Diarrhea is defined as an increased frequency, fluidity, or volume of fecal excretion. There are many causes of diarrhea: bacterial, viral, parasites, diet, and stress. It is not possible to definitively determine the infectious organism by looking at the color, consistency, or odor of the feces. A definitive identification requires a sample for microbiological analysis. Diarrhea is a complex, multi-factorial disease involving the animal, the environment, nutrition, and infectious agents.
Diarrhea should not be considered an illness in and of itself but rather a symptom of other more serious health problems in sheep and lambs. Diarrhea is not always the result of an infectious disease. It can be induced by stress, poor management, and nutrition. Before treating an animal for diarrhea, it is essential to determine why the animal is scouring. Many of the common causes of diarrhea are self-limiting, and the major goals of treatment are to keep the animal physiologically intact while the diarrhea runs its course.
Diarrhea (scours) in small ruminants
Diarrhea is defined as an increased frequency, fluidity, or volume of fecal excretion. The feces may contain blood or mucous and be smelly. The color of the feces may be abnormal. However, it is not possible to definitively determine the infectious organism by looking at the color, consistency, or odor of the feces. A definitive identification requires a sample for microbiological analysis.
In livestock, diarrhea is called scours. There are many causes of diarrhea: bacterial, viral, parasites, and diet.
Flystrike risk
Sheep that have diarrhea are more prone to flystrike (blowflies or maggots). To help prevent flystrike, it is recommended that lambs be docked. However, the tail should not be docked too long nor too short. Feces will accumulate on long tails.
On the other hand, the dock should be left long enough to cover the vulva of the ewe and an equivalant length on a ram lamb. If a lamb can “wag” its tail, it will be able to use its tail to project away feces. Otherwise the feces will run down the lamb’s back end. It is usually not necessary to dock the tails of hair sheep or rat-tailed breeds.