Re: [Blackbelly] Selenium

[o johnson]

Cecil I am so sorry.  I know how hard loosing one is. 
My dear Bailey was attacked by a pit bull (I am
waiting to catch the thing loose again and it will get
some lead poisoning).  He took both of Baileys ears
and one you could see his skull.  I was going to have
him put to sleep but on the advice on my dog vet, he
said these little guys are so hardy that he may make
it.  We doped him with lots of drugs and low and
behold my boy made it.  My dog vet did more for him
than any other vet I have talked to.  
I rely on this list than anything.  Our sheep are not
like others and like you every sheep person around
here wants me to put everything in my guys that they
do.  My guys do not need it.  I love watching them.
You thought your vet knew what he was talking about,
the problem is they think like regular sheep people
and not our little guys.  Do not beat yourself up. 
Remember this and it will save so many other lambs for
you and anyone that takes this knowledge to heart.  I
save a lot of these list information so If I ever have
a problem I can look.  Stay positive and keep an eye
out for your guys. If you read your own email you know
them better than anyone. Keep us posted on the
outcome.
Oneta in McLoud, OK
--- Cecil Bearden <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:

> This has been one of the worst days of my life as a
> shepherd.  On the 
> advice of a veterinarian ( several) I gave selenium
> injections to my 
> flock.  Within 4 hours I lost 5 of my lambs.  4 of
> my smallest and one 
> that I was bottle supplementing.  By yesterday
> morning I had lost 
> another 3 lambs.  I gave selenium and Vitamin E
> injections labeled MuSe 
> at the dosage recommended by the vet.  That dosage
> was 2 times the rec 
> immended cattle dosage on the package insert which I
> did not read until 
> it was too late. 
> 
> The little ones were just overdosed by the operation
> of the automatic 
> syringe I had.  That was my fault.  I hope to
> recover emotionally from 
> that. 
> 
> I now have about 15 head with a severe limp and
> walking on the ankle of 
> the leg that received the shot.  I hope this will
> work out in a couple 
> of days. 
> 
> The clinical signs of selenium were present. 
> However it could be many 
> other things.  Sheep folks here inject selenium at
> birth like it was the 
> first thing to do.  Sheep folks here lose a lot of
> lambs. 
> 
> I did  lot of research in the last 24 hours on
> selenium. The difference 
> between deficiency and overdose is one decimal
> point!  intramuscular 
> injection requires only half the dosage to be lethal
> that subcutaneous 
> does. 
> My advice is do not inject selenium....  If you
> think you need it, take 
> a blood sample and then feed it. 
> If you inject anything, read the label, inserts, and
> do a thorough 
> search on the net before injecting.  Also, most of
> the injectables we 
> get are for cattle and we have smaller animals.  The
> best method is to 
> use a sterile diluent and dilute the material so
> that you can inject a 
> larger amount of material with a smaller
> concentration.  If I had 
> diluted this stuff in half, I would probably still
> have my lambs. 
> 
> I lost a little guy that was very timid and would
> follow his brother to 
> get a bottle but not let me feed him.  I had to
> catch him three times 
> before he would come up to be fed.  He and his
> brother would run across 
> the yards from the barns when I came out to feed the
> 2 bigger ones on a 
> bottle.  Knowing that I was the cause of his death
> is more than I can 
> really take.  I never had a dog as a kid and these
> are like pets I never 
> had.  I love lambing season as I get to play with
> the little ones. 
> 
> The decision to inject was finalized by the loss of
> a baby who did not 
> get colostrum and caught pneumonia.  I have had weak
> lambs this time 
> from allowing a sheep trader on the place who
> brought in Chlamydia and 
> probably Campilobacter.  I don't have the heart to
> let these diseases 
> run their course as losing one is personal.  So far
> I have lost 6 to 
> suffocation in the barns from getting laid on I
> guess.  3 to a ewe that 
> was "lesbian"  3 to abortion. 1 to pneumonia and 8
> to selenium.  The 
> worst night I had was when coyotes and dogs killed
> 6.  I even outdid the 
> coyotes!
> 
> Like I said, this has been the worst day.  Please do
> not make my 
> mistake.  Any trace mineral should only be given
> orally.  There is no 
> antidote for overdose with injectable.  You can only
> wait to see how 
> many die within the next week....
> 
> Cecil in OKla
> _______________________________________________
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> Visit the list's homepage at
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> 


    Oneta and The Gang 
www.johnsonquarterhorses.com
   
  Don't tell GOD what to do, just report for duty!





      
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