164 Forage Poisoning, Bloat 



FORAGE POISONING 



Ensilage, Corn Fodder and Other Plant Poisoning, [Improperly Called 



Cerebro Spinat Meningitis) 



Brain disorders may be due occasionally to blows on the spine or 

 central nervous' system, but more often poisoning of sheep is due to the 

 feed which they receive. 



Among the more common plants found in pastures that cause poison- 

 ing are death camas, water hemlock, calico bush, very young cockle burrs, 

 spoon weed, lew laulrel, larkspur and loco weed. Sheep may be poi- 

 soned by eating wind fall apples. Poisoning more frequently occurs 

 when the sheep are changed from one pasture to another and are not 

 used to the particular weed. Poisoning more often occurs from the 

 dried feeds that are fed in the winter. The poisoning may be in the 

 feed when eaten or it may develop after the sheep takes the food into the 

 stomach. Moldy fodder, stunted corn stalks by drouth, or frost and 

 moldy ensilage may all contain the poison within themselves. 



Dry clean corn fodder, dead blue grass or water grass and shredded 

 corn fodder may cause a loss in the flock solely due to their indigesti- 

 bility. The food lays in the stomach and the sheep develops serious 

 brain disorder often terminating in death. The patient usually goes in 

 a circle or turns round and round, may stagger or reel against fences or 

 buildings. With plant poisoning, such as sheep obtain in pastures, they 

 may or may not show brain disorder. Often they froth at the mouth, 

 have a staring look out of their eyes and become sick. Forage poison- 

 ing of sheep may be confused with hemorrhagic septicemia. (See cattle.) 



TREATMENT 



Remove the cause and feed lightly for a few days. Keep the bowels 

 open. 4 tablespoonsful epsom salts may be given a grown sheep in 1^ 

 pint of luke warm water. Feed laxative feeds. 



BLOAT 



{Gaseous Distension of the Rumen) (Hoven) 



This disease may come on suddenly and the animal may die in a 

 very few hours or it may come on gradual and reappear every few days. 



