Sheep measles - how to control this on farm
Sheep measles are small tapeworm cysts found in the meat of sheep at slaughter. As you can imagine, this is particularly undesirable for consumers, and has the potential to threaten our export industry.
Sheep ingest tapeworm eggs from the pasture. These eggs then develop into cysts in any muscle tissue (e.g. diaphragm, heart and skeletal muscle of sheep). If dogs are then fed the infected raw meat, a tapeworm will develop in the dog's gut, mature and start producing eggs in about 35 days. Tapeworm eggs will then appear in the dog's droppings, and so the cycle repeats.
Killing a sheep for ‘dog tucker' is an effective and cheap food source. However, farmers do run the risk of feeding their dogs meat infected with sheep measles cysts.
Never feed raw meat or untreated offal to dogs. All sheep (or goat) meat needs to be treated before being fed to dogs. Treatment involves two options:
1. Freezing - freeze meat at -100C or below for at least seven days before feeding. Write the date (+8 days) the meat went into the freezer on the bag so that you know when the meat is ready to be fed.
2. Cooking - heat meat to a core temperature of 720C or greater until brown all the way through. Tinges of red indicate inadequate treatment, and further cooking is necessary.
Remember
- Dose your dogs regularly with an effective tapeworm drug. Call Totally Vets to discuss a worming programme for your dogs.
- Require all dogs to be treated with tapeworm drugs at least 48 hours before coming on to your farm.
- Do not allow dogs access to untreated sheep or goat meat, or sheep carcasses on the farm.
- Restrain or tie dogs up when not working or exercising them under your direct supervision.
- Have alternative dog food available if treated meat runs out.
- Dog-proof offal pits and holes etc.
- Dog-proof your killing sheds.
At Totally Vets, we stock Drontal® (treats ALL worms - tapeworms and roundworms) and Wormicide Tape (only treats some tapeworms including Cysticercus ovis) which, when given at monthly intervals (Drontal, Wormicide, Wormicide, Drontal ...) will ensure your dog is free of Cysticercus ovis. After worming your dog at the clinic, we can also provide you with a signed certificate to show your dog has been wormed. This certificate might be required by the owners of any properties you visit with your dogs.
