[egglady]

we've had 9 sheltand lambs this year and over the last week it seems almost every one of them has been limping for some reason.  No idea why and never had them limp so young previously.  The ewes generally limp if they've something caught in their feet or are overgrown, but the lambs are just babies.

we have caught them all up and trimmed feet but I'm really keen to know if others have had the same thing this year?

[ellisr]

I've had a couple and they have had there hooves trimmed and the little stones removed. It only seemed to happen after the rain and I was wondering if they have had a bit mud dry and it has rubbed them

[ClaireF]

It could be scald. Check between the cleats of their feet and they may be a bit weepy, smelly and sore. If you give them a spray with blue spray it'll usually sort out the problem. Young lambs shouldn't usuall need their feet trimmed or anthing.

[ellisr]

Minedoesn't appear to be scald but they had a spray anyway just standard practice now, but my lambs hooves did need a trim which I think is the first time I have had to trim lambs hooves ever. The grass grew very quickly this year I wonder if this had anything to do with the increase in hoof growth as I have noticed that the horse is the same

[egglady]

ellisr, yup same here.  never had to trim lambs feet before now but have checked them all and quite a few did need trimmed - plus their mum's who were only done a few weeks ago when the babes were born!  strngest thing.

haven't blue sprayed them but did check cleats and trimmed so might do that tomorrow.

reassuring to know that it's not just our ones

[jaykay]

We've had a lot of scald in lambs - the wet weather I think  The blue terramycin spray does the job 

[Fleecewife]

We have a handful limping too - will check for scald when we bring them all in tomorrow.  I don't think it's joint ill as it's only ever one foot and they are otherwise full of beans, but will check for heat in their knees as well.  I'm glad it's not just us. 

[SallyintNorth]

Also glad it's not just us! 

There's always a reason for scald, it seems - too dry, too wet, frosty, not enough grass, too much grass, too hot, too cold - so far I have been unable to found out exactly what conditions would not cause scald!

But like others on here, some of our limpy lambs this year there seems to be no cause.  So far mostly they have recovered over time.

[waterhouse]

Well we're as dry as a bone but the lambs feet all need trimming, some of them for the second time, but maybe that's just Dartmoors - our Welsh BM throwback has lovely feet.

[pikilily]

Yep, almost on a weekly basis one or two of the lambs are limping for a few days. some have scald, others are lame for no apparent reason.
Last year i had no lameness issues at all.
Emma T

[feldar]

We've had lots of scald in lambs this year but mainly our later lambs born April, we've got no long grass, so putting it down to weather.

[Fleecewife]

We gathered all ours the other day. One had a mild bit of scald, easily treated.  The others had just slightly overgrown feet, but with very dry hard mud pushed hard up into the foot which would have been sore.  One little tup lamb is still causing us worry as he has two sore feet, one front, one back - nothing seen but he's still hobbling although bright enough in himself.  We will catch him (not easy without bringing in the whole flock again) and give him an antiB shot.  He is the only one left limping.

[egglady]

yes ours seem to have settled back down and didnt notice anyone limping this morning.  how strange though eh?

[pikilily]

I had another good look at my lambs feet today! every single one of them has a ridge around the hoof at exactly the same place. i presume it is something to do with change of grass, or the stage a which they started eating grass. I can see this causing lameness?
Emma T

[TheCaptain]

checked the feet over on my lot when they came in for shearing - I dagged them at the beginning of April and trimmed their feet then, but each one needed trimming again and some of them needed some 'extensive' work doing!  The lambs (born end of Jan/beginning of Feb) also needed doing, but they all had scald when they were first turned out.  Craziness!!!