Farm Animal Health: Safer Sheep Shearing, Vitamins for Rabbits and Fixing Pets

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Even a careful shearing can result in cuts that easily become infected.
Even a careful shearing can result in cuts that easily become infected.
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Keeping a healthier flock.
Keeping a healthier flock.
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A sheared sheep.
A sheared sheep.
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A sheep's gums should be a healthy, uniform pink.
A sheep's gums should be a healthy, uniform pink.
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Sheep contract skin infections through contact with infected sheep, bedding, feeders, or shearing equipment.
Sheep contract skin infections through contact with infected sheep, bedding, feeders, or shearing equipment.
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Sanitized shearing tools reduce the spread of infections.
Sanitized shearing tools reduce the spread of infections.
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Administering a progesterone implant to
Administering a progesterone implant to "synchronize" heat cycles.

Andrea Looney, DVM, offers her farm animal health experience in caring for cows, calves, horses and sheep. (See the livestock photos in the image gallery.)

Farm Animal Health Topic

Many of our sheep develop abscesses after shearing. What’s the cause of this and how do we deal with the abscesses?
–Lisa Capriano
Burns, OR

Dear Lisa:

  • Published on Jun 1, 1996
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