[tommytink]

Unfortunately one of my first timers appears to be aborting. Yesterday she was a bit red around the back end, like mucus. Separated her and cleaned her up. Put her in a little paddock next to field with her sisters in. A bit stressful but not much choice. Spoke to vet who doesn’t think this would be contagious abortion as she is not due till mid-March.
This morning she looks red again. How long could it take for it to stop, and would there be anything that’s going to be expelled? Or would it be too small at this stage to notice?
Not had this before. Feel pretty sad about it and just want to make sure she’s okay. I’ll put her back with others as soon as she stays clean. 

[shep53]

Keep an eye on her and give her time , depending on how far into  the pregnancy she was then  yes you should see something from a  blob or small bird like foetus to a very tiny pink lamb . As vet says just a bit early for contagious  abortion , it happens for various reasons beyond your control   

[twizzel]

I had one abort 6 weeks before she was due to lamb, it was enzootic abortion even though she was vaccinated (she had been infected prior to vaccinating and the infection had lay dormant in her uterus until the next time she lambed). She had a pinky red discharge about 6 weeks before, and actually expelled the foetuses about 3 weeks before the due date.


Keep her completely isolated, inside if possible (then can dispose of the bedding by burning). If she aborts get a pm done by the vet and the foetus tested.

[SallyintNorth]

Peronally I wouldn't segregate her as the vet has said it won't be the contagious type.  They may sometimes abort one lamb and keep the other, but the additional stress of being on her own (albeit with friends the other side of the fence) is, to my mind, unnecessary, unkind, and could make her more likely to abort the other foetus  as well.

Yes it's sad, but there is usually a reason, and even if she doesn't have another lamb in there which she carries to full term, she is only young and (as long as you don't let her get too overweight next summer) is very likely to go on and breed normally for the remainder of her life. 

Experienced sheepkeepers will tell you, "Don't dwell on the ones that didn't live, enjoy the ones that do."  Much easier said than done, I know. 

[twizzel]

Toxo can cause sheep to abort at any stage of pregnancy, so id be cautious of putting her back with the others. And would definitely test any aborted foetuses.

[tommytink]

Yes I feel pretty rotten having her separate. Her sisters have been lovely and despite having a big field they’ve stayed near her.
I’m bringing all the ewes home from winter tack on Monday and she’ll be going there to be with the ewe lambs who are staying for a few weeks so they’re not a pain at feeding time. Weighing up the info I think this is best as I don’t like her being stressed. I am tempted to put her back with her sisters tomorrow but I don’t know.
How long would this bleeding normally last?

[Anke]

I would follow the vet's advice and put her back in with the others. Abortion does happen, and as Sally says, it is beyond your control. The bleeding may go on for a while. I have had them producing healthy lambs after an apparent abortion. I would however put a mark on her, so you can spot her from a distance and see if she looks like becoming unwell (if the foetus dies that may happen) and then can act quickly if necessary, but not chase her etc if no need.

[tommytink]

So yesterday I rinsed her back end in the morning and in the afternoon I could see a red patch again. It wasn’t very much, just a smear really. Checked this morning and nothing much to see. And no red this pm. So now I’m wondering, if she’s still clean tomorrow, whether to just keep her with all the other ewes, and as you say Anke just keep an eye on her. Worried maybe if I put her on rubbish grazing and she is possibly still pregnant that it would be more detrimental than having an extra mouth unnecessarily on our ground.
This sheep business is sometimes about making decisions on not much information and hoping for the best!

[Anke]

This sheep business is sometimes about making decisions on not much information and hoping for the best!

Exactly...

[SallyintNorth]

Toxo can cause sheep to abort at any stage of pregnancy, so id be cautious of putting her back with the others. And would definitely test any aborted foetuses.

The lifecycle of toxoplasmosis means it's irrelevant if she's in the same field or not.  The foetal material is not infectious to other sheep.  Sheep are infected by eggs emitted in cat poo.

[SallyintNorth]

This sheep business is sometimes about making decisions on not much information and hoping for the best!

 Not sometimes, but almost always !   Experience means your guesses get more and more educated... :/

[tommytink]

Just as an update since there have been no more red patches. Some bits of blobby mucus the following day and clean since. Will obviously keep an eye on her but will keep her in with the others. The vet said it doesn’t necessarily mean anything’s been lost, so will be interesting to see.

[vfr400boy]

Years ago my whippet bitch started bleeding heavily during pregnancy vet told me she'd lost all her puppies and it was just one of those things,  he wanted to change me £90 for a scan to be sure,,,
  A week later I got her scanned on a farm as she was putting ok weight bloke told be 4 pups
   She ended up with 5 big healthy pups in the end ,
    Fingers crossed for you

[tommytink]

Years ago my whippet bitch started bleeding heavily during pregnancy vet told me she'd lost all her puppies and it was just one of those things,  he wanted to change me £90 for a scan to be sure,,,
  A week later I got her scanned on a farm as she was putting ok weight bloke told be 4 pups
   She ended up with 5 big healthy pups in the end ,
    Fingers crossed for you

Thank you