Herbal remedies for Orf

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Herbal remedies for Orf

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Frustrated
Guest

Posted: Thu Apr 14, 05 6:55 pm Post subject: Herbal remedies for Orf

I have a few lambs with orf we have had to segregate them before this gets through the rest of the flock, however some are exhibiting symptoms, my trip to the vet was rather downheartening as they have taken orf pills off the market. The vets quote was ' whenever something works they take it off the market'. They were given Terramycin and the vet recommended iodine on the orf. However I have been reading up on the disease and have found it can be treated using herbal remedies/homeopathy unfortunately it didn't tell me which, has anyone any ideas or does anyone know where I could get the orf pills from? Thanks

Gertie

Joined: 08 Jan 2005
Posts: 1638
Location: Yorkshire

Posted: Fri Apr 15, 05 6:25 am Post subject:
Hi Guest - What exactly is the ailment/disease, I've not heard of it? Sorry I can't help, but I'm sure that when Rob R or Alison (or indeed one of the many sheep people who use the site) read this they will post a response. Good Luck, anyway.

Gertie

Joined: 08 Jan 2005
Posts: 1638
Location: Yorkshire

Posted: Fri Apr 15, 05 6:26 am Post subject:
Oops, forgot to say if you join the site (FREE!) they will be able to PM you, too.

Kirstie

Joined: 01 Apr 2005
Posts: 94
Location: Scotland

Posted: Fri Apr 15, 05 7:47 am Post subject:

Gertie in answer to your query, very nasty skin condition.

Orf is a highly contagious eruptive skin condition of sheep and goats, which affects mainly young animals in the first year of their life. The more serious outbreaks are generally associated with intensive sheep husbandry where there is a build-up of infection in buildings. The virus is classified as a Poxvirus belonging to the genus Parapoxvirus.

The orf virus primarily affects the skin around the mouth, and under normal circumstances is resolved in four to six weeks. However, lesions may become extensive and spread to other parts of the body, and can be transmitted to the ewe's udder causing her to refuse to suckle. The lesions on the udder may cause acute staphylococcal mastitis in the ewe and starvation of the lambs. Furthermore, the starving lambs may spread the disease to other ewes when trying to steal milk.

Also spreads to humans therefore you need to wear gloves when handling.

Rob R

Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 31902
Location: York

Posted: Fri Apr 15, 05 2:18 pm Post subject: Re: Herbal remedies for Orf

Frustrated wrote:

They were given Terramycin and the vet recommended iodine on the orf.

Do you know why they were given Terramycin? This seems rather an odd treatment unless there was a secondary infection present.

I would just wether the storm- the affected animals should infer an immunity, providing any bedding is burned for hygiene reasons. You should then consider vaccinating ewes (to provide passive immunity for the neonates) and lambs in years to come, although for anyone else reading this, vaccination is with a live preparation and should not be used where there is no history of orf in the flock.

I am afraid I do not know of anything herbal specifically for the treatment of orf. I have used echinacea as an immune booster in goats though, and that was most effective & is the first thing I would try.

Gertie

Joined: 08 Jan 2005
Posts: 1638
Location: Yorkshire

Posted: Fri Apr 15, 05 3:39 pm Post subject:
Kirsty/Rob R - I hope 'Frustrated' gets back on to see your replies. Although I don't have sheep now, I've not come across this in the past, so it's nice to learn something new - especially when it can be passed on to humans. Thanks for the information.

Gervase

Joined: 17 Nov 2004
Posts: 8655

Posted: Sun Apr 17, 05 1:03 pm Post subject:

Orf is nasty - a schoolfriend of my stepson's had it last year, and may still have to have plastic surgery to help make up for the hair loss and scarring on his head. DO wear gloves and exercise caution.
As for Teramycin, it (and Alamycin) seem to be regarded as panaceas by many sheep types and vets, even when the infection is clearly viral rather than bacterial!
It's annoying when you hear someone saying "dose 'em with 4ml of Teramycin" to every conceivable ill, but no more stupid than doctors prescribing antibiotics for colds and flu in humans.
However, Orf can give rise to secondary bacterial infections as the lesions are very prone to contamination, and it could be that the Teramycin was recommended to zap those.

Rob R

Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 31902
Location: York

Posted: Sun Apr 17, 05 2:20 pm Post subject:

Gervase wrote:

As for Teramycin, it (and Alamycin) seem to be regarded as panaceas by many sheep types and vets, even when the infection is clearly viral rather than bacterial!
It's annoying when you hear someone saying "dose 'em with 4ml of Teramycin" to every conceivable ill, but no more stupid than doctors prescribing antibiotics for colds and flu in humans.
However, Orf can give rise to secondary bacterial infections as the lesions are very prone to contamination, and it could be that the Teramycin was recommended to zap those.

Precisely what I was thinking. Unless there was a secondary bacterial infection present, the antibiotics were probably doing more harm than good

Kirstie

Joined: 01 Apr 2005
Posts: 94
Location: Scotland

Posted: Sun Apr 17, 05 3:58 pm Post subject:

I tend to agree with the terramycin theory, with the majority of vets and shepherds (up in our area at least) they tend to think that it is the cure of all ills and should be used for everything, they apparently swear by it. I try to find a more natural way of treating my sheep, although with the scour I did give 2ml terramycin to those affected.

Gervase I knew it was bad in humans but didn't realise it was to quite that extent, Im glad I am free from it, but shall certainly look out just in case, and I will certainly be wearing gloves.

Rob R

Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 31902
Location: York

Posted: Tue Apr 19, 05 2:06 pm Post subject:

Kirstie wrote:

That's the worrying thing, you pay vets a lot of money for their years of experience & training, and yet many still do not take serious steps to reduce antibiotic resistance

I guess that is because many trained in times when antibiotics were thought of as 'cure all'.

Kirstie

Joined: 01 Apr 2005
Posts: 94
Location: Scotland

Posted: Thu Apr 21, 05 2:22 pm Post subject:
On reading my shepherd guide to homeopathy, it may be worth you getting this as it has plenty of treatments for orf, depending on what the lesions are like, great book, if you let me know what the lesions are like and symptoms I will let you know what it says. Ive used homeopathy for the dogs but not for sheep/lambs as yet but I will certainly give some of this a try.

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