Sutherlin FFA

Coccidia are tiny internal parasites that live in the cells of the sheep's intestines. The tiny oocysts containing the infective stages are passed in the feces and are picked up by other sheep through contaminated feed and water. The numbers of parasites that invade the intestinal tract determine the severity of disease that results in the condition called coccidiosis. Coccidiosis usually happens to lambs 3 -6 weeks old or older, caused by protozoa. Sheep normally tolerate a low level of coccidia with no bad effects, but with high levels of coccidia damages the intestinal lining resulting in improper or reduced absorption of nutrients and weight loss. This damage can also result in bloody and dark diarrhea, causing dehydration and death. Stress induced from changes in weather or sudden changes in feeding, such as from pasture to dry lot, will often result in a severe coccidia outbreak.

With the outbreaks of coccidia can usually be treated with sulfa drugs and amprolium, which can only be prescribed by your veterinarian. Bovatec has been approved by the Food and Drug Administration as a controller of coccidia infections. However monensin and decoquinate because these drugs are used as a preventative, not a treatment are not approved. So be watchful on what you get for your animal, just because it can be prescribed doesn't mean it will be treated.

Another disease very common to sheep is enterotoxemia. Enterotoxemia is a toxin produced by bacteria which commonly grow inside the intestine of the sheep. This toxin is nutritionally related since the bacteria, grows the best when the sheep eats large amounts of high energy feeds.

Some control can be achieved by careful regulation of energy intake and feeding of antibiotics. But there are good vaccines available and should be used for animals on high energy feeds. However to treat a little lamb can take them 3 doses of the vaccine opposed to the adult sheep that generally only requires 2 doses, but during this time of the vaccination the animals will have unprotected levels of immunity. This leaves the animal unprotected against any other bacteria that may decide to attack their immune systems. If you make any sudden changes into their diets they can die even if they are being vaccinated or are taking an antibiotic.