How to prevent and treat sheep pneumonia? These methods must be mastered

Sheep pneumonia is an acute or chronic inflammation of the lungs and bronchi, mostly caused by a cold that is not treated in time, long-distance transport, sudden climate changes, or inhaling large amounts of foreign matter. Sheep infected with lungworms can also suffer from this disease. Let's take a look at the prevention and treatment methods for sheep pneumonia.

Symptoms of sheep pneumonia

In the early stage of the disease, affected sheep show poor spirits, reduced appetite, and a body temperature above 40°C. In the early stage, appetite decreases, the animal is listless, coughs, and has gray viscous or purulent nasal discharge flowing from the nostrils. It quickly develops into difficulty breathing with abdominal breathing. On auscultation of the lungs, alveolar breath sounds are enhanced, with dry rales and moist rales. On percussion of the chest, there is a area of dullness or semi-dullness. In severe cases, there is difficulty breathing, frequent and deep coughing, body temperature rises to 40-41°C, heartbeat speeds up, appetite is completely lost, and the animal is restless or unable to stand. Acute cases die in 1-2 days, while chronic cases affect growth and development.

Causes of sheep pneumonia

1. Caused by a cold, such as a damp shed, foul air, and drafts, which easily cause nasal catarrh and bronchial catarrh. If not cared for properly, it can develop into pneumonia.

2. Drastic climate changes, such as suddenly encountering wind and rain during grazing, or cold and damp weather after shearing. Severe cold winters and rainy weather make the disease more likely.

3. Reduced resistance in sheep. When the resistance of sheep decreases, many non-pathogenic or weakly pathogenic bacteria take the opportunity to invade and cause pneumonia.

4. Foreign matter entering the lungs, mainly caused by inhaling foreign matter or administering medicine into the lungs, resulting in foreign body pneumonia.

5. Pneumonia caused by lung parasites, such as the mechanical action of lungworms or malnutrition leading to pneumonia.

6. Secondary to other diseases, such as hemorrhagic septicemia, pseudotuberculosis, etc. This is often due to long-term lying on one side during illness, causing congestion in one lung and leading to pneumonia. Once secondary pneumonia occurs, the mortality rate is higher than that of the primary disease.

Prevention and treatment of sheep pneumonia

1. Prevent colds. The sheep shed should be dry and well ventilated, and the temperature difference between inside and outside should not be too large.

2. Penicillin 400,000-600,000 units or streptomycin 500,000-800,000 units, intramuscular injection for meat sheep, twice a day.

3. 10% sulfathiazole sodium 20 ml intravenous injection.

4. 20% sulfadiazine sodium 20-30 ml, injected twice a day for 3-5 consecutive days.

5. Traditional Chinese medicine treatment: Scutellaria baicalensis and apricot kernel 10 g each, Anemarrhena asphodeloides, Fritillaria, Platycodon grandiflorus, Scrophularia ningpoensis, Trichosanthes, loquat leaf, Gardenia jasminoides, and licorice 5 g each. Grind them together into a fine powder, mix with boiling water, wait until warm, and administer orally, twice a day for 3-5 consecutive days.