Author Topic: Ewe looking off colour  (Read 2392 times)

NewLifeOnTheFarm

  • Joined Jun 2016
Ewe looking off colour
« on: April 04, 2019, 08:09:21 am »
Hi all, I have a ewe that is 24 hours post lambing. Gage birth to 1 dead lamb, and one strong ewe lamb. She had been acting bonkers for days pre lambing, wouldn't eat, very jumpy, refused to come in with others, and when I did catch her she just ran round barn like a whirling dervish. Everything looked ok, so put it down to first time hormones.

24 hours post, lamb is fine, but ewe is looking off it. I saw her cleanse the cord bit with bag attached, but didn't see the placenta. Not sure if she passed that over night and has eaten it. She's now not interested in food and is laying down a lot.

I have alamcyin in, so have given her a shot of that, and also some calcium just in case. Is there anything else I can do?

Thanks,
Charlotte

SallyintNorth

  • Joined Feb 2011
  • Cornwall
  • Rarely short of an opinion but I mean well
    • Trelay Cohousing Community
Re: Ewe looking off colour
« Reply #1 on: April 04, 2019, 09:30:18 am »
Try a bit of twin lamb drench.

I’d have given antibiotics too.
Don't listen to the money men - they know the price of everything and the value of nothing

Live in a cohousing community with small farm for our own use.  Dairy cows (rearing their own calves for beef), pigs, sheep for meat and fleece, ducks and hens for eggs, veg and fruit growing

twizzel

  • Joined Apr 2012
Re: Ewe looking off colour
« Reply #2 on: April 04, 2019, 09:33:07 am »
Did the lamb die during labour or was it dead and rotten ? I had a ewe with a rotten lamb this year she had 7 days of pen strep and was okay. Pen strep is my go to antibiotic for lambing.


Pick some ivy for her- it normally gets sheep eating again. If you’ve got some haylage or coarse mix try with some of that, they are more tempting to eat than hay and nuts.
« Last Edit: April 04, 2019, 09:42:05 am by twizzel »

NewLifeOnTheFarm

  • Joined Jun 2016
Re: Ewe looking off colour
« Reply #3 on: April 04, 2019, 10:07:31 am »
Twin lamb drench given, I don't have ivy but do have willow which I grow for tree hay, so have put a bit of the fresh growth in and she was interested, so we will see.

The lamb was born intact, but was very small and was absolutely full of mucous.

She has a very dirty back end, and the discharge is like old brown blood, not like nasty brown discharge.

Will the alamycin do anything or is it worth giving vet a ring for something different?

Sbom

  • Joined Jul 2012
  • Staffordshire
Re: Ewe looking off colour
« Reply #4 on: April 04, 2019, 10:41:16 am »
Are you sure there isn’t another lamb inside?

NewLifeOnTheFarm

  • Joined Jun 2016
Re: Ewe looking off colour
« Reply #5 on: April 04, 2019, 10:48:12 am »
She isn't showing any signs of contracting or looking uncomfortable in that sense. She wasn't huge so would be surprised if she had been carrying triplets but of course you never know. Worried having a feel will do more harm than good?

twizzel

  • Joined Apr 2012
Re: Ewe looking off colour
« Reply #6 on: April 04, 2019, 01:37:52 pm »
I’d ring the vet, they can examine if necessary and give you alternative antibiotics too if they feel the need. Tell them when you have alamycin though as this can affect when another course of antibiotics starts.


If she’s got an infection an anti inflammatory will help too, again something the vet can sort

NewLifeOnTheFarm

  • Joined Jun 2016
Re: Ewe looking off colour
« Reply #7 on: April 04, 2019, 02:05:28 pm »
I popped in to vet at lunch as was passing, got 2 different antibiotics, inflacam, and a vitamin b. So fingers crossed. Thanks for all the advice

 

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