The Accidental Smallholder Forum
Livestock => Sheep => Topic started by: madmulligan on April 26, 2011, 06:05:26 pm
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Hi,
Just looking for a bit of hope I think! We have a very poorly ram lamb, 3 weeks old, bottle fed since birth. Had to take him to the vets yesterday as one of his back legs were swollen, he was refusing to eat, and generally looked like he might be in pain and distress. The vet seems to think it is something similar to black leg, picked up from something he has eaten. He is on daily injections of anti-inflamatries and antibiotics. After his return from the vets he seemed to be paralysed in both back legs and the other one had swollen up too. Slowly he has got the use of his back legs back, but is still quite unsteady, just like a newborn. He is only taking small amounts of milk at the minute and will drink water, but is not eating anything.
I just wondered if anyone else had experiences anything similar, and if so did the lamb pull through and is there anything in addition to the injections I can do for him to improve his chances of making it ???
Many thanks.
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After reading an earlier post I'd also like to say that this is one of our own lambs, not a bought in orphan. I had no idea that sort of trade was going on. We have only had sheep for about 3 years and this is only our second lambing season :-\
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I,m also quite new to sheep and have not come across this. I hope someone with more experience can help you.
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Thanks NLL,
Unfortunately we lost him in the night, so no hope needed now :(
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That sounded horribly like joint ill. It can strike even 2/3 weeks after birth.
Navels should be sprayed immediately after birth. I also these days with my goats kids, give give .25mm of antibiotic at the same time. Sometimes these organisms are in the soil and only strike occasionally.
So sad when you lose something like this.
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Thanks for your reply Wytsend. We dip all our lambs navels in iodine as soon as they are born, but had never considered an injection aswell. Maybe that is something to consider for the future.
It is all very sad and such a waste, but we have 8 healthy lambs with their Mums, so will have to try to look on the brighter side.
Thanks again :sheep:
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Bless you madmulligan this is our 4th lambing season and it doesn't matter how many lessons you learn there is always another to catch you out!
We too have orphan lambs never had em before........quite simply because the ewe did not want to mother despite our very best efforts.....soon as let out fooling us they had bonded she made a bid for freedom and that was that..........you will never learn all the lessons just be willing to keep learning wishing you all the best :sheep: :sheep:
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Thanks Padge. Hope your orphans are all doing ok? It certainly has been a steep learning curve this year, and I am sure you are right that there will be many more. I just hope that the next one isn't quite so drastic :-\
Good luck with your little ones xx :sheep:
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Thinking of you at this time madmulligan, sorry to hear the news.
Baz
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appear to be coming along nicely fingers crossed have taken less milk today with being out on grass ;) thank you :wave:
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Thanks Baz.
Great news Padge :)