30th July 2006, 01:18 PM
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#1 |
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Guest
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Sheep grinding teeth
Hi there, I'm new here but have been watching and reading for some time. Can anyone tell me why a sheep would be grinding its teeth? She seems to be doing it heaps and wonder what it might mean. Thanks for your help (in advance).
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30th July 2006, 02:07 PM
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#2 |
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Neverending Stories
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Franklin.
Posts: 4,405
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Hi and welcome,
My suggestion is it could be in pain... I know goats grind their teeth when in pain.... Plenty of sheep people here to give you a more definative answer though. Hope it's nothing serious. Yakut
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Tinkerty Tonk |
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30th July 2006, 03:09 PM
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#3 |
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Sheep Whisperer
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Dunedin, New Zealand.
Posts: 1,179
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Sheep will usually grind their teeth when stressed. Is this ewe doing it when yarded or when you approach? ie: what is the context when she grinds?
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30th July 2006, 03:25 PM
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Rare Breeds Matchmaker
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: Russell, Bay of Islands., New Zealand.
Posts: 14,587
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Our old Wiltshire ewes (not human friendly) grind their teeth and stomp their feet when cornered in the yards. I guess its the sheep version of the Haka. 'Don't mess with me'.
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30th July 2006, 06:30 PM
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#5 |
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lsb member
 Friend of LSB |
Same, Inger, we have one ewe that does that when yarded, bloody loud too, can hear it some distance away!
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Three chooks, four Wilti ewes, and a Burrow to inhabit while I get my bounce back 
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30th July 2006, 06:35 PM
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#6 |
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lsb member
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Aggitation, stress, pain, Preg toxaemia, listeria....probably an endless list - whether it serious or not depends on the context as questioned above.
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 I love animals...they're delicious |
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30th July 2006, 08:45 PM
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#7 |
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lsb member
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: Dunedin, New Zealand.
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No she's not yarded. She has had lice recently but all treated and rid of them. Although she's lost a bit of wool (she's an Arapawa). Yes it's very loud can hear her from over the paddock. Thanks for all your answers!
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Arapawa Island Sheep, 2 dogs, 2 cats, one huge Kunekune, 4 tiny Kunekune's and some cool chickens. |
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30th July 2006, 08:47 PM
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#8 |
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lsb member
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: Dunedin, New Zealand.
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Also, she doesn't seem to be off her food but is sometimes trembling slightly and tends to stay away from the other sheep a bit (that could be just me being paranoid though).
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Arapawa Island Sheep, 2 dogs, 2 cats, one huge Kunekune, 4 tiny Kunekune's and some cool chickens. |
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30th July 2006, 08:49 PM
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#9 |
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lsb member
Friend of LSB |
Has she been with the other sheep for long? If she is a newby could she be feeling a bit stressed as not part of the original flock?
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Three chooks, four Wilti ewes, and a Burrow to inhabit while I get my bounce back
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30th July 2006, 08:54 PM
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#10 |
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lsb member
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: Dunedin, New Zealand.
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No she's one of the originals, it's very strange. She's a funny looking thing at the moment with her patchy wool, maybe she's embarrassed? Just kidding, it is actually starting to concern me a bit. Keep running up to check on her, she's a typical Arapawa, quite approachable but doesn't like to be touched and is starting to prove a real handful to catch. Thought maybe if I could get some drench into her it may help......suggestions please....
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Arapawa Island Sheep, 2 dogs, 2 cats, one huge Kunekune, 4 tiny Kunekune's and some cool chickens. |
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30th July 2006, 10:09 PM
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#11 |
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Guest
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Think worms
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31st July 2006, 01:12 AM
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#12 |
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Rare Breeds Matchmaker
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: Russell, Bay of Islands., New Zealand.
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Wouldn't hurt to worm her.
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31st July 2006, 09:06 AM
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#13 |
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lsb member
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: Dunedin, New Zealand.
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Thanks guys, was thinking that but good to have it confirmed. Will try to catch her again today, might have to wait for hubby to get home though cos she's a bit of a handful!
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Arapawa Island Sheep, 2 dogs, 2 cats, one huge Kunekune, 4 tiny Kunekune's and some cool chickens. |
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