Preventing lamb deaths from drench inhalation
Mineral and anthelminthic drenches are routine treatments used on many farms.听If听not administered听correctly,听they听can lead to injuries听and death.听Lamb death听caused by mineral drench inhalation听was听recently听diagnosed听in our听Dumfries听postmortem听room听in May.听The听diagnosis听has become a regular feature of late spring and early summer in recent years.鈥�听
Usually occurring in six to eight-week-old lambs that are affected following handling for multiple management tasks. These can include administration of anthelmintic and mineral drenches, clostridial and/or orf vaccination, tagging, castration/tailing and application of treatments for tick/fly control. Lambs that inhale mineral drench (or any other liquid) into their lungs can gasp and struggle for breath and die very rapidly within 15 to 30 minutes of being handled. Others will die over the next 24 to 48 hours and losses can run into double figures. Correct drench administration is key to reduce the risk of inhalation occurring.听
Administration听
Underestimating the weight of animals is common cause of under dosing.听Under dosing also increases the risk of anthelminthic resistance.听To听determine听the correct dose, weigh the group and dose for the heaviest. Remember to ensure that the weigh crate is听accurate听before starting.听
It is important to ensure that the anthelminthic or mineral drench is administered correctly. Ensure your drench gun is in good working order, checking to ensure no sharp/burred edges that could damage the mouth. Also ensure the drench gun is calibrated correctly and is听delivering the right amount before you start drenching. Drenching guns should be well听maintained听and replaced regularly.听听
Drenching with the correct technique is vital. Firstly, ensure that the sheep is adequately restrained and not able to leap around to reduce risk of injury. Insert the nozzle in the corner of the mouth between molars and incisors. The nozzle should be resting over the back of tongue. Do not force the nozzle as tissues at the back of the mouth are easily damaged.
The Drenching Technique听听
Before administering any routine treatment, it is important to ask the听question听-听is the听treatment needed?听听
Mineral drenches:听
Trace elements (copper, cobalt,听selenium听and iodine)听are vital for health and growth.听They听are all sourced from the听ewe鈥檚听milk until they are weaned,听following听this,听lambs听must听get nutrition听from听their听diet.听听
Input from both your veterinary surgeon and nutritionist听will help听inform听whether听supplementation is听required. The following testing may be听appropriate:听
- Establish听whether diet听is deficient in trace elements.听Testing of soil and forage can be performed.听听
- Blood sampling of lambs prior to supplementing. It is recommended to sample around听five听animals from each different management groups.听This is of particular importance if considering supplementing with copper. If too much copper accumulates in the body copper toxicity can occur. Breeds such as Texels and听Suffolks are听more susceptible to toxicity听whereas听breeds such as black face are more susceptible to deficiency.听听
- If deaths are suspected secondary to trace element deficiency/toxicity liver听can be听tested for trace elements.听
Anthelminthic drenches:听
Heavy worm burdens can lead to diarrhoea,听reduced听growth听rates听and deaths. Anthelminthic strategies are farm specific and should be discussed with your veterinary surgeon.听The following may help to inform a decision on whether treatment is听required.听听
- Nematodirus听battus听causes deaths in young lambs. Disease is caused by the larval stage of the worm therefore worm egg counts cannot be used to听monitor听for disease.听
- Treatment of other nematode infections should be performed when required using faecal egg counting in conjunction with grazing history, growth rates (regular weight)听and any clinical signs suggestive of disease.听听
If it is听established听that听anthelminthic or听mineral drench听is听required,听it is important to ensure it is administered correctly.听
5 top tips听
- Consider if the听treatment is听required听before administering it.听
- Ensure your drench gun is calibrated and in good condition before using.听
- Always check that the gun is delivering the right amount before you drench.听
- To reduce the risk of injury, ensure animals are adequately restrained and the drench is administered correctly.听听
- Further information on administrating drenches can be found听on the .
Useful links听
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Lynn Gibson, Veterinary Investigation Officer,听Lynn.Gibson@sruc.ac.uk听听
Posted by SAC Consulting on 16/06/2026
