The Accidental Smallholder Forum

Livestock => Sheep => Topic started by: shetlandpaul on July 31, 2011, 09:10:46 am

Title: dead caddy
Post by: shetlandpaul on July 31, 2011, 09:10:46 am

our pet sheep charlie was found dead this morning. can anyone suggest a cause no injuries not been sick and he still came running last night for his milk. the other sheep look fine. the daughterwho looks after him was very upset.

Title: Re: dead caddy
Post by: Victorian Farmer on July 31, 2011, 10:08:37 am

not good its bad luck Paul .i had a ram done the same thing shame for the young one its farming as they say.

Title: Re: dead caddy
Post by: bazzais on July 31, 2011, 11:35:52 am

Sorry to here it - its always horrible to find something thats died :(

Could be any number of things I suppose - its always a downer when you cant actually see anything wrong and they just keel over.

Big hugs to your daughter.

Baz

Title: Re: dead caddy
Post by: YorkshireLass on July 31, 2011, 04:12:47 pm

How old is he? I've been told that a prime suspect in apparently thriving lambs, that are bouncing round happily then keel over, is the kidneys - pulpy kidney?? But this is for young lambs, maybe 4-8 weeks old.

Otherwise, sheer bad luck on the shepherd's part :(

Title: Re: dead caddy
Post by: shetlandpaul on August 01, 2011, 02:23:56 pm

born the end of april so roughly 10 weeks.

Title: Re: dead caddy
Post by: TheCaptain on August 01, 2011, 02:59:18 pm

Bloat?

Title: Re: dead caddy
Post by: SallyintNorth on August 01, 2011, 06:00:11 pm

So sorry to hear that, Paul.  It happens to us all and it's always distressing; you always wonder, "Did I miss something?" 

It was a caddy lamb - had it had any vaccinations?  (Heptavac, Covexin, or similar.)  If it had then it's probably just one of those things, would have happened to anyone.  We get an occasional (one or two a year from our 270-300 ewes) strapping lambs keel over and die suddenly; BH usually says it will have been heart attack.

I hope your daughter will not be put off keeping livestock; it's horrible to lose an animal you've cared for however old you are.  Best to 'get back on the horse', if possible. 

Best wishes to you and your daughter
Sally x

Title: Re: dead caddy
Post by: Tiva Diva on August 01, 2011, 08:07:57 pm

You could always get a post mortem if you're worried.

Title: Re: dead caddy
Post by: shetlandpaul on August 02, 2011, 08:23:47 am

hi sally no he did not have any. so it could have been one of those bugs. however it looked like he was walking up a slight slope and died. i think it was an extremly quick death so it could well have been his heart.