Two lambs died from dosing gun injuries on a midlands farm in July of this year, while a heifer died from a similar injury acquired in a separate incident the month after.

All three animals were brought to the Athlone reginal veterinary office (RVO) last summer where the injuries were discovered.

The two four-month-old lambs had been pining prior to their death and had received a drench for cobalt the previous week.

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A postmortem on the lambs revealed severe dosing gun injuries in both of their mouths. In one of the lambs, a bone in the mouth or throat was fractured, while the other had an injury to its tongue, which had become infected.

The report from RVOs around the country noted that mortality from dosing gun injuries is frequently down to improper application technique.

“Injuries in both sheep and cattle, particularly of the mouth, trachea and oesophagus, can be seen following drenching or bolus administration if incorrect techniques or inappropriately-sized implements are used or if careful restraint is not utilised,” it said.

Heifer

A heifer from a midlands farm brought to Athlone RVO in August 2025 was also found to have died from a dosing gun injury.

The 18-month-old heifer had an infection in tissue in its jaw and inflammation of its tongue and throat caused by a dosing gun injury.

“The lesions were consistent with a dosing gun injury. Similar findings are more commonly seen in sheep, usually around two weeks post-drenching,” the RVO report noted.