What is infectious arthritis?

Infectious arthritis is a prevalent disease among young lambs, causing lameness and reluctance to move. It often affects multiple joints, which become swollen, hot, and painful to bend. The knee, hock, and carpus are commonly affected. In chronic cases, lambs may appear thin and crippled, particularly if arthritis impacts multiple joints.

How does the infection spread?

Outbreaks of arthritis in lambs can be caused by various pathogens, with erysipelas being the most common, followed by chlamydia and a range of pyogenic bacteria. These bacteria are commonly detectable on the animal's skin, faecal material, and soil.

Arthritis in lambs typically results from a blood-borne infection, often stemming from navel-ill or infected marking or mulesing wounds in young lambs. Shearing injuries also pose a risk, particularly if sheep are dipped immediately after shearing, as erysipelas is a common contaminant of dips. However, increased awareness of dipping hygiene and allowing sheep to recover from shearing wounds have reduced this threat. Additionally, injuries caused by grass seeds can serve as entry points for bacteria.

How do we manage infectious arthritis cases?

Identifying the cause of the arthritis is crucial for effective treatment and prevention. A vaccine is available for erysipelas infection, which requires vaccinating the ewe to confer passive immunity to the lamb.
Early detection allows for successful antibiotic treatment in some cases of infection, and non steroidal anti-inflammatories may be helpful for managing the pain. However, long-standing cases often result in irreversible joint damage.

How do we prevent future outbreaks?

Prevention is critical and primarily revolves around minimising bacterial infection of wounds. During marking and mulesing, it's essential to:

• Use a well-grassed, clean paddock
• Perform procedures in dry conditions
• Maintain high standards of hygiene
• Practice proper instrument washing
• Regularly change disinfectants
• Ensure that the contact time is met for the disinfectants of your choice
• Minimise holding time for lambs

Further preventive measures include optimising wound healing by avoiding dipping immediately after shearing or during grass seed infestations.

By implementing appropriate hygiene standards during marking, mulesing, and dipping, farmers can minimise the incidence of bacterial arthritis in lambs. Furthermore, a vaccination program may prove effective and cost-efficient.

To discuss treatment and vaccine options for infectious arthritis in lambs, speak with our knowledgeable veterinary team.

Sudden deaths and abortion storms are up there with some of the most challenging and shocking things to experience as a farmer. It is true that owning livestock makes dead stock a real risk, but we are here to help when things go awry.

When to worry

Some of the scariest things to find include: 

• multiple dead stock in any stock class
• a birth rate far below what you expect 
• pregnancy rates far below what you expect
• aborted or stillborn foetuses

Look for clues

If there are multiple stock losses, investigation is likely needed. Samples can be taken from a deceased animal, or a full post mortem investigation. Orange Vet Hospital vets can assist, or our Local Land Services vets are also around. Sometimes you might be directed to take samples yourself if you are comfortable doing that. Most commonly, eye fluid samples can be really helpful if taken as soon as practical. This is most useful in cases of low calcium or magnesium, or when a toxic substance may be interfering. 

Check on your health and safety

Be sure to use proper PPE when handling dead or sick stock. Many infectious agents can be transferred to humans, including bugs that can trigger abortion storms. If there is blood coming from the orifices (eg. mouth, nose, bottom), take a big step backwards, don't touch the carcasse, and call your veterinarian or the Emergency Animal Disease hotline, which is staffed 24hours. 

Control the controllable

Be sure to:

• Feed adequately, but not to excess
• Avoid weeds and poisonous plants in your paddocks
• Vaccinate and drench stock as appropriate
• Maintain appropriate minerals and nutrients for your property

Speak with one of our veterinary team members for more information on safe, investigation techniques if you find yourself staring into shocking losses. Investigation and treatment may be needed, and time is of the essence. 

Alpacas, like other prey animals, are notoriously bad at hiding signs of disease until they are truly very unwell. This makes it even more important to seek veterinary attention when you do find something amiss. 

Abscesses are one such thing that can make alpacas unwell. You might notice a swelling, a bad odour, or increased fly attention. More subtle signs might also be noted, like eating less, weight loss, or straying away from the herd. Abscesses can pop up in all sorts of areas, such as dental abscesses, foot abscesses, and injection site abscesses. At shearing and vaccination, good hygiene is important in reducing the impacts that abscesses can have. 

Caseous Lymphadenitis

One contagious cause of abscesses in alpacas is Caseous Lymphadenitis. This is a chronic problem, and may need a protracted treatment course. Infection control is very important, as it is infectious to many other animals, and sometimes even people. A culture of the abscess may be helpful for proving if this organism is involved to better educate a plan and prognosis. If this is a trouble for you and your herd, vaccination may be helpful.   

Treatment

Often abscesses may need lancing or draining, and the underlying cause dealt with, especially if there is a grass seed or other foreign body. After this, pain relief is often given as anti-inflammatories. Antibiotics help to deal with the residual infection. Depending on the location and severity, the alpaca may need multiple treatments, and may benefit from being observed in a smaller paddock with a smaller herd. 

Abscesses are a problem across a range of species and are equally frustrating in different animals. Arrange an appointment if abscess are affecting your stock. 

Crib-biting (also called wind-sucking) is a more common behavioral disorder displayed by horses living indoors (for the most part). Crib-biting is potentially dangerous to a horse's health, and it can be alarming for those observing the behavior for the first time.

Crib-biting involves a horse grabbing an object, such as a rail or fence, with its upper incisors and arching its neck to suck air into the throat while making a distinctive grunting sound. The behavior has no apparent purpose, but some possible reasons horses might crib bite include boredom, stress, digestive discomfort, lack of socialization, and lack of outdoor time.

Health Implications

Horses that show crib-biting behavior may also be at increased risk of:

• developing excessive neck muscle
• damage and wear to the upper teeth
• weight loss
• colic and other gastrointestinal problems.
• osteoarthritis of the hyoid bone (a small bone in the throat).

Lower levels of trace elements such as selenium, zinc, and others appear to be associated with this condition. However, there is no clear evidence of whether this is a causative factor or another stress indicator. There is some evidence that stress suffered due to complications listed above may contribute to lower antioxidant levels. Supplementation of these elements is protective to some degree.

Treatment

Crib biting is a complex problem to cure. Still, a logical approach should address the underlying causes that can lead to the condition, namely: stress and boredom.

Look for environmental clues

Stress and boredom are the two most likely risk factors associated with crib-biting. Interestingly, this is not a behaviour seen by wild horses. Providing environmental enrichment, such as toys or novel food treats for the horse in an otherwise under stimulating environment, helps to reduce boredom. Increased socialization with other horses can also prove helpful. Horses will benefit from changing routines, such as providing more or different experiences outside the stable, which can also help to improve the level of mental stimulation in the horse.

Check on their digestion

Crib biting can sometimes be associated with digestive discomfort. Our veterinarians can evaluate your horse's gut health and check dental health. Remember, the mouth is the start of the digestion system. Our findings may lead to recommendations to change the type or delivery of the horse's diet. Suppose you're feeding a diet that is relatively high in energy. In that case, reducing caloric intake and increasing stimulating exercise may also have a beneficial effect.

As this behavior is often a symptom or indicator of another problem, getting to the root of the issue is essential. Physical solutions such as metal barriers can cause increased tooth damage, and aversive solutions such as crib-biting collars and electric shock devices may appear to eliminate the behavior for a period. However, once an owner stops using such devices, the behavior may reappear worse than ever.

Early intervention and persistence are essential to finding and reducing the root causes of crib-biting.

Speak with one of our friendly veterinary team members for more information on safe, humane behaviour management techniques to help your horse break the biting habit!

Did you know that calcium and phosphorus comprise the main mineral content of horses' bones, and about 70% of the body's mineral content?
Calcium has many important metabolic roles, from strengthening the bones supporting a horse's frame (the bones hold 99% of the calcium in a horse's body!) to helping blood coagulation, neuromuscular function, energy supply, and body homeostasis. Phosphorus aids bone strength alongside calcium and regulates pH, cell membrane integrity, and energy metabolism.

Balance

Horses not only need to eat sufficient calcium and phosphorus, they need to consume these minerals in the proper ratio, just like other species of animals. 
In suckling foals, milk forms the perfect balance for building healthy bones. This milk also contains the correct vitamin D to ensure healthy, strong bone development. However, after weaning, it's vital to maintain a foal's healthy bone development. In a growing horse, calcium to phosphorus balance must be between one to one and three to one. If for example, phosphorus intake is significantly above calcium's, then calcium absorption will decrease, compromising the horse's bone health. Even in mature horses, the level of calcium to phosphorus should not exceed six to one.

Diet

Maintaining the proper balance of calcium and phosphorus can be challenging with some diets.

• Grass and grass hays usually contain more calcium than phosphorus.
• Legume-based pasture and hay are also rich in calcium, but the ratio of up to six to one may be too much for foals if fed alone.
• Predominantly grain-based diets, which contain significantly more phosphorus than calcium, present the most common cause of imbalance.

So, carefully calculated calcium supplements are vital with grain-based diets. When balancing your horse's diet, it's also important to remember:

• Horses housed indoors (for the most part), vitamin D supplements are essential.
• Mature horses doing strenuous exercise can also have a significantly increased requirement for calcium and phosphorus due to increased muscle activity and other metabolic activity.

Imbalance

Diets where calcium and phosphorus are insufficient can result in some severe conditions. An unbalanced diet can lead to big head disease, where cartilage replaces bone in the horse skull, or secondary hyperparathyroidism, where the kidney glands that regulate calcium metabolism excrete too much hormone.

Insufficient calcium in young horses can cause poorly formed bones which can be difficult to restore to full function. In mature horses, if blood calcium concentrations are too low, the blood will resorb bone to support the body's other vital metabolic processes (that require calcium).

By contrast, excess calcium can disrupt the absorption of essential trace minerals like iron, copper, and zinc and, at high levels, cause bone development abnormalities.

When it comes to balancing your horse’s diet and nutrition, speak with one of our veterinary team. They’re a great source of Vitamin Advice!

1. The estimated annual cost of lice to the Australian sheep flock is a staggering $81 million.
   This figure includes expenses for treatment, prevention, and production. During the first year of infestation, the economic consequences are minimal. However, subsequent years see a significant decline in fleece value, with reductions ranging from 30% to 40%.
2. Approximately 43% of lice infections happen in the pastoral zone and 29% in the wheat, sheep and high rainfall zones.
   While the use of older chemicals and the 2009 ban on diazinon initially contributed to an increasing number of cases, the prevalence of lice infections today appears stable, thanks to the effectiveness of newer chemicals in controlling and eradicating lice.
3. Sheep lice infestation can cause a reduction of up to one kilogram per head in clean wool yield.
   Lice infestation impedes wool production, leading to matted and discoloured fleeces that incur higher losses during processing. Consequently, the fleece value can decrease by three to ten dollars per head.
4. Lice infestation does not directly affect sheep's body weight, lambing percentage, or growth rate.
   Finally, a face we're happy about! However, research observes that sheep with poor nutrition or experiencing other forms of stress may be more susceptible to lice, leading to more severe infestations.
5. Lice spread almost exclusively through direct contact between sheep. By effectively eradicating lice from a flock and preventing the introduction of infested sheep, it is possible to maintain a lice-free environment.
6. The most reliable method for monitoring lice infestation is to observe sheep exhibiting rubbing behaviour.
   However, it is crucial to visually confirm the presence of lice, as sheep may scratch for reasons unrelated to lice.
7. The damage to your sheep is important, but there can also be significant (and costly) damages to your fencing, and your relationship with any neighbours! It is a problem worthwhile doing something about.

We all understand the importance of keeping warm during winter, but keep an eye out for uninvited guests that rug up in the coats of your cattle: that’s right, cooler weather tends to bring an upswing in lice infestations.

How much damage are cattle lice capable of?

While all cattle can carry lice, young or unhealthy cattle often have the heaviest infestations.
When the ambient temperature drops below 16oC, louse eggs attach to the coat of an animal and hatch when the skin’s temperature is between 33 and 37*C.
Lice irritate cattle, causing them to scratch, bite and rub themselves. This constant irritation is annoying for your cows and a welfare problem, especially in severe infestations. They may also damage fencing, gates, trees, or anything they can find to rub themselves against.

There are two types of cattle lice:

• Biting lice feed on skin debris and can cause severe irritation.
• Sucking lice pierce the skin and suck blood. In large numbers, they can cause anaemia.

Determining which type of infestation you are dealing with is essential, as different treatment products exist for each species.

Treating lice: when and how?

Treating light is generally not economically viable but may be important from a welfare perspective. However, if hide quality is essential, treatment may be essential as hide damage occurs with scratching. It is also necessary for some QA programs.

There are four key treatment options for lice infestation: spray-on and pour-on treatments, medicated ear tags, and injectable options.

Treatment for lice can usually coincide with a strategic drench for internal parasites in (March to May) in most regions where lice are an issue. It's good to treat before infestations become heavy. However, treatment must be done after the hatching as most products are ineffective against louse eggs.

When addressing a lice infestation, ensure that all cattle, including calves on the property, are treated within 7 to 10-day days. Cattle that miss treatment are a source of reinfestation, which can occur quickly, so separate treated from untreated cattle, regrouping once treatment of all animals is complete.

For recommendations on effective lice treatment and to determine the most suitable product for your flock, speak with our knowledgeable veterinarians.

Calves occasionally require resuscitation after birth when they experience distress and oxygen depletion during delivery. Without appropriate intervention, many of these calves risk dying shortly after birth.

Common signs of at-risk calves include:

• swollen heads
• blue gums
• slow or weak breathing
• a flaccid body
• poor or absent suck reflex.

It is important to note that performing mouth-to-mouth resuscitation on calves is not recommended due to occupational health and safety concerns. Instead, we recommend using an aspirator-resuscitator specifically designed for calf resuscitation.

What is the difference between aspirator and resuscitation, and why are both necessary?

Aspiration and resuscitation serve two separate but essential functions. First, aspiration clears the calf's airways of mucus that may block airflow into the lungs. Secondly, resuscitation delivers air into the lower airways, enabling oxygen to enter the calf's bloodstream and give it the best chance of life.

How to use an aspirator-resuscitator properly:

Aspiration

1. Attach the aspirator mask to the wide end of the device and position it over the calf's muzzle.
2. Tilt the calf's head backward to open the airway.
3. Use approximately four or five pumps to draw the mucus or fluids into the aspirator mask (pumping the unit creates a vacuum, removing mucus and fluid obstructing the airway).
4. Remove the aspirator mask from the pump and proceed with the resuscitation instructions.

Resuscitation

1. Attach the resuscitator mask to the smaller end of the device and place it over the calf's muzzle.
2. Apply gentle pressure over the esophagus (just above the trachea) to prevent air from entering the stomach.
3. Pump the resuscitator every 5 to 10 seconds to facilitate complete exhalation.
4. Continue to monitor breathing after every few pumps.
   If the calf is still not breathing after 4 to 5 pumps, carefully turn it over and repeat the process. (This position change removes pressure from the internal organs, helping the previously lower lung to inflate more easily.)
5. Continue resuscitation as long as the calf's heartbeat is present.

For more information on safe calf resuscitation practices, speak with our veterinary team today.