Carol is right. It appears to be a severe case of polioencephalomalecia. It is a progressive disease, starting with the twisting of the neck, called "star gazing", to seizures etc. Interruption of Thiamine intake is the mean reason. This will hapen, for example, when the diet is based exclusively on grain. Thiamine 200mg subcutaneously- under the neck skin is the most practical site- two times daily for 5 to 7 days is the drug of the choice. It may take few days for the sheep to recover completely. Good luck Remi
-----Original Message----- From: "Carol J. Elkins" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Sent: Nov 22, 2004 7:55 AM To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: Re: [blackbelly] Emergency 911 This is from Ron Parker, author of The Sheep Book and he knows his stuff: Thiamine--use for arched neck and other polio-like symptoms in sheep. Provides almost miraculous recovery. __________________________________________ I dose @ 5 - 6 cc for a lamb of 85 - 100 lbs. __________________________________________ Thaimine is B1. We use 5 cc per CWT of injectible B complex with 12.5 mg B1 per ml. __________________________________________ Sheep normally produce Thiamine (B1) in their rumens - or at lest helpful microorganisms do so. Under some conditions, other microorganisms produce an enzyme (thiaminase) that destroys the thiamin. The sheep then exhibits symptoms of neurological disorder such as blindness, staggering, fright, etc. Head back is generic for a whole list of problems - such as dying. IF destruction of thiamin is the problem, then replacement by injection is the treatment. Last I heard the level of thiamin in the B-complex and the plain thiamin is the same or close to it. Treatment and diagnosis is at least 6 ml (cc) IV. If lack of thiamin is really the problem, recovery will be dramatic - 15 minutes to an hour or two. That is the confirmation of the diagnosis. If there is no prompt recovery then there is some additional or other problem. After recovery there *will* be relapses. Treat them the same as the original treatment with more thiamin (B1). Every sheep raiser should have a bottle of injectable thiamin or the B-complex available at all times. It is inexpensive, keeps for years, and will save an affected sheep promptly. Think big - you could have 4-5 or more sheep need it all at the same time. The usual connection is grazing on lush pasture. The problem (polio or PEM or polioencephalomalacia) is rare in lambs in my exoerience, but your situation may be different. Note, this does *not* mean adding thiamin to feed. It would just be destroyed by the thiaminase in the rumen. Same with giving doses by drench. See also p.50 http://hem.bredband.net/ronpar/tsb.htmlin RonP Ron Parker [EMAIL PROTECTED] At 07:52 AM 11/22/2004 -0600, you wrote: >I found my herd sire down this morning. He is on his side and it is like he >is paralyzed with his head stretched back. He does move his hind legs, his >eyes open and shut. Besides calling the vet (which is on the way), any >ideas???? =============================================== This message is from the Blackbelly Sheep mailing list (http://www.awrittenword.com/listserv/index.html). To respond to this message, send e-mail to [EMAIL PROTECTED] To unsubscribe or change your membership options, go to http://lists.coyotenet.net/mailman/listinfo/blackbelly To search the archives, go to http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]/ =============================================== This message is from the Blackbelly Sheep mailing list (http://www.awrittenword.com/listserv/index.html). To respond to this message, send e-mail to [EMAIL PROTECTED] To unsubscribe or change your membership options, go to http://lists.coyotenet.net/mailman/listinfo/blackbelly To search the archives, go to http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]/
