Mouth ulcers in sheep 2

The following replies from members of the society have been received (in no particular order):

"It sounds to me as though there are all sorts of lesions in 'normal' sheeps mouths once you start looking. I also saw two sheep a couple of weeks ago that had what could have been interpreted as a blister in the interdigital space.

Taking all the circumstances into account we decided they were OK, but had they been in an infected area I'm sure they would have been 'SOS'. It would be useful to do a detailed project in an area well away from infected areas just to see what is there. I've no good suggestions for the query - sounds like blood testing is needed to rule out FMD."

Agnes Winter

"In my experience, ulceration of the gums in sheep at this time of year is quite often seen where they have been housed and eating a diet based on low quality (high volume) sharp forages. Oat straw is a classic, although this doesn't sound the same as abrasion type damage. Is it possible they are eating something with either a high or low pH that could be causing irritation? Acidic silage for example or caustic treated wheat, straw etc.?

All in all, sounds like there are a number of possibilities so, as Agnes says, serology may ultimately be the only answer."

Lesley Stubbings

Further thoughts include:

1. Spreading nitrogen fertilisers
2. Abrasion from feeding blocks
3. Sparse grazing - eating thistles or reeds close to the ground

These three things could cause severe ulceration in the mouth and in between lambs feet.

Judith Charnley

Another possiblity may be exposure to certain plant toxins that cause direct chemical trauma to mucous membranes eg. 'primary photosensitisation' reactions as can occur in humans exposed to hogweeds - (although Sven did talk about this at Harrogate and didn't think that it caused major problems in sheep.).

Colin Macaldowie