Yes of course, you are right on all counts. The boys are off all meds period, end of statement. I agree that it appears as though three vets have been of no value to me. However, being a startup shepherd, I made a number of errors in the beginning that confounded their ability to make an accurate diagnosis. The first was to mess about for weeks trying to identify which animal was loose. At the time this all began, the whole flock was together for breeding. I should have scooped the soft stool as soon as I discovered it and taken it in for diagnosis before I messed about with it.
My first instinct was to worm, then I tried some home remedies, then I consulted a goat friend who suggested cocci, then I messed about with cocci treatments, then I wormed again (advice of vet before fecal), then I tried different cocci treatments, then I got tangled up with the "giardia" vet and on and on. So I can't really blame the vets. I mucked about too long.
My horse vet didn't believe I could see cocci with my home scope, but I believe I actually did. However I didn't have the scope at the time this all began. Now, because I cannot diagnose with 100% accuracy, if I see something wierd under the scope, I'll take a fecal in for professional advice (but probably not to the giardia vet).
The little wether is my ram's companion. It would make sense to cull him if he were slated for consumption anyway. However, he's serving several very important purposes at the moment. My ram adores him. He nearly freaked when I hauled the little guy out of the paddock. If I were to sacrifice the wether, I'd have to put another one in there, and I don't want to do that until the environment has had to "clean up" from what I am sure was a cocci infection. That would just put another animal at risk. The other thing he's doing is serving as the "miner's canary" as the parasitologist called him, and teaching me a thing or two about fast action to keep situations like this from getting out of control. If he declines, as Mary's wethers did, I will have him euthanized and necropsied. This expense would be part of my tuition in The University of Sheep Keeping. In the meantime, don'tcha know, I'm really keen to see if he tightens up!
Whatever happens, if I end up having him euthanized and necropsied - which I will if I see he is suffering in any way - We will all learn from the experience, as I will post the results here. In the meantime, wish the little fellow luck.
Regards,
Barb L.
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