On August first we lost our beloved Itchy. Two weeks earlier we had Dr. Rob, come in to look at her. We started getting concerned after she was shorn. She looked too thin and too bloated to be well. Sometimes if a ewe has been stressed or drained with lambing, they can lose condition. Itchy had been hassled by the goats all winter and had a lamb earlier this spring. We started off with a dose of bloat ease to see if that helped, but it had no noticeable effect. We decided to watch her and see if she improved. It seemed as though she was losing the use of her back legs, albeit very slowly. So she was wormed, at first with diatomaceous earth, and when that seemed to have no effect, we went with the ivomectin. That still didn’t seem to do anything.

At that point we called in a vet. Luckily we had a great recommendation from Val at Heartwood Farm -  Dr. Rob. He came in told us that she probably wouldn’t make it until winter. This wasn’t a huge shock as she had continued to be going downhill. So we did all we could to make her as comfortable as possible for her remaining time with us.

On holiday Monday, August 1st, when we went out to do chores, we saw Itchy lying down in the paddock. This was not unusual for her but she looked different.  She didn’t get up when we approached. She couldn’t get up. We made a blanket sling for her and helped her into the barn, out of the sun. this seemed like the best place to make her comfortable.

Dr. Rob graciously came over on HIS holiday Monday and euthanized her for us. It was a quiet affair. It was sad. Itchy was one of our first sheep and had had two lambs for us. The best we could do was give her a peaceful exit.

We will miss her wool as it was so lovely and soft. Luckily we have Harry, her wether lamb. He has a lovely fleece and is beginning to look just like his Mum.

Thank you, Itchy Sheep. You taught us a lot.