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Antibiotic
Pen-Aqueous

Intramammary antibiotics
Extra-label

Long-acting antibiotic
LA-200® Extra-label

CD-T Vaccine

Needles

Syringes
Anthelmintic (Cydectin®)

A coccidiostat can be added
to feed, mineral, or water.


Sulfa drug for treating
coccidiosis (extra-label)

Oral dosing syringes
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Drug use in sheep
A drug is a product used to treat or prevent an illness. Drugs
can play an important role in preserving the health of individual
sheep and the flock as a whole. However, they need to be used
in a responsible manner. Moreover, producers should strive to
minimize drug use and should never use drugs in place of good
management and feeding practices.
There are two classes of drugs: over-the-counter (OTC) and prescription
(RX). OTC drugs are available to producers from many sources:
feed and farm supply stores and via mail order. Prescription (RX)
drugs can only be purchased and used under the guidance of a veterinarian.
Extra-Label Drug Use
All drugs should be used in accordance with the manufacturer's
label or product insert. Using a drug in any manner that is
not consistent with the manufacturer's label constitutes "extra-label"
drug use and requires approval from a veterinarian who is familiar
with the client, patient(s) and case.
In addition to using a drug that is not labeled for a particular
species, giving a higher dosage of an "approved" drug
or administering it in a different manner also constitutes extra-label
drug use.
Extra-label drug use can be legal when the health of an animal
is threatened and there is no other treatment alternative. However
unapproved drugs cannot be used "off-label" to improve
performance or control reproduction. As compared to cattle,
horses, pigs, and swine, fewer drugs are federally-approved
for use in sheep.
Withdrawal period
A withdrawal period is the amount of time it takes for the drug
to "clear" the animal's system, so that unsafe levels
of drug residues do not remain in the tissues. Every federally-approved
drug or animal health product has a withdrawal period printed
on the product label or package insert. Products carry meat
withdrawal periods ranging from 0 to 60 days. Withdrawal periods
can be an important consideration when choosing which drug to
use to treat a sick animal.
Withdrawal periods should be extended when combinations of drugs
are used or when drugs are used in an extra-label manner. In
these situations or at any time a producer is uncertain of a
specific drug withdrawal period, a veterinarian should be consulted.
Veterinarians have access to the Food
Animal Residue Avoidance Database (FARAD) which provides
withdrawal information on drugs used in an extra-label manner.
Antibiotics
An antibiotic is a medication used to treat or prevent bacterial
infections. When used appropriately, antibiotics are a powerful
tool for maintaining healthy animals. Not all antibiotics work
the same and each acts against different types of bacterial
infections. Sometimes, cultures are necessary to determine which
antibiotic a bacteria is sensitive to.
Producers should limit antibiotic treatment to those animals
that are sick or are legitimately at-risk of becoming sick.
If antibiotics are not used appropriately, the opportunity for
resistant bacteria to evolve increases needlessly and can compromise
future antibiotic therapy. Detailed and accurate records of
antibiotic treatments and outcomes should be recorded.
Antibiotics FDA-approved for sheep
(source: Animal Drugs @ FDA)
Trade name |
Drug ingredient |
Labeled dosage |
Withdrawal |
| Aureomycin® |
Chlorotetracycline |
20-50 g/ton (lambs) |
OTC |
0 days |
| Biosol® |
Neomycin sulfate |
10 mg/lb, < 14 days |
OTC |
2 days |
| Micotil® |
Tilmicosin Phosphate |
10 mg/kg SQ
single treatment |
RX |
28 days |
| Naxcel® |
Ceftiofur sodium |
0.5-1.0 mg/lb. IM for 3 days |
RX |
0 days |
| Pro-Pen G |
Penicillin G Procaine |
1 ml/100 lbs. IM
< 4 consecutive days |
OTC |
8 days |
| Terramycin® |
Oxytetracycline |
10-20 g/ton feed
10 mg/lb. |
OTC |
5 days |
When deemed necessary, the following antibiotics may be prescribed for use in sheep by veterinarians only. When using drugs extra-label, you cannot assume the withdrawal period indicated on the label is adequate for sheep.
Extra label antibiotics (source: Animal Drugs @ FDA)
Trade name |
Drug ingredient |
Use in other species |
Cefa-Dri®
Tomorrow®
|
Cephapirin Benzathine |
For use in dry cows to prevent mastitis |
Cefa-Lak®
Today®
|
Cephapirin Sodium |
For use in lactating cows to treat mastitis |
| Excenel® |
Ceftiofur Hydrochloride |
Rx antibiotic for cattle and swine |
| Nuflor® |
Florfenicol |
Rx antibiotic for cattle |
| LA-200® |
Oxytetracycline |
Long-acting OTC antibiotic for cattle |
| Pen BP-48 |
Penicillin G Benzathine; Penicillin G Procaine |
Long-acting penicillin for cattle |
| Scour-Halt® |
Spectinomycin |
OTC antibiotic for treating scours in pigs |
| Sulmet® |
Sulfamethazine |
OTC antibiotic for cattle and horses |
| Tylan® 50 |
Tylosin |
OTC antibiotic for cattle and swine |
Sub-therapeutic use of antibiotics
Sub-therapeutic means below the dosage level to treat disease.
Sub-therapeutic levels of antibiotics are sometimes fed to sheep
and/or lambs to prevent disease outbreaks. Feeding antibiotics
to ewes during late pregnancy can help to control abortions.
When a ewe has been assisted in the delivery of her lamb(s),
it is recommended that she be given an antibiotic to prevent
uterine infections.
Antibiotic use is prohibited under USDA certified organic and
natural standards of livestock and meat production. While it
is not recommended that treatment be withheld from a sick animal,
if an animal is treated with an antibiotic, it cannot be marketed
as certified organic or natural. It's milk cannot be used to
make in organic products.
Anthelmintics
An anthelmintic is a medication which kills worms. It is also
called a "dewormer." Anthelmintics are available as
drenches, boluses, pastes, injectables, pour-ons, and as products
that you mix with the feed. All anthelmintics may be purchased
over-the-counter.
It is recommended that sheep and lambs always be treated with
oral products: drenches and boluses. These formulations are
more effective and less likely to promote drug resistance. In
the U.S., they are the only products FDA-approved for use in
sheep and lambs. When treating sheep for parasites, make sure
you give them the proper dose. Underdosing promotes the development
of drug-resistant worms. Anthelmintics should be delivered over
the sheep's tongue using a syringe with a long metal nozzle.
It is not recommended that sheep and lambs be dewormed on a
regular or scheduled basis or that all animals in a group be
treated with an anthelmintic. Selective anthelminic use should
be integrated with other worm control practices.
Under USDA organic standards, animals destined for slaughter
cannot be treated with an anthelmintic. While it is not recommended
that treatment be withheld from a clinically parasitized animal,
if it is treated, it cannot be sold as certified organic, even
if proper withdrawal periods are observed.
Anthelmintics FDA-approved for sheep and lambs (source: Animal Drugs @ FDA)
Trade name |
Ingredient |
Dosage |
Withdrawal |
Cydectin® drench |
Moxidectin |
1 ml/11 lbs. |
7 days |
Ivomec® sheep drench |
Ivermectin |
3 ml/26 lbs. |
11 days |
Prohibit® drench |
Levamisole |
8 mg/kg |
3 days |
Valbazen® drench |
Albendazole |
3 ml/100 lbs. |
7 days |
Coccidiostats
A coccidiostat is a compound added to animal feed to partially
inhibit or delay the development of coccidia, a protozoan parasite
that causes scouring and damage to the lining of the small intestines.
In the U.S., Bovatec® (lasalocid) is approved as a coccidiostat
for sheep maintained in confinement. 20 to 30 grams of Bovatec®
may be mixed in a ton of sheep feed. Ionophores are permitted
under USDA natural standards, but not under USDA organic standards.
There is no slaughter withdrawal.
Deccox® (decoquinate) is also approved as a coccidiostat
for young sheep. It can be mixed in the feed or milk replacer.
Rumensin® (monensin) is not approved for use in sheep, but
can be prescribed by a veterinarian. It is toxic to members
of the equine family.
Coccidiostats FDA-approved for young sheep (source: Animal Drugs @ FDA)
Trade name |
Ingredient |
Dosage |
Withdrawal |
Bovatec® |
Lasalocid Sodium |
20-30 g/ton of feed |
0 days |
Deccox® |
Decoquinate |
13.6 g/ton of feed |
0 days |
Corid® (amprolium) is the only coccidiostat used as both
a preventative and treatment therapy for coccidiosis, though
it is not labeled for sheep. Corid can be mixed in the drinking
water to prevent outbreaks of coccidiosis or it can be administered
to individual animals at a higher dose to treat clinical coccidiosis.
Corid has a unique mode of action. It mimics thiamine (vitamin
B12). When the coccidia ingest Corid, they experience thiamine
deficiency and starve from malnutrition. Sulfa drugs are also
used to treat coccidiosis.
Extra label drugs for treating coccidiosis (source: Animal Drugs @ FDA)
Trade name |
Ingredient |
Dosage |
Corid® |
Amprolium |
4 oz/50 gal. of water |
Di-methox (Albon) |
Sulfadimethoxine |
1.25 to 2.5 g/100 lbs.
4 cc of 12% solution/25 lbs. |
Vaccines (biologics)
A vaccine is a biological preparation which is used to establish
or improve immunity to a particular disease. Sheep and lambs
are commonly vaccinated for clostridial diseases and other diseases
as situations warrant.
A vaccine stimulates the body's defense system to build immunity
to a particular disease, by exposing the animal to either the
live organism in a safe form (e.g. sore mouth) or to a killed
or inactivated organism or part of an organism (e.g. clostrididal
diseases).
Vaccinations in an annual program require an initial dose the
first year followed by a booster to provide maximum protection.
Anti-toxins can be used in disease outbreaks or to provide immediate
short-term immunity. In sheep, the tetanus anti-toxin is often
give to lambs at the time of docking and/or castration, if the
lamb's dam was not vaccinated.
Most vaccines are administered by giving an injection under-the-skin
(subcutaneous). A few are administered intramuscularly and occasionally
some are given topically (e.g., soremouth vaccine) or intranasally.
If there is a choice, subcutaneous injections should be given,
as this causes less damage to muscle tissue.
Always followed
label directions when giving vaccines. Proper handling of vaccines
is important to prevent vaccination failure. Vaccines are sensitive
to light and should be refridgerated.
Vaccines labeled for sheep and lambs
Vaccine |
Dosage |
Withdrawal |
Campylobacter
|
5 ml SQ shortly before breeding, repeat
in 60-90 days. Revaccine annually (single dose) |
21 days |
Case-Bac
|
2 ml SQ, repeat 2 ml dose in 4 weeks,
revaccinate annually (single dose) |
21 days |
Caseous D-T |
2 ml SQ, repeat 2 ml dose in 4 weeks,
revaccinate annually (single dose) |
21 days |
C & D antitoxin |
Suckling lambs, 5 ml SQ, feeder lambs,
10 ml SQ; for treatment double doses |
21 days |
CD-T |
2 ml SQ, repeat in 21-28 days
revaccinate
annually |
21 days |
Covexin-8 |
5 ml SQ, followed by a 2 ml dose in
six weeks, revaccinate annually with 2 ml |
21 days |
Chlamydia
|
2 ml SQ 60 days prior to breeding, repeat
dose 30 days later, revaccinate annuall (singel dose) |
60 days |
Epididymitis |
2 ml SQ, repeat dose in 30-60 days
Annual booser |
21 days |
Footvax® |
1 ml SQ prior to anticipated outbreak,
repeat 6 weeks to 6 months, booster bi-annually |
60 days |
Ovine Ecolizer
|
5 ml orally within 12 hours of birth |
21 days |
Pasteurella
|
2 ml SQ, repeat in 2-4 weeks |
21 days |
Rabies |
2 ml IM, annual revaccination |
21 days |
Sore mouth |
Apply one drop to scarified area |
21 days |
Tetanus antitoxin |
1,500 units for prevention
3,000-15,000 units for treatment |
21 days |
Volar footrot bacterin |
3 ml SQ or IM, repeat in 3-4 weeks,
booster
annually or prior to anticipated outbreaks |
21 days |
All USDA labeling and certification programs allow the use of
vaccines for disease prevention.
Giving injections
Only clean needles and syringes should be used for giving injections.
A clean needle should be used to draw solution out of a bottle.
The length and gauge of the needle will depend upon the size
of the animal and the thickness of the solution. Generally,
use the smallest gauge needle that is suitable. a 5/8 inch 18 gauge needle is ideal for vaccinating sheep and lambs. Needles are
inexpensive and should be disposed of after use.
The best place to give subcutaneous injections is in the loose
skin of the axilla (armpit) or over the ribs. Intramuscular
injections should be given in the neck muscle. When repeating
injections, use the opposite side of the animal for the second
injection. If the animals receiving the injection will be used
for meat, make sure you check the withdrawal times. Slaughter
withdrawal times for most vaccines are 21 days.
Learn
proper injection techniques ==>
Sharps
Sharps include needles, syringes, scalpel blades, slides, pipettes,and
anything else that can puncture. They should be collected on
the farm in a rigid, puncture-resistant container with a screw-on
or tightly secured lid. Containers should be visibly labeled
as biohazardous material. Once full, they should be taken to
an approved collection facility for medical or veterinary waste.
Expired and unused medicine should be disposed of in the same
manner as sharps.
Quality and Safety Assurance
The American Sheep Industry
Association (ASI) began development of an industry-wide
quality and safety assurance program in 1991. Quality assurance
programs provide assurances to consumers that products have
been produced in accordance with certain standards, including
the proper use of animal health products.
USDA and third party certification groups that do not allow
the use of antibiotics, anthelmintics, coccidiostats, and other
animal health products do so without any scientific basis. As
with people, sometimes drugs are necessary to maintain the health
and well-being of farm animals. It is safe to consume the milk
and meat from treated animals, if proper withdrawal times have
been observed.
<== SHEEP 201 INDEX
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