The Accidental Smallholder Forum
Livestock => Sheep => Topic started by: Kola70 on April 13, 2011, 09:31:29 am
-
The other day I posted that one of my tup lambs was rolling over on his wrists on his front legs. Fleecewife very kindly gave me a few pointers but sadly there has been little improvement and I think that the lamb will have to be destroyed - gutting!
However yesterday one of my other ewes gave birth to twins and the same thing has happened again. This time it is not quite so bad and in just one the forelegs - this time a gimmer lamb.
Whilst it might be just one of "those things" I am concerned that it might be something that I have done during pregnancy - not enough minerals, to much etc etc or it might be genetic?
Has anyone else come across similar things with there lambs in the past or can anyone shed any light on the problem.
Or is it just one of a number of things that can go wrong when looking after sheep.
-
That's real bad luck. What breed are they - ewes and the tup? Might be genetic. Others will advise but might be worth having a chat with your vet in case it's a local problem.
-
Rosemary thank you for your input - they are Texel X's - will talk to the vets to see what they say. Just thought it a bit odd that two out of six lambs so far have had the same problem.
-
Are you lambing in, it could be jointill, they can go down quite quickly but a mix of antibiotic and steroid as soon as it starts seems to sort them out.
-
Sounds like contracted tendons to me. I would splint the leg in straight position. Give it a week like that and then hey presto good as new! I had one like it this year, and have never had any like it before.
-
We have had a few again this year like that, just a gentle massage whenever they get checked to try and straighten the leg and loosen the muscles and they all seem to have straightened up before being turned out. We have quite a bit of texel is ours too along the way somewhere :)
Its not very nice to see them walking like spiders is it!? But hopefully it'll work out for you.
Ta
Baz
-
I am lambing in although I do not think it is Joint Ill as the joints are not hot to touch and the lambs concerned are feeding very well indeed. The Tup was actually born outside but will keep an eye on them. Have a feeling that it is to do with the tendons and will massage to see how I get on! Thank you for all you advice much appreciated.
-
I never spoke up last time as it seemed to me that fleecewife's advice would do the trick.
We get a few like this each year but they almost always just get better within a few days to a week as soon as you get them out on grass in the sun. So since to us the main treatment is sun, I thought I'd pipe up - massaging, splinting, bandaging, straightening -all must be helpful but possibly not if you are keeping them in (and out of the sun) in order to give all the physiotherapy!
It is pretty much always texel lambs that get it here.
The other thing I have sometimes wondered is whether odd shaped front legs in young lambs relate to assisted births. They always seem to straighten up ok so it's never been a problem that needed further investigation - but I'd be interested to know if anyone else has any views on this.
-
Hey Sally - you could be on to something about the sun thing - Vitamin D can cause rickets and this goes hand in hand with phospohorus and sunlight.
My only instance I have had this was a texel cross - apparently most common in ram lambs according to my books
-
Hey Sally
Thank you for the advice and the gimmer lamb has been turned out today to make the most of the good weather. Sadly the tup lamb was put down yesterday after the vet had a look - beyond hope alas.
-
Oh dear Kola70 - very sorry to hear that.
Did the vet shed any light on the matter?
Susanna
-
Hi Susanna
The vet just said that it was one of those things and that it was probably due to being crammed in the womb. Sadly the second lamb which was turned out today has worsened but I am hoping that it does not go the same way as the tup lamb! Will know in the next 24hrs!