The Accidental Smallholder Forum
Livestock => Sheep => Topic started by: Tala Orchard on April 11, 2013, 03:38:34 pm
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One of our lambs appears not to be able to lift its tail and as such it is getting dirty, as one can imagine, I have cleaned ot off twice clipping the fleece from it tail and rear however there is only so much fleece one can clip off any suggestions of what needs to be done will be appreciated.
Tala
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Sprinkle little bit of powder should stop it sticking. uncented talc should do but dont go crazy with it.
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May have been trodden on and the nerves to the base of the tail damaged. Could be a continual problem.
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Was the tail ringed? Shorter tail might help some of the dung to drop rather than sticking? Wouldn't solve the whole issue but might help (NB has to be done soon after birth unless vet involved/ different solution.
If it isnt resolveable there might be a hard decision to make as it would be a fly strike magnet, which would be a potential welfare compromise for lambie, however hopefully it can be resolved.
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Is your lamb a newborn? If so, sometimes the first yellow motions, especially with really rich milk, get stuck under the tail. This hardens in the anal sphincter and causes the tail to be held down, so it could be that the muck is the cause of the tail not lifting, rather than the result. If it is that, pull off the hardened faeces at the anus, but stand well back as there could be a build-up - it acts like a plug.
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Thank you for all your replies very helpfull.
Fleecewife, yes newborn he is about 6days old now have caught him twice but he is a bit more swifter on his feet than I am today, have docked tail on day 2.
Will have help at weekend when sons are here as OH and I are not that sprigh these days. :)
Thanks again all of you.