The Accidental Smallholder Forum
Livestock => Sheep => Topic started by: m3joeEm on March 31, 2015, 11:42:01 am
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I have two lambs who are both very bloated and sore looking but are still bright and move around, they are in the field with the mother who hasn't a lot of milk, i do provide them with a bottle feed twice a day as a top up but they take very little. the are eating creep feed but are not growing well at all for their age. not sure what to do, should i take them off the ewe and bottle feed or do they need a remedy of some sort ? maybe its not bloat? helpppp!!
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I solved bloat in a ewe before with baking soda and mineral oil , should i try this with the lambs? the lambs spines are sticking out and have huge stomachs. possible hunger bloat?
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Yes they do sound hungry, the remedy mentioned would likely be inappropriate, could you pop them in the car to the Vets or sheep farming neighbour for hands on advice? Coccidiosis for eg. could be part of the picture age dependant. Best someone has a look.
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There are a number of things it could be.
Check they have an anus and are using it ok. What is their poo like?
Does the big belly 'slosh' or is it more solid?
Are they are less than 6 weeks old? If so, and they are trying to get by on solids, that could cause a big belly - and ill-thrift, as the rumen is not yet sufficiently developed for them to get all their nutrition this way.
None of these conditions is bloat but all may show an enlarged belly. As could worms.
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Perhaps they re having a little too much of everything. I m very conservative of what our lambs have here, don't want to over cook them. Either that or they a bit wormy like said above x
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SallyintNorth yes they are around 5-6 weeks, they came running for the bottle today and are taking more each day thankfully. They spend too much time in the creep feeder for their age i guess. It does seem to be like they have been only eating solids recently. I really hope they do ok once i get them on the bottle better.