The Accidental Smallholder Forum
Livestock => Sheep => Topic started by: ScotsGirl on May 24, 2015, 07:54:43 am
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i have a mule who is very thin (condition score 1) and for the second time I found her in a corner yesterday with her head hanging. Brought her home gave her metacam, vitamin drench, pen strep and some pro rumen cos her rumen wasn't functioning.
She is arching her back and straining as when in labour. Her lambs are about 10 weeks and I have been trying to wean the ewes off nuts as so much grass. This ewe just won't put weight on.
She was very thirsty but won't eat. Nibbled a mouthful of nuts this am. I did FEC several weeks ago after lambing and advised no need to worm. She is clean behind but don't reckon she has poo'd for a while.
I don't know what to do now. Any suggestions?
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Don't know what to advise but hoping someone comes along soon
:fc:
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Star gazing a sign of ccn, thiamine deficiency. Speak to vet. Thiamine jabs, until vet is seen pick her some ivy /browse and offer her some treats, digestives etc. A clean bum doesn't mean no worms in some cases. what s her teeth like x
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I will check her teeth again, she is grinding them but did look brighter an hour ago. I might try worming just worried that might finish her off if weak. Don't think its CCN as she was exactly the same a about 6 weeks ago. Might be calcium deficiency as only thing I haven't given her yet that she had before and she was much better next day.
Tried ivy yesterday and not interested. Wish they could talk!
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What does vet say ?
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any news on this poor ewe?
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I agree that at this stage you really must consult a vet. It becomes a welfare issue when an animal is in pain and so obviously very ill.
Meanwhile get some glucose down her to keep her going - use a syringe without the needle to give it like a drench.
I do so hope she pulls through :fc: :hugsheep:
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Vet came out, scratched her head, gave buscopan and pen strep, left me some liquid paraffin and said give her a little with warm water and also ketosaid as can't get her to eat. Problem is, how much is a little??
I'm still really worried. Massaged her belly, gave her some live yogurt and just going to go give a little more of the paraffin . She has poo'd a tiny bit and did eat a handful of mix and slice of apple but nothing since. Still grinding her teeth. I don't know what else to do. She seems really colicky and has a gassy gut. She keeps stretching and straining.
She's one of my favourites, I hate seeing her like this. She seems to want to eat but her belly must be hurting too much.
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You could try some infant gripe water from the chemist. Hope she soon gets well, bless her.
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Oh dear, it sounds as if the vet wasn't very helpful.
When I was a child, I had a tablespoonful of liquid paraffin spooned down me at the least provocation. It was also prescribed by our vet for one of our dogs when she was blocked up, 1 tbsp. again, so it sounds as if it's quite a flexible dose per kg. (the dog 'performed' the next day and was fine ;D)
The tooth grinding is of course a sign of pain, poor thing.
This doesn't sound much fun, but have you tried gently feeling round inside her anus, with a gloved and very well lubricated finger? You may be able to hook some faeces out, which could be enough to unblock the escape route. The least it would do would be to lubricate things for when she does go. But be very gentle, and stop if it increases her pain.
If she has no bowel sounds, then there's no point putting solid food in the top end because it will just back up. You need to get lots of fluids in, which is why I suggested the glucose, or honey, or sugar water, or something similar, which can be absorbed from above the bowel.
We're all worried, as you are, so do keep us up to date with events :hug:
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Good luck with her :hug:
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She is trying to drink but not much. I've just given some more metacam and she had about 30ml diluted ketosaid at 7. There is gas escaping sometimes when she lies down. Not sure if this is good. Will go mix up the honey solution she's not very impressed at all the syringing.
She is no worse but no better. Perked up for an hour or so yesterday but then went off again. I did see some fresh pellets yesterday after vet had hooked out some.
Would it be worth worming her or will that be too much for her?
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This may not be of any help but recently had a ewe with bloat who was not looking healthy at all and guts were in all but stasis ( vet visited very little noise from rumen etc)
As a comparison my very old gordon setter was having severe digestive issues with bloat ( old male setters are prime candidates for bloat and gastric torsion) I found that I could relieve his symptons and help relieve his bloat by gentle massage of his abdomen.
So I tried the same with the ewe. I'm not saying it made the difference but in view of the vets face when he left I felt I had nothing to lose..... shes back in the field :-)
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Do you have a health food shop nearby? If so get some Slippery Elm powder and include that in your drench. It is very soothing for the GI tract and can help with constipation.
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I have been massaging and when she lies down I press on her rumen which seems to encourage the gas out. No pellets when I stuck my finger in but loose poo on gloves but couldn't reach any further.
She is trying to drink lots and seems settled. I will have a look for health shop. Thanks all for advice.
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What about a little bi carb in drench?
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I did wonder about bicarb. It's the only thing I haven't tried. She has passed a small sloppy poo, not sure if that is progress. She still won't eat and her stomach sounds full of fluid when I massage it. Not surprising as I have syringed honey water, pro rumen, diluted liquid paraffin down her neck today!
Looks like another call to vet in morning.
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bicarb solution should give her some relief, possibly follow up with some vegetable oil?
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How much bicarb? I mixed a teaspoon in half a mug of water and syringed about 30ml. Scared of overdosing her
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How is she this morning?
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Found her dead in pen this morning. She was very depressed and uninterested yesterday. I wonder if she had a twisted gut or kidney trouble. She was behaving just like a horse with colic. Bummer. Only good thing is she had a ewe lamb who is just like her with lovely temperament so will keep her.
Very sad, she was one of my first ewes.
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Oh no. That's so sad. Im so sorry for your loss :hug:
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Poor old dear :hug: :hug:
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Aww, poor old girl. :(
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sorry to hear that :hug:
sometimes there's just nothing you can do
but at least you have her ewe lamb, we lost our fave ewe too but we have her ewe lamb
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So sorry to hear that, you did your very best, like you say she lives on in her lambie :bouquet:
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So sorry xx
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So sorry you lost her :bouquet:
You did all you could. Good you have her ewe lamb to keep :hug:
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It is horrible to lose them, especially when you tried your best. :hug: :bouquet:
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Thanks all. It is as bad as losing an old dog or a child. I just love mules. Only two left, all rest are oddballs except my lovely little black Welsh.
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I had to have my gimmer put down by the vet last week and when I said to someone it was like losing one of the dogs, she thought I was mad. It's so nice to hear about other people who feel the same.
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So sorry :hug: I do know how you feel, my ewes are all pets, even though they are there to breed me lambs, when an old one has to go I am heartbroken.