VET’S VIEW: Mayo dog owners must be extra vigilant in lambing season

THE month of March heralds the beginning of spring for most people, and with it come the daffodils, tulips and so many other wonderful spring flowers. Here in Mayo and around the country, another perennial spring calling card is the arrival of lambs playing in the fields.
Whilst this is a wonderful time of year, with renewal and all things nature, it can be a very ‘worrying’ (pardon the pun) and stressful time for sheep farmers, due to the possibility of dog attacks on their flocks.
More than 15,000 sheep and lambs were killed in Ireland last year, with countless more injured and traumatised due to dog attacks.
It is a common misconception that if a dog only chases sheep, that they cannot do any damage. Pregnant sheep who get chased by dogs without physical attack endure the same level of cortisol increase as those who are actually attacked and so can abort just as easily. They can also die from exhaustion due to the added drain on their systems whilst heavily pregnant.
Do you know where your dog is 24 hrs a day? Are they always under your control? Are they secured while you are away, especially at night? During the lambing season, it is imperative that every one of us take extra care as to where our dogs are at all times and also realise that any (and I do mean any) breed, from the very small to the largest can become a killer if given the chance and opportunity, especially if in a pack.
Precautionary steps taken by both dog owners and sheep owners can help reduce the chances of losses at this time of year. Dog owners should always keep their dogs on a short lead when walked in the countryside, and try as best they can to be observant of sheep flocks in fields and ovoid walking near them.
Flock owners – especially those with, for example, a right of way that borders or is part of their farm – should erect plenty of signage, detailing where their flocks of expectant mothers are and warning dog owners to avoid certain trails etc at this time of year. It is also important to ensure that boundary fencing is adequate to avoid accidental trespassing. Another good idea is to place troughs and fodder feeders within sight of the farmhouse, so they can be readily inspected visually and with a torch at night time.
Nowadays, everybody has a mobile phone, and if you happen upon an attack, if you cannot safely stop it, record the situation, trying as best as you can to identify the dog(s) involved. Take photos of injured and or dead animals and, if possible, evidence of abortions following an attack. Report the incident to the police, giving as much detail as possible of the dog(s) involved and the direction in which they leave.
Springtime is a wonderful time of year, but it can so easily turn into a nightmare for sheep farmers if your dog is wandering about and adds to the already terrible statistics. Please don’t let your charge contribute to the year-on-year number of sheep and lambs worried, attacked and killed in springtime.

Veterinarian Conal Finnerty MRCVS practises at the Skeldale Vet Clinics in Ballinrobe and Belmullet. Follow the clinic on Facebook, or call 094 9541980 or 087 9185350 to make an appointment.