The Accidental Smallholder Forum

Livestock => Sheep => Topic started by: Paul and Caroline on June 10, 2018, 10:09:06 am

Title: Pet lamb unsteady on feet
Post by: Paul and Caroline on June 10, 2018, 10:09:06 am

Hi

We have the last few of our pet lambs still on milk (8 weeks old) and one milk feed per day with pellets and hay ad lib. I found a lamb this morning struggling to get up and on it's back. I had to help it up and it is very unsteady on its legs and flops down, stretching it head up the sides of the pen. Does seem to be a bit warm and in all other respects is reasonably alert. Also has a very hunched neck when he does stand.  He is not overweight nor is he thin, but like all the remaining pet lambs still on milk, (just 17 left) he is on the small side for his age.

Any suggestions as to what might be the issue? Until this morning he had been absolutely fit and well.....

Title: Re: Pet lamb unsteady on feet
Post by: landroverroy on June 10, 2018, 11:35:03 am

Could be many things.
But listeria always comes to mind when a sheep suddenly has difficulty standing. The infection develops rapidly so antibiotics as soon as poss is essential. Best is strep/pen, but tetracycline is also good. Best to give slightly over recommended dose and keep on with treatment even if animal seems recovered.

Title: Re: Pet lamb unsteady on feet
Post by: shep53 on June 10, 2018, 12:58:43 pm

Take to VET, sounds like a min/vit problem but as its a pet on powdered milk and lamb creep all should be covered .  Not licked anything it shouldn't ?   some form of ECHEPHALITIS ?  Not ran head first in to anything ? VET  :fc:

Title: Re: Pet lamb unsteady on feet
Post by: farmers wife on June 13, 2018, 11:37:44 pm

Its not listeria (wrong time of year) its prob CNN.  High temp prob Pasteurella


No milk now should be weaned.  If neck is bent back then Polioencephalomalacia

(Cerebrocortical necrosis CCN). see Nadis http://www.nadis.org.uk/bulletins/nervous-disease-in-sheep.aspx (http://www.nadis.org.uk/bulletins/nervous-disease-in-sheep.aspx)

Title: Re: Pet lamb unsteady on feet
Post by: Anke on June 14, 2018, 08:09:24 am

Quote from: farmers wife on June 13, 2018, 11:37:44 pm

Its not listeria (wrong time of year) its prob CNN.  High temp prob Pasteurella


No milk now should be weaned.  If neck is bent back then Polioencephalomalacia

(Cerebrocortical necrosis CCN). see Nadis http://www.nadis.org.uk/bulletins/nervous-disease-in-sheep.aspx (http://www.nadis.org.uk/bulletins/nervous-disease-in-sheep.aspx)

Is there a wrong and a right time of year for listeriosis?

Title: Re: Pet lamb unsteady on feet
Post by: shep53 on June 14, 2018, 01:24:10 pm

Listeria is usually associated with the feeding of silage /haylage so winter BUT I had a hill ewe die in summer on the hill that was confirmed listeria , very rare

Title: Re: Pet lamb unsteady on feet
Post by: landroverroy on June 14, 2018, 03:21:49 pm

I've had a few grass fed animals develop it. I don't feed silage or haylage.

Title: Re: Pet lamb unsteady on feet
Post by: SallyintNorth on June 14, 2018, 08:30:00 pm

It’s been suggested to me that lambs can pick up listeria from lying and playing on molehills