The Accidental Smallholder Forum
Livestock => Sheep => Topic started by: Padge on March 25, 2011, 06:24:06 am
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Gd Morning
One of the ewes had twins 9 days ago unfortunately both dead on arrival she retained the placenta, i gave a full course of antibiotics and she is now outside on the grass. she is still very lethargic, stays on her own and her stomach has the appearance of being sucked in.
Has anyone had experience of this if so any idea how long it may take for her to recover.
Regards
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When they have a misfortune like that it can take a week or more. I would be tempted to give her some minerals (whether injected or drench doesn't matter). Make sure she is eating, ivy is great for sick sheep and if she has a gunky discharge do her another course of antibiotics.
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def try ivy as recommended in previous post and also dock leaves which my poorly sheep loved and now still insists on being fed.....
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Hi Padge. Did she ever pass the placenta? The usual treatment is to continue antiBs until the placenta has been passed. What about mastitis? There is clearly something still wrong with her. Does she have a temp? Could be she still has a retained placenta, or it could be that she lost the lambs because there was already something wrong with her.
How long she takes to recover, if she does, will depend on the treatment you give her. After this length of time, I would be asking my vet for advice. If she has retained the placenta, then she will need antiBs direct into the uterus - your vet will give you these (something like Synulox) and any other advice you need.
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I had a similar thing and was told by the vet and friends to 'go on in' and have a gentle check. I couldn't find anything substantial - then just carried on with another course of AB.
We kept her on her own in a pen for the duration with extra foods and water in peace - she seems ok now. Hope yours is OK too.
Baz
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Does she have a smelly discharge? Ususally that's a pretty good indication of a problem in the uterus. And I would check her udder too in case she might have a touch of mastitis. But if all is OK physically don't underestimate the effects of grief. She may just still be not understanding what happened and why she has no lambs.
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I agree, grief can keep them low for some time, as well as the aftereffects of whatever illness caused them to abort.
Vitamins always seem to help. A good dose of Combivit, or a good drench, often perk them up no end.
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Quick update she's penned on her own with extra food no temperature and no disharge nothing else lurking as far as we can tell Baz just keeping up with antibiotics really she's eating carefully but is still unhappy
Thanks to all for input ;D :sheep:
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I agree, grief can keep them low for some time, as well as the aftereffects of whatever illness caused them to abort.
We had a ewe this weekend lambed one alive and one dead (not nice) - vet said the best thing was that she had a live lamb and that he would help her to get over it. Mother and son doing fine now. And she does love her remaining lamby.
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Yes having a live lamb would help, not just so she doesn't grieve but for the physiological action of suckling the lamb which will help the uterus get back to normal.
Good luck Padge, I hope she picks up soon.
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Outcome sounds good, just remember they are sometimes very quick at dropping the placenta and eating it before you realise its even been passed !!
hope shes on the up
andy