The Accidental Smallholder Forum
Livestock => Sheep => Topic started by: Brucklay on August 20, 2014, 09:43:02 pm
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Hi folks - I have a ewe lamb when I was up this evening to do my check everyone came running but she stayed up at the top of the field (Bad sign 1) herded her down to all the other ewes and lambs but I could almost catch her and she's 4 months old (bad sign 2) she's grinding her teeth (bad sign 3) she has had both doses of lambivac and ovipast, does had a wee bit of scour so wormed with injectable ivomec - any insight - I don't have any pain killer here but I do have ab's - I just don't know what wrong, she seems unhappy and subdued - I have her penned with a pall who seems to think hay is great.
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Have you checked her fleece thoroughly for flystrike?
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I have but will go and double check as we had our first case this year so ......
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Checked really closely and no fly strike - I hope she sleeps and I'll get her to vet first thing in the morning - gave lamb drench just to give wee bit of energy didn't think it could do any harm.
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Sounds like colic. Either abdominal pain eg from flush of grass or twisted gut. Painkillers ideally plus probiotics. Occasionally pasturellosis can present like that too so antibiotics tonight until you can get your vet tomorrow.
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Thank you farmvet will give her a dose now
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Went up to do AB's and her buddy was sleeping and she was nibbling hard feed :thumbsup: did her injection and she then turned and started nibbling the straw bedding - yes hay was available but bedding seems to be best - I don't think I've over reacted as I did see several not good signs but hopefully maybe she had possibly got an upset from some small ragwart shoots? Even trying hard I'm sure there is a bit about - possible?
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Did you check her temperature?
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Good point Foobar - I should have done. We've not rushed off to the vets this morning as she had done a 180 turn around - bright, alert, eating feed and chewing the cud. I am going to keep her in with her pall for a couple of days though so I can easily monitor.
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Good-o :). Like you say maybe she just had something that didn't agree with her. Keep an eye on her poo and make sure it returns to normal.
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I'm leaning towards the overly wet grass we've had for the last 2 weeks - well I hoping it's that as I can bring them in and feed hay no problem - still happy and munching :thumbsup:
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sounds like just a 'blip' then. :fc:
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Phew! Glad it looks like all is well. Just shows that even the most experienced sheep keeper can get caught out! Hope you can relax with a glass of something now.
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Not a 10th as experienced as some on here - but my only saving grace is I observe a LOT - BH may say to obsession, I think just enough!!
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I used to keep hay out all year as we get a lot of rain here in Wales, and that worked well to compensate for the wet grass and keep bums clean. Trouble is my ram lambs decided to start breaking off their horns on the hay rack, so I've had to ditch that idea! :(
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I have kept ad-lib hay out all year too - very wet here in the south -west. Seems to have worked well for 2 years, hardly any dagging or mucky rear ends :thumbsup: . ( :fc: :fc: )
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Not a 10th as experienced as some on here - but my only saving grace is I observe a LOT - BH may say to obsession, I think just enough!!
You can never watch your sheep too much ;D 8)
I'm glad the blip has passed. Much better that you noticed and did something, and it sorted itself, than seeing something and thinking it would sort itself when it turned out to be something serious......if you see what I'm trying to say.....
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Know what you mean Fleecewife - I don't know 1/2 the answers but if at least I catch the signs then I have 1/2 a chance - pondering over putting her + buddy back out this evening forecast not great so may wait till morning - but poo's fine and no teeth grinding at all so :fc:
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Hope your lamb is still ok. Have you considered giving an injection of combivit?
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Thank you Animalcrackers - yes she's fine - got a bit coped up inside so back out. There was only that evening of teeth grinding - I did giver her a few doses of the lamb boost I had in which I think gave her a little energy, possibly enough to perk her up to eat hay which got internals going again - pretty sure it was a wet grass issue.