Country Vet Visit

Today, our country vet paid us a visit.  Actually, we paid him to visit us... but you know what I mean. 

The vet came out for a few reasons, but one in particular.  Farmer J noticed the lambs, especially little boy and Una (our newest arrivals and Aoife's twins) have a bit of a runny nose and some pimple like sores around their mouths.  J did some research and was pretty sure that the lambs contracted "sore mouth" or more medically referred to as the "orf virus."  And... the vet confirmed J's diagnosis was spot on! 

Here is a link to the CDC website for the inquisitive mind. 

http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dvrd/orf_virus/ 

Basically, "sore mouth" is like a sheep versus of "chicken pox" or shall I say, "sheep pox." It's very unlikely that us humans will contract the virus but it can happen.  Our country vet has been around lots of "sore mouth" patients (even in his own herd- he is also a sheep farmer) and has yet to contract it! But to be safe, we are going to keep the children (and our 30+ Easter guests) away from the animals.  And... if Farmer J does get "sore mouth", he cannot spread it to other humans.  

With the exception of the "sore mouth" virus, he said the lambs looked very healthy.  Even Little Boy is not so little anymore.  The vet gave all the animals a vaccination and gave Farmer J advise on "tail docking" the female lambs and castrating Little Boy.  We have to castrate Little Boy as he could become "sexually active" as early as 3 months old (he is almost one month old).  You can see why we do not want him having "relations" with his female relatives!  The tail docking is done for hygiene reasons.  Especially with female sheep, their pee/poop can get on their tail and this often results in MAGGOTS!  Ughh. 

Here is a link for further information on sheep tail docking, castrating and "banding".

http://www.sheep101.info/201/dockcastrate.html

After a trip to the local farm store, Farmer J "banded" the female's tails and Little Boys' testicles.  The vet showed J how to do it when he was here! If you go to the website above (Sheep 101), you can see the green rubber bands and the "elastrator" tools he used.  I, once again, was J's wary assistant (having anxiety provoking flashbacks to when he talked me into helping him wash the sheep not too long ago.) My job was to hold the (wiggly, ever more heavy and "sheep pox" infected) lambs, while J put on the bands.  I tried to calm them as they tried to get away and baa'ed for their mama (and their mama was bleating back to them).  I tried to give them love (without getting infected with "sore mouth" in the process).  For those who don't know me well, I'm quite OCD and a recovering hypochondriac-- so this task was not easy for me.  But, at my core, I'm a caregiver and I wanted to reduce the lambs anxiety.  I have been assured that banding to tail dock and castrate is the most humane method.  And the alternative of not docking and castrating would be maggots and inbred animals.  So, there's that to keep in mind.  

Farmer J has been very attentive to our flock.  As I type this, and the night sky is dark, he is still outside checking on the lambs.  Anyone who knows J, knows he has a heart of gold.  

Below are some pictures from the recent vet visit!

Our sheep flock! Little boy is front right.

Lily

                                          Jane

Jane- what a beauty! 

Vaccination time! Farmer J and our vet got it done quickly!

I need to get Farmer J, the boys and myself some of these

overalls!  You can't go into the pasture without the goats

jumping up on your legs and getting "pasture" (a.k.a., poop,

dirt, hay, grass- or anything else in a goats hoof) all over

your pants.  Farm overalls for pasture time could definitely 

decrease laundry time. 

Our curious goats wondered what was happening! Your

turn is coming...

The vet is showing J where to "dock' the tail (after the 2nd

vertebrae).  J's real life work experience as a chiropractor

and anatomy instructor is paying off!

Here the vet is showing J how to band Little boy's furry

boy parts.  This was actually kind of interesting.  In sheep,

the boys have tiny "tits" by their testicles and their penis is quite 

high up under their belly.   Right above his penis is his umbilical

cord, that still hasn't fallen off yet but is quite dried up.  As

I type this, I'm thinking...I can't believe I'm typing this...

what has happened to my life.  Back to reality, J had to 

make sure to band low enough to castrate the ram but

not low enough where the "tits" were banded too!  Reasoning:

no clue... just what the vet said!

The sign on the vet's truck door!  

The coffee mug says "spring time" but in the background of this picture I see no buds or leaves on the trees and the skies are grey!  The forecast for Easter Sunday- 70 degrees and no rain!