Spectam Scour Halt (produced by Ceva Animal Health) is currently experiencing availability issues. Spectam Scour Halt is the only licensed oral antibiotic for the prevention of watery mouth in neonatal lambs. Watery mouth is caused by bacterial overgrowth (E.coli) and endotoxemia in colostrum deprived lambs.
There is an increasing awareness among clients that it is inappropriate to use any antibiotics preventatively and we know that many flocks have made significant progress in reducing the use of prophylactic antibiotics in lambs through hygiene, provision of colostrum and good ewe nutrition.
However, we appreciate as a practice that there are times when it Spectam still necessary.
We have produced guidance below to explain the options available to you in the event of an outbreak of watery mouth this coming lambing season and why this is the case:
Speak to your vet in the first instance.
Due to the uncertain availability of various products that we have been advised to use in the face of the Spectam shortage, we can create a plan tailored to your farm if you talk to us directly.
Do you need antibiotics?
Due to emerging resistance, we have to prescribe antibiotics responsibly. Prevention of Watery mouth is the preferred option. Therefore, we recommend that by mid pregnancy, to give sufficient time to assess and implement new actions, farmers should discuss ewe nutrition and disease control with their vet. Plenty of commercial flocks with good ewe nutrition, hygiene and colostrum management have shown that prophylactic antibiotics are not essential to commercial sheep farming.
When should antibiotics be used?
In the face of an outbreak, preventative antibiotic treatment should be targeted towards high-risk individuals only – typically low birth weight lambs and triplets or by only using antibiotics in the latter part of the lambing period. If antibiotics are used, then suspected treatment failure must be investigated – talk to your vet.
What Antibiotics can we use?
There are no other antimicrobials licensed in sheep for prevention of watery mouth other than Spectam Scour Halt. In clinical cases, certain injectable antibiotics may be more appropriate than oral products – Amoxicillin is currently the most appropriate choice as there has been resistance to oxytetracyclines demonstrated by some E.coli.
Oral antibiotic powders (containing amoxicillin and trimethoprim-sulphonamides) and certain antibiotic suspensions licensed for E.coli in Calves and piglets may be considered under that cascade. However, these will only be an option if correct preparation and disposal can be ensured.
Alternative products
There are anecdotal, positive reports of the use of alternative products – E.coli vaccines, bovine concentrated lactoserum, probiotics etc. while this is the best approach to preventative flock health, there are no studies showing these products work in terms of preventing watery mouth in lambs at present.
We will review the appropriate treatments with you on a case by case basis. Please call us on 01404 819150 to discuss the matter further.
Product tradenames have not been discussed here, due to the legalities around advertising veterinary medicines.