I've been snapping a few candids of the sheep and planned to share them today, but as so often happens around here, the sheep provide preemptive blog fodder. When I opened the gate to let the breeding group go out to their lot this morning, the one sheep I don't own was packing his right hind leg! That's right, Franjean - who was right as rain last night - was clearly hurting. I caught and haltered him after finishing chores (he was laying down by then and didn't even try to get up, so it wasn't hard), and could find nothing abnormal. Figures; my vet-with-benefits flew to Kentucky yesterday for more advanced training (see here for what he's into), and won't be back until Monday night. After a phone consultation, I gave Franjean a "sheep shot" (Banamine), and if he's still lame when Rick gets back, we'll shoot x-rays. I'm praying it's just a strain, because he's got a date with another breeding group next month when he leaves here.You still get "sheep shots," even though I took a bunch of really good photos of Inky and others today - probably the best photos I've ever take in my life - and then accidently deleted them from the camera card before moving them to my hard drive - arggg!
Franjean getting a scratch from Brian yesterday.
Dinah, my "Grace Kelly" sheep.
The leaves are "golder" on the other side of the fence.
Every night when I bring the sheep in, the rams have to stand on their hind legs and nuzzle each other over the double-pallet barracade between them; it's very odd to watch. Perhaps Franjean did this one too many times last night and strained his hind leg?
Franjean's fleece at midside (top) and hip (bottom); I love this color! It will be interesting to see if I get any modified lambs from him.That's it for now from . . .
9 comments:
That is so interesting how the guys nuzzel each other! They are all so pretty, I love looking at the photos of the sheep. Hope the little guy feels better soon :(
Oh, Michelle, you can get those photos back! I deleted some photos a while back, too, and I took my memory card into the camera store, and they got 'em back. I bet a computer store could do it, too. There may even be online programs available, that will help undelete things. Good luck!
Michelle did you thourghly inspect Franjeans foot: Between the claws and the horn of his hoof?
One of my rams was limping the other day. I cought him up and he had a stick and jammed between his hooves, plus then it got packed with mud from the rain. I took the stick out, and he was fine.
It may be a foot abcess. Squeeze each hoof with your fingers. If there is an abcess, it will hurt, and they will jurk their foot away. Try squeezing a good foot first to compare against.
I would suspect a foot abcess if he is not sick or recently been sick. If he is or was sick it may be laminitis. Laminitis in sheep isn't as bad as in horses. My sheep get Laminitis just about every time they have a fever.
Susan
Checking his hoof was my first thought also; it could be as simple as a stick or it could be a bit of foot scald; could be his gland between his toes; possibly a touch of thrush with all the rain you have had lately.
Check out this page http://www.stcroixhairsheepbreeders.org/Vet-TIPS.html
I did check his hoof along with everything else, and there was nothing - no sticks, mud, heat, swelling, tenderness - nothing. He hasn't responded much to the Banamine, either, poor guy.
Wishing you well on Fargean - he's such a pretty boy but I then love Shetlands so I'm not an objective judge.
What lovely sheep shots!
I do so love these pictures!
Oh, I can just smell the good evening smells of the sheep...the pics are beautiful!
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