The Accidental Smallholder Forum

Livestock => Sheep => Topic started by: Fishyhaddock on April 12, 2015, 10:34:35 pm

Title: Lamb refuses to walk on front legs
Post by: Fishyhaddock on April 12, 2015, 10:34:35 pm
Hi all, born 6 hours ago this little lamb refuses to use her front legs and is crawling around on her knees. When I stand her up she holds herself up for a few seconds and then sinks back on her knees again and shuffles around the pen. New one on me. I am sure someone has come across this before? ???


Thank in advance Fishy
Title: Re: Lamb refuses to walk on front legs
Post by: Fishyhaddock on April 12, 2015, 10:45:20 pm
Just read some earlier threads and some suggest vit d, maybe rickets. Must go another one lambing...

Title: Re: Lamb refuses to walk on front legs
Post by: darkbrowneggs on April 12, 2015, 11:27:37 pm
Had it happen very occasionally with my BWM but from memory they just seemed to sort themselves out after a bit.  Can't remember having to do anything.  With mine they were just bent a bit at the wrist/ankle bit so the hooves were back.
Title: Re: Lamb refuses to walk on front legs
Post by: rat catcher on April 13, 2015, 12:06:52 am
I had a spate of lambs years ago from some bought in, in lamb ewes with the symptoms you described. Vet prescribed vit d and suggested massaging to help straighten them. All came right in the end.
Title: Re: Lamb refuses to walk on front legs
Post by: Fishyhaddock on April 13, 2015, 12:45:36 am
Thanks everyone. She is trying hard and stretching further and further each time so  :fc:


Fishy
Title: Re: Lamb refuses to walk on front legs
Post by: Backinwellies on April 13, 2015, 09:34:52 am
sunshine and maybe splints for a few days and she will be up and running
Title: Re: Lamb refuses to walk on front legs
Post by: zwartbles on April 13, 2015, 07:50:23 pm
Try this !
Also available in other colours  :excited:
Title: Re: Lamb refuses to walk on front legs
Post by: Fishyhaddock on April 13, 2015, 09:00:57 pm
Ha ha. We have one here just like your DIY splint! Plus given her a jab of vit d and she is definitely stronger. She is a tiny black faced welsh mountain ewe so have the height means she can now reach mums udder although walking has yet to be mastered. But I am hopeful for this little one. :relief:
Title: Re: Lamb refuses to walk on front legs
Post by: Liz Kershaw on April 15, 2015, 07:29:55 am

we have exactly this problem on our tiny twin and splinted her (or rather, the vet did) afte 5 days as it wasn't sorting itself. I'm not sure how long to splint her for and am worried about leaving her and the rest of her little family out overnight as there's a very active fox around here at the moment. They are out all day and I'm bringing them into the stable at night. They're a week old now. Has anyone any thoughts how long the legs are likely to take? She really is a tiny girl. We had two pregnant ewes and lost one pre-lambing so it's down to poor mum on her own to protect. Last year's lambs are in the next bit of land divided by electric fence so ewe can see them but ideally I'd like new lambs, mum and last year's to be together as soon as poss.
Title: Re: Lamb refuses to walk on front legs
Post by: zwartbles on April 15, 2015, 07:46:12 am
Opinion is divided. At least a week for most but would leaving it on longer do any harm??