Itchy Sheep, Goats, Alpacas
New lice treatment available
There are several different species of lice that can affect our small ruminants; each of these generally present in the same way. Affected animals are often seen rubbing against fence posts, causing damage to wool or fleece and secondary skin infections can occur. A loss in production can be seen as affected animals spend less time grazing.
A new product, Flexolt is the first of its kind as it’s an oral suspension that can be given to sheep, lambs, goats or alpacas with any length of fleece. Ideally, it would be given to them at the time of shearing, to gain optimal results. The active ingredient (Fluralaner 10mg/mL) is very effective at killing lice, making it superior to the limited products currently available on the market.
Although officially ‘off-label’ for use in species other than sheep (as with many of our veterinary drugs) this product has been reported to have a very wide safety margin, so would also be a good option for the treatment of mites and refractory mites (mange) cases in goats and alpacas. An oral treatment course may be more manageable and practical for many livestock owners compared to injectable treatments.
If this product is something you would like to include in your animal healthcare plan to prevent a lice infestation of your stock, or if you have animals that have had issues with episodes of refractory mange, then we have handy smaller volume containers (150ml/ 10 sheep dose) available for purchase at the clinic.
If you have any questions regarding this product, or the management of lice and mites in small ruminants and alpacas, then please contact our large animal vet team on (03) 313 7438 - we are here to help!