Lamb going bald!

CrazyParrot · Fri Jun 15, 2007 12:48 pm

One of our lambs is going bald! His ears no longer have any hair on the back - just a little bit round the edge - and the skin looks a little flakey. there is also a large patch on the back of his head where the wool is shorter and finer. the skin is just showing through.

has anyone experienced this problem before? any ideas what it might be?
He seems normal apart from that, although has started to scratch his head on things more in the last few days (the balding has been going on for about a week and a half).

thanks!

mybarnconversion · Fri Jun 15, 2007 1:02 pm

Perhaps you should call a vet?

red · Post: # 61644Post **red** » Fri Jun 15, 2007 1:21 pm

could be ring worm. try this link

it causes hair loss and flakey skin

and humans can catch it

praps good idea to get the vet to have a look - could be something more serious.

CrazyParrot · Fri Jun 15, 2007 3:23 pm

I'll pop into the vets tommorow and ask about the lamb. I was just wondering if its a normal sheep thing - these our our first sheep, so I am still learning! As I said before, the lamb doesnt seem to bothered and the other one is fine. It doesnt look like ringworm - that seems to come in little round patches. we are getting some soay sheep soon, and would like to get this cleared up before they come.

Tigerhair · Post: # 62136Post **Tigerhair** » Tue Jun 19, 2007 7:56 pm

Could be mites or loads of other things. Much better to take it to your vet and let them take a look.

CrazyParrot · Wed Jun 20, 2007 10:54 am

When I asked the vet, he didnt seem worried. He just suggested that I wash the bald bits in baby shampoo and leave it to see what happens. If its not any better by next week come and speak to him again.

The lamb seems no better, but no worse either but has stopped scratching - maybe it was just the flies those few days that were annoying him. It was quite sunny, and we live in scotland so there are quite a few midges!

Doesnt look like ringworm - The patch on his haid is quite big (stretching right the way between his ears) and it covers the whole of his ears - I really hope it isnt too. Humans can catch it cant they?

red · Post: # 62204Post **red** » Wed Jun 20, 2007 11:20 am

its very treatable though - so dont panic

guess just see how he get on then eh?

Bonniegirl · Wed Jun 20, 2007 7:20 pm

It could also be something as simple as sunburn!

Has it been very sunny at all!

CrazyParrot · Thu Jun 21, 2007 4:30 pm

The hair seems to be growing back on his ears today! there are lots of short black hairs coming in, although his head is still a bit bald.

Still have no clue what it is, but I was thinking - could it be the stress of losing his brother that is making his hair fall out? He was very upset and was terrified of people for about two weeks afterwards, even though he was a happy, friendly lamb before.

whats quite funny is that when I went onto this page, an advert for a hairloss clinic popped up! Maybe thats what he needs! :-)

Millymollymandy · Fri Jun 22, 2007 12:01 pm

CrazyParrot wrote:Still have no clue what it is, but I was thinking - could it be the stress of losing his brother that is making his hair fall out? He was very upset and was terrified of people for about two weeks afterwards, even though he was a happy, friendly lamb before.

I don't know the first thing about sheep but I do know that cats can pull their hair out due to stress (including losing a loved one, cat or human) so perhaps it is possible with sheep too?