LaDena Johnson email: kjohnson@wcnet.net

Our SPCA recently cared for a sheep brought in by the Sheriff Dept. and it had what they called "wool worm". I was wondering what it was and since we don't have many wool type sheep here, no one could give me an answer. Thank you, LaDena

-- LaDena Johnson (spamrecycle@ChooseYourMail.com), May 03, 2001

Answers

Thats a new term to me and I have had sheep 25 years. Perhaps they were refering to maggots. I have seen maggots on sheep around their backsides when they get loose stools from green lush grass or a heavy infestation of parasites. The manure build up on unshorn wool around the backside attracts flies which lay eggs and then hatch into maggots. Its also commonly called flystrike. A could reason to me to dock sheeps tails and to get them sheared before the warm weather. I assume the sheep was at the SPCA for some sort of neglect or cruelty case.

-- Kate henderson (kate@sheepyvalley.com), May 04, 2001.

if not maggots, could be screw worms. if maggots use peroxide, pour on, will kill maggots. if screw worms, they have a spray. hope this helps.

-- lexi Green (whitestone11@hotmail.com), May 05, 2001.

Those "wool maggots" are disgusting and will actually kill a lamb. Don't know what they are, exactly, but the do not feed only on dead flesh. They actually burrow into the living animal. They make leeches look friendly. Had it only once on a couple of lambs I had someone else care for after they were weaned. Killed them off with shearing and blucoat. GL!

-- Brad (homefixer@SacoRiver.net), May 15, 2001.

Yeeach! 'Fly-blown' sheep are a nasty and cruel sight. Combat maggots by cleaning up the moist area by close clipping then give sunlight treatment. There are various preparations that kill the maggots. This can be a severe problem in some parts of the world and I have heard that it was the practice in parts of Australia to cut the skip from the rear end of sheep so that it healed as scar tissue and of course grew no wool, maybe our friend Don can comment?

-- john hill (john@cnd.co.nz), May 15, 2001.