Symptoms.—The sheep trembles when touched and walks with a peculiar gait, raising the feet high (Trotters). Later there appears to be an itching, since the animal rubs and bites its hind quarters (Nibblers). This is followed by wasting, paralysis and death.
Treatment.—There is no known cure and diseased animals should be slaughtered and not bred from.
Epilepsy—Fits
In sheep, this disorder frequently occurs on a fine, cold morning in spring, early summer and autumn, within an hour or two of daybreak. On rising from its bed, the animal stares, staggers, falls, struggles convulsively for a few minutes, kicks, rolls its eyes, grinds its teeth, foams at the mouth, and sometimes involuntarily voids dung and urine. After a few minutes, or perhaps half an hour, the fit subsides, the animal rises, seems semi-conscious, presently begins to eat, and appears to be in good health. These fits may occur daily, and then will soon become fatal; or, by occasional repetition, they may wear away the creature’s flesh and strength.
Treatment.—A few doses of A.A., on the day of attack, followed by a dose of A.A., each morning, and of J.K., each night, are the proper remedies. A change of pasture and shelter should be provided.
Rabies—Hydrophobia—Madness
When a mad dog has entered a fold, it is often difficult to determine which sheep have been bitten and which remain untouched. Careful examination, one by one, should be made; still uncertainty remains. The symptoms appear from two to ten or twelve weeks after attack, and are similar to those which appear in other animals. The sheep annoy and chase each other, cease to feed, lose flesh, are restless, and manifest strong and unnatural sexual desire. Ewes become stupified and paralyzed, and die, often without a struggle. Lambs have convulsive fits, terminated by death. Rams and wethers, butt their heads against the ground, palings, banks and one another; running full tilt, with great violence and frequency, so as to tear the skin from their foreheads. They usually die in from 3 to 6 days.
Treatment.—A.A., should be given every day, to all the flock, for a few days, then once a week for several weeks. If an animal develops the symptoms it should be killed at once, since there is no known cure. However few animals or persons bitten by supposedly mad dogs ever develop the disease.
Dizziness, Staggers, Sturdy, Turn-Sick, Gid.
This is a very dangerous and not infrequent disease. Its immediate cause is the presence of a small worm, inclosed in a hydatid or sack of fluid, and located either within the substances of the brain, or beneath the bones of the cranium. These hydatids vary in size, number and position, being found on the right or left side, indicated by the animal turning to the right or left, or in the centre of the median line, in which case it may turn to either side, or not at all, the animal carrying the head down. When the hydatid occupies the back of the head, the animal holds the head high, and runs straight forward, throwing itself on any object it meets.