The Accidental Smallholder Forum
Livestock => Sheep => Topic started by: Lilljoho on January 22, 2017, 08:09:40 am
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Hi
On Tuesday she had a difficult lambing and I had the vet out.
The next day she looked uncomfortable and reluctant to eat so I gave her antiobiotics and got some metacam of the vet. She perked up and started eating again.
I've continued metacam every other day and she'd had a second dose if antiobiotics. However last night she was off her food again and I think she only gets up if I make her. She then urinates/tries to urinate and drinks lots of water. She will walk around a bit.
Thinking maybe twin lamb I gave her ketosaid last night.
Will ring vets again but wondered if you lot had any ideas. Typically it's one of my best ewes.
Thanks Jo
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How difficult was the lambing? Does she like her lamb and is it suckling? Can you give her coarse mix and bits and pieces from the hedgerow to keep her interested in eating? I would suspect she's in pain or has an infection but vet is the best step.
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Lambing was tough but not the worst, she had 1st lamb herself but 2nd had its head back and presented with all four legs. I trying to sort him but with little progress I stopped and rang vet. The difficulty probably was the time it took vet to come and then deliver it. She has two lambs that are doing well and she likes
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Hello there,
It might be worth another chat to your vet, possibly urgently, since metacam puts a huge strain on the kidneys. Should only be administered every four days, so sounds like you may have inadvertently overdosed her... which might explain urinary symptoms...
So sorry to read you're having a hard time - I'm sure we all recognise the roller coaster of lambing time!
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Lol! The vet wanted to give her 5ml each day, it was me that told her that was too much! But that's interesting I'll mention it
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LOL indeed!
Very interesting..... my vet has always been cautious about over-use of metacam, but equally, if it were a question of addressing very bad pain she'd take a pragmatic view of pain relief over some level of risk...
Learning learning learning!
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Does she have a temperature? If yes than definitely continue with AB's. Also Flunixin is a good NSAID, which is really good to perk them up quickly. Better than Metacam in my experience (mainly used on goats though, but my vet swears by it).
Did the afterbirth come away quickly?
Is she stiff - maybe hypocalcaemia as well? Does she get up to suckle the lambs? Udder not hot/red/tight?
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5ml metacam is a big dose...... she should be looking better by now....
Any discharge at all, calcium can help if after birth retained. Definitely no more lambs inside?? Any damage inside?
Combi vit jab would do no harm either
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5ml metacam is a big dose...... she should be looking better by now....
Any discharge at all, calcium can help if after birth retained. Definitely no more lambs inside?? Any damage inside?
Combi vit jab would do no harm either
Agree- dosage for Recocam (v similar to metacam and from what I can see has same ingredients and dosage) is 2.5ml per 100kg and we were warned to be accurate with weight as it is one drug that should not be overdosed :o our stock bull only had 25ml every 3 days...
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The dosage of metacam for sheep is 1ml per 40kg - so 5ml would be treating a 200kg sheep.... How frustrating when you're actually trying to follow expert advice!
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I would suspect internal bruising /tear . Metacam is not licensed for sheep , so no information but on NOAH dose would be 2.5ml per 100kg and can repeat in 24hrs , no mention of overdose affecting kidneys . AB 'S and time and speak to vet
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Right vet out again,
Ewe slightly brighter than this morning.
Given a different antiobiotic and I insisted she gave some calcium.
Afterbirth came away not long after lambing and seemed intact.
The metacam dose scared me that's why I argued it. Change of vets might be in order.
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Right vet out again,
Ewe slightly brighter than this morning.
Given a different antiobiotic and I insisted she gave some calcium.
Afterbirth came away not long after lambing and seemed intact.
The metacam dose scared me that's why I argued it. Change of vets might be in order.
Glad she is doing better. yes change of vets would be a better idea, I would complain also, sounds like the vet in question needs to brush up a bit on her info.
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Not sure if this will bump this back to the top or not.
8weeks later ewe has the same symptoms.
Lack in appetite
Listless
Squats as if trying to urinate frequently.
Given alamycin then spoke to vets who prescribed zactran (antibiotic) and metacam. That was given Saturday and there isn't really much change.
Think I may have to call it a day but confused as why she's gonna downhill as for 8weeks hasn't looked back
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cystitis?
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Dont make too rash a judgement on your vet unless needed, it sometimes the same experience for them as you.
Its nt an axact 'science'. - its biology.
Thats said - all said - i hope she recovers and lives on.
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She may have internal damage which is affecting her bladder. If you have a new vet and want to keep the ewe then she may need to be checked out. I cull hard and would seriously consider doing so in this case.
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I think if she was mine I'd wean the lambs early and cull the ewe. It sounds like she's in discomfort or pain and you must of already spent quite a bit of money on her.
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I would definitely consider cystitis as she's been doing well for 8 weeks. I had a cow with it and it was rapidly cured with a homeopathic remedy from Crossgates Homeopathics.
However cider vinegar or bicarbonate of soda are also effective to relieve the irritation as they alter the acidity of the urine.
Or you could ask the vet for some antibiotics. You should be able to get these without a visit as the vet has already seen the animal recently - keeps the cost down.