several kinds | -loss of condition and appetite -diarrhea (sometimes) -anemia - eyes, mouth and inside edges of rectum and vagina become pale/white |
-Worms starve the sheep -Poor production -Death |
-Regular deworming programme -May require more than one drug. |
Coccidiosis (Caused by coccidia, very infectious) | -loss of condition and appetite -diarrhea, sometimes with mucus and blood, -dull appearance. |
-Poor production and growth -Death, especially lambs. |
-Sulfa drug. -Feed and water additives -Without good sanitation treatments are ineffective. |
* Check with your veterinarian or extension agent for recommended drugs locally available. Always read label and follow directions carefully.
How much do you know about internal parasites?
Fill in the blanks with the correct words.
Answers
EXTERNAL PARASITES
External parasites live in the coat and skin of sheep.
They suck the animal's blood.
They transmit diseases.
They retard growth.
They can pass from sheep to sheep, or from another object to sheep.
This is one cycle of an external parasite (tick):
You see, they can also develop in the grass.
MAIN EXTERNAL PARASITES
External parasites | Main Signs | Consequences | Treatment* |
Mange (caused by mites you cannot see) | -Scratching -loss of hair -scabs -lumps usually on forequarters |
-Loss of weight -Unthriftiness -Irritation and nervousness |
-Difficult to cure -Spray, dust or dip every 2 weeks for 2 to 3 months. |
Ticks | -Can be seen particularly on tender parts of body. | -Ticks suck blood and transmit diseases | -Apply spray or dust or dip the animals. |
* - Check with your veterinarian or extension agent for recommended drugs locally available. Read label and follow the directions carefully.
- IMPORTANT - Use sprays, dust or dips with extreme caution on lambs due to their sensitivity.
What to do to prevent external parasites?
Mange:
Is transmitted from sheep to sheep, not from an object to sheep.
To prevent its spread:
- Inspect animals frequently.
- Separate infested animals and treat.
- Regularly spray, dust or dip other animals as a precaution.
- Do not buy infested animals.
Ticks:
Ticks just from pastures or facilities to sheep (see page 207).
To prevent its spread:
- Use a regular spray, dust or dip programme.
- Keep facilities clean and spray if animals become infested.
- Kill ticks on sheep, this will help to break the life cycle.
How much do you know about external parasites?
Complete with the correct words.
Answers
FOOT ROT
Foot rot is an infectious disease.
It spreads from the soil to the feet.
Main signs |
Consequences |
Treatment |
- An abnormal growth of the skin around the hoof,
soreness between clefts. - Swelling above hooves. - Foul smelling discharge from hoof.
| - Hoof can fall off. - It is infectious.
|
- Trim hooves - Put 9 parts of water and 1 part copper sulphate in a container; or use a formalin solution. - Force the sheep to walk daily through it until cured.
|
Ask your veterinarian or extension agent how to make solutions.
PREVENTING FOOT ROT
- Inspect hooves regularly.
- Trim hooves regularly.
- Use foot-bath on a regular basis.
- Avoid grazing extremely wet soils.
- Keep pens and housing clean. Filth makes disease outbreaks possible,
- Do not buy animals from infested soils.
Remember:
Once foot rot gets into the soil, it is hard to get rid of. |
How to trim hooves
If you trim your sheep's hooves, you will prevent foot rot and other foot and leg problems.
You need a sharp knife or trimming shears.
How to trim foot of a sheep with foot rot
How much do you know about foot rot?
Please fill in the blanks with the correct words.
1. Foot rot spreads from __________ to feet.
2. One main sign of foot rot is an abnormal _________ of the skin around the hoof.
3. Wet soils should not be grazed to prevent _________.
4. Foot rot is an ____________ disease.
5. It is good practice to _________ hooves regularly to prevent this disease.
Answers
1. Foot rot spreads from soil to feet.
2. One main sign of foot rot is an abnormal growth of the skin around the hoof.
3. Wet soils should not be grazed to prevent foot rot.
4. Foot rot is an infectious disease.
5. It is good practice to trim hooves regularly to prevent this disease.
PREGNANCY TOXEMIA
This disease is also called pregnancy disease or ketosis
It only occurs within the last few weeks or days of pregnancy.
It usually occurs in:
Ewes carrying 2 or more lambs.
Very fat ewes.
Causes of pregnancy toxemia (disease)
- Sudden increased demand for energy.
- Decreasing stomach space to hold forage due to growth of the unborn lambs.
- Malnutrition.
- Stress caused by heavy worm infestation.
- Rapid use of fat reserves to feed lambs causing the production of a poisonous chemical (ketosis).
PREGNANCY TOXEMIA (Disease)
Main signs | Consequences | Treatment |
- Depression - Weakness - Trembling - Poor muscle control and balance - Walking around in circles - They lie down and are unable to rise. |
- Death of ewe - Lambs born dead. |
- Call your veterinarian or extension agent. - Once the ewe is down, there is very little hope. |
Prevention of pregnancy toxemia
With this disease you realize the importance of good feeding.
- Supplement high energy feeds during last 4 to 6 weeks of pregnancy. (1 to 2 pounds of grain or grain by-products and hay or silage).
- Do not let ewe consume large quantities of molasses.
- Do not let ewes get abnormally fat in early pregnancy.
- Do not let fat ewes lose weight in late pregnancy.
How much do you know about pregnancy toxemia?
Please fill in the blanks with the correct words.
Answers
Fill in the blanks with the correct words.
Answers