The Accidental Smallholder Forum

Livestock => Sheep => Topic started by: Clive on April 11, 2014, 05:07:14 pm

Title: Paralysed leg?
Post by: Clive on April 11, 2014, 05:07:14 pm

One of our ewes had triplets this morning. The two smaller lambs seem fine but the third and largest lamb appears to have a problem with one of his front legs. It seems to be extremely weak and he doesn't appear to be able to stand on it. We are going to bottle rear him for a few days to see if he gains strength and mobility in the leg and were thinking about trying a splint.
Does anyone have any similar experiences or a possible diagnosis?
The leg is not broken and all of the joints seem OK.

Title: Re: Paralysed leg?
Post by: Stanlamb on April 11, 2014, 06:34:00 pm

We had a ewe la,b triplets and the third lamb's hind leg was problematic - couldn't weight bear and buckled forward at the hock.  Vet had a look and said it was probably how the lamb was lying in the womb - there was a name for it.  Anyway, within a day the leg was growing stronger and in 3/4 days he was walking normally.  No problems now.  Hope yours will also come good.  I think I offered a bottle top up for the first couple of days and also helped him into suck at the ewe.  Good luck!

Title: Re: Paralysed leg?
Post by: Backinwellies on April 11, 2014, 06:56:47 pm

water pipe insulation makes a good splint if needed.  I had to splint one which was weak on front legs .... splints on and away it went straight to mum's teats! ... never looked back.

Title: Re: Paralysed leg?
Post by: Clive on April 11, 2014, 08:09:10 pm

Thanks guys. Sounds like there is hope for him. I particularly like the tip about pipe insulation as a splint!

Title: Re: Paralysed leg?
Post by: mowhaugh on April 11, 2014, 09:35:21 pm

Not sheep related but similar theme - when I was pregnant with my oldest son, he had his hands behind his head on all my scans.  When he was born, it was 4 days before he could get his elbows lower than his ears or put his hands by his sides!

Title: Re: Paralysed leg?
Post by: Clive on April 14, 2014, 06:44:54 am

Well, thanks to the ministrations of my niece he has improved no end. We had a bit of a scare on the first night as he could not suckle the bottle due to some sort of breathing difficulties and he could not get up on his own. The next day he began to improve and has continued to do so. The leg is bandaged at the first joint but he does use it now. We have had another set of triplets sine and they were all even sized and seem to be doing well!

Title: Re: Paralysed leg?
Post by: Clive on April 16, 2014, 07:05:56 am

Good News!
The lamb has come on leaps and bounds. The bandage is off and he is moving well with only a slight limp.

Hopefully he will be fine