The Accidental Smallholder Forum
Livestock => Sheep => Topic started by: pastie4x4 on February 22, 2013, 01:50:32 pm
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Any advice on recently lambed ewes going off their feet am having to stand the ewes up so the lambs can feed which ewes are v reluctant to do thanks
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Twin Lamb Disease? Any other symptoms? Any blindness or temperature, or pear-drop breath smell? Pooing and weeing ok? Eating ok?
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eating and drinking ok, no blindness,loose poo, weeing ok. can ewe have twin lamb disease if it showed no signs before or during lambing?
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That would be my thoughts too - Lambing sickness (Twin Lamb Disease). Best to get the vet so ewe on her feet asap and give her lambs the best start possible.
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How recently lambed?
And how many ewes affected?
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eating and drinking ok, no blindness,loose poo, weeing ok. can ewe have twin lamb disease if it showed no signs before or during lambing?
As she is eating and drinking ok, I would say it's worms hatching.
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lambed 2-3 days ago 3 ewes affected so far
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Hmm, yes, I would agree with BadgerFace then, worms.
I would worm them all asap, and give HE drench to give them a boost.
Did you worm pre-lambing?
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seems odd to be worms and yet affecting ewes so severely just after lambing is something like low magnesium due to lactation a possiblity? mild rather than acute obviously
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Late stages of pregnancy and stress from lambing lowers a ewes resistance to worms.
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I am ashamed to admit that in my first year, I had a ewe that did the same thing as this, after lambing (that afternoon in fact) her poo loosened and she gradually went down. Treated by vet for pretty much everything under the sun, but suspected worm overload. She was dead by the end of the next day.
I had planned to worm once she had lambed. I now worm two week pre-lambing, or at the point that they go into the "lambing field".
If they weren't wormed pre-lambing then worm them now.
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good to know thanks :thumbsup: I have always wormed my ewes prelambing I understood the worm burden rose massively prior to lambing but didn't realise it could bring the ewes down so much was thinking more of the lambs;
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The immune system operates at a much lower level in the weeks before lambing. I usually worm ours pre-tupping then before turn out, which is two or three days after lambing. I tail the lambs, worm the ewes and mark them in the same session, so I know everything's done.
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I guess when to worm will be governed by whether you lamb indoors or out.
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Wouldn't hurt to give her some calcium in case it's milk fever....
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My understanding is that with true Twin Lamb Disease, once the lambs have been expelled, the ewe is pretty much instantly recovered.
So I'd go along with the worms, general poor condition (it's been one helluva year for them all), or poss incipient milk fever.
Besides what others have suggested, a jag of Combi-Vit wouldn't hurt.
What about fluke? Lots of farmers have lost lots of ewes to fluke this year - fluke where it's not usually; fluke in seasons when it's usually absent; fluke even after flukicide given. Loose poo, undiminished appetite - could be fluke. Are they thin? A bit puffy under the lower jaw? If it's fluke, they'll be thin and could have the puffy lower jaw (but absence of puffy lower jaw does not mean it isn't fluke.)
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What condition score ? do they have any milk ? are they anaemic are the gums pink or grey ??
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thank u all calcium seems to of done the trick :fc: will keep u all posted how they do
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A calcium injection may give a short term boost but for 3 ewes to have the same problem would have me looking for the reason why some times the diet is lacking in calcium and it may help to feed limestone flour
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One of ours couldn't even raise her head after lambing, she was the smaller "runt" of the flock. Vet said exhaustion and twins had taken alot out of her, gave her calcium and glucose. Vet then had to come out following day and treat for pnumonia. Keeping her in at night and looks like slowly getting better. Would defo recommend getting vet out.