11/14/2025:
Annually, during the summer months, the Veekijker receives reports of sheep that are coughing, often without further symptoms of illness. In most cases, this involved lambs. The animals often start coughing after exertion, but sometimes spontaneously as well; the sound of the cough is dry and rough. The animals are in good general condition and there is no fever or abnormal behaviour.
Treatments administered against possible bacterial causes rarely yield any improvement. Dry coughing in sheep is often caused by irritation of the upper respiratory tract, which can be the result of irritating substances or mechanical damage caused by panting. The role of viral infections is sometimes mentioned, although little is known about that.
Although the name would seem to fit, these are not cases of summer pneumonia. In cases of summer pneumonia, a bacterial infection (Mannheimia haemolytica, Pasteurella multocida, Pasteurella trehalosi) is responsible for damage in the lower respiratory tract. That condition is generally associated with a moist and expectorant cough, lethargy, fever, abnormal breathing sounds and reduced appetite. The clinical picture is often characterised by sudden mortality among growing lambs, often in the months September to November.
In the event of respiratory issues, it is a good idea to get the animals examined clinically. Additional diagnostics are not always straightforward while they are alive, partly due to the commensal occurrence of the causative agent of summer pneumonia, Mannheimia haemolytica. The vet can use the clinical picture when considering the need for antimicrobial therapy. Read the latest issue of the Highlights report small ruminants
Other topics highlights report September 2025
- Coughing lambs in the summer period
- Q fever diagnosed in forest reindeer: reporting obligation extended
- Pseudolactation in backyard goats
- Urolithiasis in farm livestock and backyard animals
- Haemonchosis in sheep and goats
- Animal health barometer
Monitoring and surveillance