The Accidental Smallholder Forum
Livestock => Sheep => Topic started by: bazzais on March 03, 2012, 12:20:58 pm
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We have got a premature lamb here that was born 5 days ago. The first day he drank the colostrum on his own and milk through the day, 2nd day he started going down hill and noticed by the third day that he wasnt poo-ing. Gave him an enema and out came the initial moc.
He then stopped drinking from a bottle and I had to move the teet through his mouth as he was still sucking down but not suckling - this took about an hour of feeding. Overnight I would stomach tube him as I cant afford an hour every few hours and it was quicker.
Now I cant get him to drink at all and have been tubing him every meal for 2 days.
He is listless still isnt pooing a great deal - he is weeing though. He shakes alot and makes for dark corners often propping himself against walls and his pen - He doesnt look good but can walk around and holds his head up ok.
My question is - should I continue to stomach feed him until he is well? Has anyone else had a similar experience? Is it time to take him to the vets for sleepytime?
Baz
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hi :wave:
i had a similsr thing with a goat kid once,tube fed him for about 5 days,just could'nt get him to suck.
did have him put to sleep though. :(
but i'm guessing there could be something wrong with him.
perhaps a trip to the vet.
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Hes at peace now :(
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Awww, that's so sad but nature has a way of knowing who should survive and who maybe shouldn't :'( One of my girls kidded mid morning this morning and has had two cracking kids plus the tiddliest little female I've ever seen. Very very weak and has a rib cage about the size of 2 fingers!!! She's currently under a lamp and has had a belly full via a tube. Waiting game now. 3 hours ago I would have said 50/50, now she looks possibly a 60/40 for the good......fingers crossed :-\
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Well done for trying, baz :bouquet:
It's such a hard call, when they sometimes seem to be rallying a bit, and then fade again... In this case, his system was perhaps too premature to digest the milk.
The only thing you could try differently another time would be to switch to PSF or Rehydion when the lamb starts to go backwards - it keeps them hydrated and gives them energy and vitamins but doesn't put the load on their system that milk will. There will always be those that just can't quite make it, though, and all we can do is to give them every chance until it is clear they are suffering and/or fading - and then help them to peace, if we can.
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Thanks all.
I will buy some Rehydion for next time (fingers crossed not a next time, but be prepared)
I was kind of thankful in a way, the poor blighter would have been toast if he was left in the fields, natural selection, but we had to try. It gets quite upsetting for us both here when you have something so frail your looking after. Just leaves you tired and hard pressed to look after everything else thats healthy and needs attention.
Its a rolacoaster lambing time isnt it - you have to try to leave the aftermath of your caring instinct behind and just press on with those little ones that are left and to come. There is only so much time and attention you can give when i comes down to it.
At least he passed on with a full belly, tidy bed and in the arms of the other half.
Baz
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I'm glad you tried, and he had the nicest short little life you could manage for him. But as you say, sometimes it's kindest that they go, both on them and in you :-*
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Thanks guys n gals. Really really sad time, rip little one :'( x