The Accidental Smallholder Forum
Livestock => Sheep => Topic started by: WarescotFarm on March 17, 2013, 12:20:59 pm
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My bottle fed lamb is 10 days old, he is very strong, eats well and lives in doors so he doesn't get chilly
He does shiver though after a feed, has been sneezing and has a snotty nose... could this be pneumonia??
Thanks WF
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I have 5 bottle babies right now and a few started the same as you described. I start them immediately on penicillin. Here it is called Penpro active ingredient Penicillin G procaine.They get 1cc a day. It seems to work well.I treat as soon as I notice any snotty nose or coughing. I will continue up to 5 days.
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Does the vet need to do that or can we buy and do ourselves? Is it iv?
Thanks!
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Sounds like a respiratory infection. If it is pneumonia then penicillin won't be effective, but I would not think that he would be strong and drinking well if he had gone down with pneumonia.
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Here I get it over the counter at a feed store but have also got it at the vets. It is an injectable given by needle. Some types are given just under the skin and some just into the muscle. The bottle will give you directions or ask the vet if you have them available. Pneumonia is common here with bottle babies
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Mine seems to be caused by aspiration of milk that starts a secondary infection. Another treatment I use is called Norease here that is specially formulated for pneumonia in calves and lambs. It is taken orally either in the bottle or by syringe without the needle attached. Hope this helps
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I'd suspect pneumonia and take the necessary steps. If it only happens after a bottle feed it could be that the milk's coming through too fast and a smaller teat is needed. Did the lamb get a good intake of colostrum to begin with? Being cold may weaken the lamb but won't in itself, cause the disease.