Author Topic: Heavily pregnant lame ewes (Read 2631 times)

Twotwo · « **on:** March 18, 2017, 02:44:00 pm »

Advice please,
I have a couple of heavily pregnant ewes who are lame, one due next Thursday and ready to pop, the other in 3 weeks, I think it's because drying out clay/mud had got stuck between their toes therefore stretched the skin and given them scald. I have flicked out the mud and sprayed on antibiotics but I'm not able to have a proper look. Still lame after 3 days BUT what do I do .... normally I would turn them over or push them up against a fence. I do have some metacam and antibiotics but I'm reluctant to do anything, they are friendly but not halter trained....... your thoughts, they are greedily eating nuts and grazing on their knees but it is very difficult lumbering around on 3 legs! Bless

bj_cardiff · « **Reply #1 on:** March 18, 2017, 03:19:43 pm »

Its a jugement call I think. If their uncomforable and on 3 legs they won't be eating as much which can be harmfull and catching them ca be harmfull too. I guess it depends on how lively they are. I have Lleyn and I'd treat.

I'd get someone to hold them, one arm under their jaw to stop them moving forwards and another accross their back side to stop them going backwards and lift a leg, like with a horse. I rarely tip my ewes and I think their a lot calmer for it. Of course there's always one ewe that doesn't cooperate..

Bionic · « **Reply #2 on:** March 18, 2017, 03:32:47 pm »

Is it definitely their feet that is the problem.

I find that when they are heavily pregnant the lambs can often be sitting on a nerve (or something like that) and the ewes seem lame. Once they have had their lambs they are ok.

Having said that I don't want to put you off checking their feet properly.

Anke · « **Reply #3 on:** March 18, 2017, 09:51:09 pm »

As long as they can get round and eat/drink etc I would leave them now until lambing.

crobertson · « **Reply #4 on:** March 19, 2017, 07:49:10 am »

I've noticed one of ours is lame (cracked hoof from jumping on the feeder in excitment I think) but being so heavily pregnant with a just a couple of days to go I'm leaving her well alone. She can walk around, eat etc so shes best left alone We have brought ours in and shes better on the padded straw.

Marches Farmer · « **Reply #5 on:** March 19, 2017, 08:47:57 am »

I agree. My ewes occasionally get a dried muddy boot (generally on the left foot, which is tucked under them while at rest and dries quickly). I dart in while their heads are in the trough at feeding time and run a finger down between the clees - generally dislodges enough of the mud to see them sound in a day or so.