Lambs die from dosing gun injuries

A dosing gun injury was the cause of death for two lambs that were examined at two different Department of Agriculture laboratories in July of this year.

A four-month-old lamb was found dead on a farm in the southeast, with two other cases of unexplained sudden death in the flock.

The animal was subsequently submitted to Kilkenny regional veterinary laboratory (RVL).

A necropsy (animal autopsy) took place, which ultimately found a bolus lodged in a cut in the middle part of the animal’s throat.

In the area of the throat where the bolus had been inserted, a large area of dead tissue, abscesses and haemorrhaging was identified. A blood clot was also found in the lamb’s rumen.

A traumatic injury from a bolus gun was diagnosed.

This information was outlined in the RVL report that examined July activities.

Midlands

In the same month on a farm in the midlands, a two-month-old lamb died after failing to thrive for two weeks. It was the second lamb in the flock to die within days of another and was sent to the Athlone RVL.

Necropsy there found a ruptured abscess in its throat, dead tissue in the area and E coli was identified in the cut. Fluid was also observed in the lungs.

A diagnosis of bacteria in the throat was made. The RVL report said this was most likely as a result of a dosing gun injury as the lambs had been dosed a fortnight earlier.

In both cases, the flock owners were advised to review their dosing technique and examine or replace their dosing equipment.

In the latter case, a review of the parasite control programme on the farm was also advised.