[Daisys Mum]

Twins born this morning, second took a bit of getting started to breath and now can't stand up as front legs are not straightening. Mum has decided she doesn't really want to know as she has one strong healthy lamb. Little lamby is now cold so have put him under a heat lamp, read somewhere not to tube him while he was cold? But he has had nothing since he was born about 4 hours ago.

[fsmnutter]

Older lambs need to be warmed before feeding, but newborns need the colostrum in them. Please get colostrum into him asap, ideally from mum, if not another ewe, or powdered/replacement if no fresh ewe colostrum available

[Daisys Mum]

Thanks fsmnutter have got 40mls of powdered colostrum int him

[fsmnutter]

Great, give him an hour and repeat, needs 120ml of powdered colostrum by 6 hrs old ideally

[SallyintNorth]

For future reference, download the Eblex leaflet "Manual 14 - Reducing Lamb Losses for Better Returns".  You can download it here

It includes a flowchart for how to revive a flagging lamb, depending on its age, temperature and condition.

[Daisys Mum]

Managed to milk mum so he has had another 40mls of mums colostrum. He has warmed up and is back with her but is walking on his knees.
Thanks Sally have downloaded that link

[Anke]

You may be better penning her and the other twin, if she doesn't but the little one have him in there too (although there may be danger that she lies on him...), and milk her regularly, and once he gets stronger hold him to suck onto her.

Are his knee joints fused or can you straighten them up by massaging them? If the second he should come right, may have just not had enough space inside. Some kind of splint may help it. But if his joints are fused and he cannot walk I am not sure what his outlook is. Were yours vaccinated against Schmalllenberg?

[goosepimple]

Good luck Anne    those Zwarbs are just testing you out, the rest will be easy, hopefully.

[Daisys Mum]

Mum is penned up and now has the little lad in beside her as well, went out to check them a few minutes ago and she was lying down while he suckled away. They are both very big lambs and I think you are right Anke in that they have not had a lot of room in the womb. They were not vaccinated against Schmallenberg.

[Anke]

If he is suckling than he should be fine  . If you can straighten the legs he should be right in a few days.

[Daisys Mum]

Still suckling away fine today but front legs are still at 40 degree angle . I really think that they are not going to straighten so will take him to the vet in the morning. Such a pity as he is a lovely big boy. 

[Anke]

If you feel his legs - can you gently straighten them or are the joints fused? Is he bow-legged or do they face (both in the same) wrong direction? If you think he will be able to stand at some point unaided it should be worth keeping him - as long as he can suckle from the ewe (obviously if not able to stand then his chances are nil) and she lets him, maybe he can make it?

[SallyintNorth]

You'll be amazed at what apparent deformities can sort themselves out once the lamb is on grass in the sun and running about.

But by all means get the vet's opinion - s/he'd know if you have SBV in your area, and so on.

[Daisys Mum]

Took him to vet today, knees were  fused at 45 degree angle so he was never going to walk. Pts as at least now I can get mum and twin out onto the grass. On a happier note second to lamb gave birth to a very nice ram lamb last night.

[Anke]

That's a shame, but it sounds like Scmallenberg? Let's hope that others are ok.