Got a 4 month old sheep down with blood in urine, runny nasal discharge and listlessness. Found her this way about 10 am and she is not dead yet. Read that if cyanide poisoning they usually die within an hour and if they live for 2-3 hours they usually survive.

She has been up and down and will still eat and drink. I gave her a bottle with activated charcoal and water. (Charcoal is what you give humans when there is poisoning and I wanted to try it at least.) She was very happy to take the bottle and was wagging tail, etc.

I called a vet but we can not afford to take her in; money has been very slow. (Please don't flame me for that. If I could take her I would.)

I guess I think if she will live she will live and if not, well I tried.

I do not have her a mineral block and she was near a wild black cherry tree whose leaves are just starting to fall. (I didn't know they were toxic.)

Any help would help

A very sad Mrs G

-- Mrs G (gunnar@yifan.net), September 05, 2001

Answers

Response to HELP!! Copper toxicity or cyanide poisoning?

Mrs. G....I do not know about sheep and/or their illnesses. I just wanted to let you know that I was pulling for you. And I do understand when things are tight...a person has choices to make. And that sometimes those choices do not include the vet. So take heart...you are not alone. Good luck to you and your sheep...hope she recovers soon. P.S...I do not know if the charcoal was a good idea or not for a sheep...HOWEVER...I thought it was brilliant of you to think of it!!

-- Sher in southeast Iowa (riverdobbers@webtv.net), September 05, 2001.

Response to HELP!! Copper toxicity or cyanide poisoning?

I would think it wouldn't hurt to feed pedialyte or some such with electolytes in it to an animal. Hoping for a miracle for you.

-- Ann Markson (tngreenacres@hotmail.com), September 05, 2001.

Response to HELP!! Copper toxicity or cyanide poisoning?

It may be the cherry leaves. Keep up what you are doing and the electrolytes is a good idea also. Keep you sheep away from those trees and make sure they have enough hay and water so that they won't be tempted to eat the poisonous things. Don't feel bad about the vet thing. I can't afford to take my animals to the vet either. Call your extension agent and maybe they can give you some more advise. Good luck.

-- Patricia Ramsey (woolspin@aol.com), September 05, 2001.

Response to HELP!! Copper toxicity or cyanide poisoning?

I don't have any advice to give concerning the care of your sheep but wanted you to know that my thoughts are with you. I certainly know what you're saying when you say that you can't afford to take it to the vet. I believe that almost all of us have been at that stage at one time or another. I wish you luck with your sheep.

-- Grannytoo (jacres40@hotmail.com), September 05, 2001.

Response to HELP!! Copper toxicity or cyanide poisoning?

Go immediately to Breeders World, get on to their sheep forum. These people are professional and do help. Copper is a sign of blood in the urine. When you go their ask the same question as above and tell them your a rookie, I do, and also go to search, I just typed blood in urine in the search and got several messages from shepards that have gone through this problem. If your ewe has a temp, that means over 104., I would give Penn. which is pretty cheap at the feed store. Don't bother with the vet, I just had one out that charge me twice of what the ewe was and didn't put her down as I asked, so we had to after the large bill. If you need an emergency vet call Pipestone Vet Clinic in Minn. at 507 825-5687 make sure you get a vet and not a technician. They have actually called me back before with suggestion. Get one of their catalogs too, I certainly not a salewoman, but us sheep and goat people have to go to great lengths to get help in the good old USA. The vets are out there for your dog and cat! They have a web site www.pipevet.com I beleive they have a 24 hour number for emergencies. Good Luck, I have middle of the night emergencies my self with my sheep.

-- Debbie (bwolcott@cwis.net), September 05, 2001.

Response to HELP!! Copper toxicity or cyanide poisoning?

Mrs G. I am a novice sheep herder but have learned that the longer they stay alive the better the odds of living. Sheep have a tendency to die easily once they have a problem. Wilted wild cherry leaves are toxic to most every herbivore so keep all your livestock away from the tree. I would get a salt block or trace mineral block. It really helps the sheep to drink more water. Don't feel bad about lack of funds for a vet. They are great people and I sure use them whenever possible but even they lose animals. Go to the web sites and see what the professionals say and Good luck

-- Karen from Kansas (kansasgoats@iwon.com), September 05, 2001.