[SavageU]

I can’t believe I’m posting this but.

New to sheep farming, got some Ryelands in Nov. No lambs so decided to get some Cades in.

Paid for 4, given 1 and told ‘it will live or die.’

Got her home, she couldn’t stand, undernourished and full of Orf.

Turns out it was joint ill. She’d been treated with antibiotics but spent the last week with me struggling.

Had the vet out, he was not happy with her leg and pain levels. Left me with some pain relief and antibiotics.

She did improve some, only to be attacked by something Saturday night (we think Fox maybe) and is struggling more so now.

She’s clearly in pain and I have to take her to be pts and I am devastated.

She’s the biggest eyes and has really tried to thrive. I can keep her as a pet but can’t have her in pain. The way the vet said it was that she will grow and the leg has to support her and it can’t now.

I’m so upset, I think I. Part because I’ve bottle fed her and really worked on Getting to know her with her been unwell.

God help the vet staff tomorrow. I can’t stop crying 😩

Just posting because I’ve nowhere else to bemoan this really. I know sheep want to die but this little girl has really tried to live and I feel so let down by the people who gave her to me.

[PipKelpy]

Depends on vet and lamb. My Tugger had joint ill as a lamb and the vet said it was up to me as most people don't care. Tugger lived in the house for 7 months and was raised with the dogs. She turned 8 last December and has been On a diet since December as last year the Shearer said she was like a Sumo wrestler.

I also have mug written on my forehead where she's concerned!

[Rosemary]

We had a lamb called Wallace who contracted join ill. He wasbottle fed and probably didn't get sufficient colostrum. We battled for weeks with different antibiotics; he'd improve then relapse, improve and relapse. In the end, we had him pts. Heartbroken, but he'd had enough. You've done your best; kindest now to end the pain.

[SallyintNorth]

Any one of us here who has raised bottle lambs has been where you are and can empathise.

It does get, if not easier then more bearable and worth it overall, for most of us, but there are bound to be many who decide that the potential for heartbreak is not for them and who don't do it again. 

I'm sorry you were only able to get the 1, it would be a help to you to have the other 3 to continue to rear at this point.  It's very hard to lose the only one you've ever had.     (I assume the farmer had a good year and no other cades to spare, so that's good for them - but no help to you at this point.)

It will feel a very long time, just at the moment, until next spring and your own ewes having lambs.  But hold onto that thought, and it will be here before you know it, honestly it will

[SavageU]

I had 5 Cades in total, there were 4 healthy ones and her.

We took her to be pts today on the proviso that she was looked at thoroughly to put my mind at ease.

The vet was great, got her history (if she could hear me talking in a high pitched voice) and examined her thoroughly.

Turns out she had a broken leg. Too high up to try and mend.

I basically have wailed all morning about it and feel a bit  broken. I’m also angry and sad that this has tainted what should have been a positive, if challenging, experience with regards to my farming knowledge and sheep rearing. I know there will be more losses, and I know that logically this was out of my control but such a waste of life.

I’d have kept her if she was able to be pain free, but she was only going to get bigger and she was really struggling.

Thanks for responding, it’s helped me feel a bit less like a terrible sheep keeper ❤️