The Accidental Smallholder Forum

Livestock => Sheep => Topic started by: lizzypeg on July 28, 2013, 08:31:52 pm

Title: any ideas why my lamb died so suddenly...
Post by: lizzypeg on July 28, 2013, 08:31:52 pm: yesterday our 3 month old lamb was being a bit quieter than normal and hanging away from mum and flock.
caught him up and he seemed fine.no obviously injuried, signs of illness, maggots etc.
only thing I noted was slightly heavier breathing but it was very hot so that were all panting/breathing a bit heavier.
separated him with a few for company into smaller field closer to yards...
got down this am and he was dead...

he was up to date with vac, worming etc and no signs of scouring...

any ideas why he may have died?

a pm is out of question as a fox/badger had got to him after he'd died(I hope) and he wasn't in a good shape to send for pm as innerds removed by animal..but they looked normal to me too...
Title: Re: any ideas why my lamb died so suddenly...
Post by: jaykay on July 28, 2013, 08:50:30 pm: Suddent deaths like that can be pneumonia or the clostridial diseases.

Had he had HeptavacP or similar?

It's just possible it was Nematodirus, sometimes the only symptoms are sudden death. It's not an obvious tije for a sudden hatch, but it's been a funny year! Check out the NADIS parasite forecast and keep an eye on your others for scouring.
Title: Re: any ideas why my lamb died so suddenly...
Post by: Mammyshaz on July 28, 2013, 08:54:04 pm: So sorry to hear this :hug:

If it's any comfort an experienced sheep keeper I've been getting experience with lost a special little ram last week totally out of the blue, no signs of illness beforehand and no abnormalities on PM. All up to date as regards any vaccine and worming etc.
Sometimes I guess these things happen out of the blue with no real explanation.
Title: Re: any ideas why my lamb died so suddenly...
Post by: lizzypeg on July 28, 2013, 08:54:49 pm: he'd had course of lamivac.and a white wormer twice since birth
Title: Re: any ideas why my lamb died so suddenly...
Post by: goosepimple on July 28, 2013, 09:17:37 pm: eaten something he shouldn't have Izzy? a long shot but maybe worth checking your field. Skitty bum? Check in the mouth maybe. It's a worry for the others, hope you find the cause Izzy
Title: Re: any ideas why my lamb died so suddenly...
Post by: lizzypeg on July 28, 2013, 09:20:53 pm: nothing in field that I can see..didn't have any scours and only sign was a bit quiet and slightly heavier breathing.im just worried its something that will pass to the other 5 sheep.
Title: Re: any ideas why my lamb died so suddenly...
Post by: shygirl on July 28, 2013, 09:23:48 pm: it was scorching up here yesterday, could he have heat stroke? or become dehydrated? did he have much shade? was he still on milk?
sorry for your loss.
Title: Re: any ideas why my lamb died so suddenly...
Post by: lizzypeg on July 28, 2013, 09:35:56 pm: was still drinking off mum occasionally.was only lamb so plenty of milk for him.had shade in field but was quite wolley so may have over heated...we were comtemplating hand shearing him and our other lamb on sat as its been so hot.they adults have been shorn so aren't suffering as much.
Title: Re: any ideas why my lamb died so suddenly...
Post by: jaykay on July 28, 2013, 10:13:02 pm: Lamivac covers only tetanus and two of the clostridial species. Some of the more modern vaccines cover 8 or 10. And it doesn't cover pneumonia, so those are all still a possibility.

I'm sure it wasn't because you hadn't sheared him, especially if there's shade in the field, so don't beat yourself up about that :-*

Whatever, I'm really sorry :hug: I've just lost one (a ewe) too and it is never good :-\
Title: Re: any ideas why my lamb died so suddenly...
Post by: suziequeue on July 29, 2013, 07:20:28 am: Yes - Lambivac only covers clostridial diseases so he is not protected against Pasteurella (http://www.abbey-vetgroup.co.uk/sheep.html#PASTEURELLOSIS) (caused by
Pasteurella trehalosi) which - if the breathing was heavy sounds like a distinct possibility.
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Heptavac P+ protects.
Title: Re: any ideas why my lamb died so suddenly...
Post by: Anke on July 29, 2013, 07:27:04 am: I would second the pasteurella/pneumonia possibility - Heptavac P+ is a better choice for lambs.
Title: Re: any ideas why my lamb died so suddenly...
Post by: lizzypeg on July 29, 2013, 08:50:25 am: where they all came from used lamivac so we just carried on with that( the lambs mum was got in lamb), can we swap from lambivac to heptavac - p as a one off jab or will they all need restarting on the 2 injections a month apart?
Title: Re: any ideas why my lamb died so suddenly...
Post by: suziequeue on July 29, 2013, 08:51:49 am: Ah - I know there was a thread about that last year....... I'l have a look for it

Here it is (http://www.accidentalsmallholder.net/forum/index.php?topic=24986.msg242781#msg242781)- it's about changing from Ovivac to Heptavac but the principle is the same
Title: Re: any ideas why my lamb died so suddenly...
Post by: lizzypeg on July 29, 2013, 09:01:44 am: thanks for that. I think we'l change them all over on to heptavac - p then to be safe
Title: Re: any ideas why my lamb died so suddenly...
Post by: jaykay on July 29, 2013, 09:42:38 am: That's what I use, and the majority of the farmers around here too. The feedstore started stocking other stuff but has gone back to HeptavacP, as that's what people prefer.
Title: Re: any ideas why my lamb died so suddenly...
Post by: Marches Farmer on July 29, 2013, 10:09:04 am: Sounds like pasteurella to me too. There are various strains so vaccination may not rule out all of them - we use Ovivac P Plus. Sudden deaths in otherwise healthy lambs around this time of year are generally put down to one of these. Can cause a massive septicaemia - first symptom is sudden death, alas.
Title: Re: any ideas why my lamb died so suddenly...
Post by: shygirl on July 29, 2013, 07:45:39 pm: Quote from: Marches Farmer on July 29, 2013, 10:09:04 am
Sounds like pasteurella to me too. There are various strains so vaccination may not rule out all of them - we use Ovivac P Plus. Sudden deaths in otherwise healthy lambs around this time of year are generally put down to one of these. Can cause a massive septicaemia - first symptom is sudden death, alas.

its supposed to be the best ones that die first with parvo, isnt it?
Title: Re: any ideas why my lamb died so suddenly...
Post by: Brucklay on July 29, 2013, 07:50:36 pm: I use Ovipast and Lamivac to cover all bases for the lambs and the goats at the same time, then move all adult sheep onto heptavac - it works for us because of the goats.
Title: Re: any ideas why my lamb died so suddenly...
Post by: Anke on July 29, 2013, 10:17:34 pm: Quote from: Brucklay on July 29, 2013, 07:50:36 pm
I use Ovipast and Lamivac to cover all bases for the lambs and the goats at the same time, then move all adult sheep onto heptavac - it works for us because of the goats.

Same here - Lambivac and Ovipast for the goats and Heptavac for the sheep.
Title: Re: any ideas why my lamb died so suddenly...
Post by: jaykay on July 29, 2013, 11:22:54 pm: I use HeptavacP on both goats and sheep.
Title: Re: any ideas why my lamb died so suddenly...
Post by: Marches Farmer on July 30, 2013, 02:34:31 pm: Yup, it does always seem to be the best ones. Maybe a very fast growth rate places strain on the organs trying to keep up ....?