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As any shepherd learns early on, things can go wrong quickly in sheep farming if you do not stay on top of your flock’s health.  In this episode, I’m walking through 20 problems and solutions straight from my own experience.  From nose to tail, I’m sharing the symptoms I look for, the root causes behind these issues, and both the quick fixes and long-term preventative measures that have helped me avoid more loss on my farm.  If you are looking for more tools in your shepherding toolbelt, this episode will leave you feeling prepared for anything your flock may throw at you.

TIMESTAMPS

00:00 Introduction and some disclaimers

06:44 Recognizing and treating pink eye in a matter of days

09:10 What to do about abscesses

10:15 What nasal bots and how to get rid of them quickly

11:53 The easy fix for pregnancy toxemia (also called twin lamb disease)

14:05 Why hypocalcemia (milk fever) is indistinguishable from pregnancy toxemia and how I treat for both simultaneously

15:58 Prevention and treatment for umbilical cord bleed in lambs

18:02 A quick, catch-all supplement for undiagnosed lethargy

19:09 Quick fix for bottle jaw (plus some long-term preventatives)

22:34 Coccidiosis treatment and the extra-label product that works wonders both as treatment and prevention

25:47 A quick fix and long-term fix for visible worms in manure

28:28 An almost immediate solution for foot scald

29:55 How to know when a sheep has developed foot rot and why I usually recommend culling

32:05 Root cause and treatment for retained placenta at lambing

33:17 Why selenium deficiency can lead to “crippled” newborn lambs

35:24 Another illness tied to selenium deficiency– white muscle disease

37:11 What I do about a ewe whose udders are too small to feed her lambs

38:31 Products I use when a ewe requires my assistance at lambing

39:23 Recognizing, treating, and preventing mastitis in lactating ewes (and why I cull for this)

42:48 Toxoplasmosis– a warning to pregnant women interacting with lambing ewes

44:00 Pulling out the big guns for pneumonia treatment

44:44 Why rectal prolapse warrants a trip to the vet

47:55 Why ring-womb is so serious– one story of success and one story of loss

50:12 Answering a handful of audience questions

RESOURCES MENTIONED

I’ve put together a first aid kit of the 32 most important products I wish I’d had on hand as a beginner shepherd

CONNECT WITH ME

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