Clostridial diseases cause sudden, painful deaths in sheep that are almost entirely preventable through routine vaccination as part of a flock health programme.
Clostridial diseases cause acute welfare emergencies when they do occur. Pulpy kidney causes sudden convulsions and rapid death in lambs. Tetanus causes painful muscle spasms and an extended, distressing death over days. Lamb dysentery causes haemorrhagic enteritis with severe abdominal pain. The preventability of these conditions through routine vaccination makes them among the most welfare-significant failures of flock health management. The very short disease course in most cases means prevention is the only effective welfare intervention.