Sheep Measles: Are You Putting Canadian Lamb at Risk?
Dr. Neil Versavel DVM
Sheep Measles, caused by the canine tapeworm T. ovis, results in small white cysts throughout the meat of sheep rendering it unpalatable and leading to carcass condemnation. By feeding raw sheep meat back to livestock and herding dogs, sheep producers risk completing the life cycle of the tapeworm and thereby perpetuating this economically disastrous parasitic infection. Affected sheep cannot be treated for the parasite, only proper treatment of meat products fed to dogs combined with routine deworming of all dogs exposed to the sheep flock with Drontal Plus, Lopatol or fenbendazole can stop sheep measles in its tracks.