[Jacob-list] scratchy head

[Jacobflock at aol.com]

In a message dated 6/28/01 9:44:59 AM Central Daylight Time, 
humbug7 at worldnet.att.net writes:

<< I have seen this problem on some of my lambs.  I see blood around the base 
of
 the horn, sometimes some of the wool is missing.  Will spread to around the
 eyes with some tearing etc.  Generally no infection.  Found out that either
 the biting flies are attracted to an injury around the base of the horn
 (could have butted heads and the other sheep's horn could have cut the skin
 around the base; sometimes they injure themselves when scratching around the
 horns--mine use sections of fence, hay bale feeders, etc) or the flies simply
 start biting there as it is hard to swish them away.  In either case, the fly
 bites can cause an inflammation that will get worse with time.  I have had
 some ewes that teared so badly that they lost some of their wool on the sides
 of their faces.  They had swollen, painful eyes.
 
 The treatment: Clean the affected area(s) with clean water.  Dab excess water
 away with a clean cloth.  Put ISP (available from Jeffers), or Noah's Kingdom
 First Aid Ointment on the wound.  If you don't have either of these,
 carefully sprinkle garlic on the injury (sounds weird, but garlic is slightly
 anti-bacterial and also helps keep the flies away).  Providone ointment
 (available at most pharmacies) spread thinly will also help heal the wound.
 Finally, dab Swat (fly repellent for livestock/horses) around the affected
 area.  Do not let it get into the eyes.  In my case, I dab it down the center
 of the nose, around the base of the horns, perhaps on the cheek or above the
 eye (well above).
 
 When treated like this, mine have recovered completely in less than a week.
 
 Prevention:  take note of which sheep seem to be prone to this (I have two).
 At the first signs of irritation dab on some Swat to keep the flies away.
 
 I also add garlic to the mineral salt:  10 cups mineral salt
                                                         1 cup kelp meal
                                                         1 cup garlic
 
 Kate Shirley
 Humbug Farm
  >>

Fred Horak here: If possible, you or the vet can lift a sample of the "ooze" 
for culture.  A number of Jacob-listers have reported a similar case but it's 
precise clinical diagnosis has remained unknown.  We noticed four ewes with a 
similar "weepiness" around the horns with the onset of hot weather last year, 
had it cultured at Texas A&M but turned up negative for dermatophytes.  We 
treated with cleaning and iodine and used Flys Off.  We are in the 100 range 
now and have not seen it recurr since a very small incident during MArch or 
April (rainy and 80 degrees). A new set of variables (warm and damp)  A 
specific diagnosis would be helpful.  It may be an immune problem and 
indicate some heredity issues but in our limited experience no offspring or 
F2 lambs have exhibited this; it may be something else.    Fred