[kanisha]

Hi,

can anyone help. One of my ewes looked pensive last night. ( stood thinking internally) as there is no more than a week before the final due date I stopped to watch to see if anything was happening. she stood ( hind legs extended, tail flicking.) then laid down. strained several times during the course of an hour moved then repeated the same also grinding teeth by this time it was getting dark. ( 10.15 pm) shes a five year old ewe always lambed easily and I felt certain I would find a lamb in the morning. at first light checked no lamb  checked the ewe cervix not dilated. I gave calcium and dilated cervix a bit and waited a while. I can enter her  there is nothing presented. I called the vet unbelievably my vets on call phone service isn't working (its a public holiday here) so called the other practice for a visit.

vets opinion is that she isn't lambing - cervix isn't dilated ewe still grinding teeth.

to be honest I am at a loss. for me there is no question the ewe has started. the vet will not do a caesar and has suggested drug to use to dilate cervix. My question if he doesn't think shes lambing whats the point in giving the injection? If she has started and can't lamb  ....... the risk of leaving things is frankly worrying . At this point the lamb is not the question but the ewe .

is there a way of determining where things are at. I still can't get hold of my own vets and feel completely helpless.

thanks

[SteveHants]

Sounds like you have done all the sensible things - she may not be properly in labour yet, ad Id be tempted to agree with your vet. She isn't overdue, is she? I'd give her time. If you stimulating the cervix didnt cause her to dilate, Id say she isnt ready, even with ringwomb the lamb is usually presented. Sometimes the hardest thing is to have the courage to leave them be for a while.

[kanisha]

thanks Steve OK that helps a little. I don't have a date of mating but the last due date for lambing based on when the ram was taken out is the 15th of May so shes not overdue and I still have one other ewe to lamb.
I have managed to get hold of my own vet who will pop by sometime today, she is   breathing hard but other wise undistressed ( she is not a ewe to be phased by things so appetite unaffected ) .

I have to admit I have had so much poor advice from vets that my confidence level is really low with them.
I will sit on my hands a little longer

[SallyintNorth]

I think, if she is lambing, you would always get the water bag even if there is some problem with the lamb(s) or cervix?

We do get ewes who do a bit of groaning and even straining up to a week or 10 days before lambing - often I think it's where there are multiple lambs and there's a bit of internal reorganisation going on.

If she were aborting, she'd look and feel poorly and it sounds as though she's pretty bright.

I know how hard it is to not worry and not dive in!  Let's hope your own vet turns up soon and is able to reassure you. 

[kelpy]

hi,
we've had a similar thing with goats & sheep.around a week before giving birth
they lay down get up,grind their teeth & look uncomfortable.
i think when they get near the end of pregnancy,there can't be a lot of room in there for babies & guts.
& they seem to put a lot of effort into cudding.
i'd wait & see.

[kanisha]

thanks all vet has been by he's not sure either she's definately grinding teeth and blowing but he's not convinced shes actually lambing.

I am used to seeing the ewes look uncomfortable but never this one or as uncomfortable as this . ( it will only be a single lamb) but I guess you are always learning something new will post when i know how it turns out

thanks for the advice

[suziequeue]

Well I'm desperate for news. Any movement?

[kanisha]

she remains standing ( hasn't settled down) and is grinding her teeth.................I have concerns still, over the possibility that this could be a schmallenberg lamb ( who knows) in which case would there actually be a lamb presented?

[suziequeue]

If it's malpositioned or malpresented then that could reduce the impact of the presenting part on the cervix I guess (but that's based on ancient half forgotten obstetric training in humans - not sheep knowledge!)

[dixie]

I would think that if she's started then whether or not it's an sbv or normal lamb there would be physical signs, water bag or just fluid leaking, I had a ewe this year who was very uncomfortable for a week before she lambed, breathing was heavy, and she stared a lot, she also laid down flat, stretched out, she was on the verge of twin lamb disease, fortunately liquid life aid saved the day. Sounds like shes on her way and maybe things are getting moving?

[kanisha]

Hi Yes I kinda thought things were on there way last night. at this stage I feel I have comitted to a wait and see approach ( much as I m not entirely sure) . I won't do anything more until there is something more definative one way or the other. I hope this doesn't lead to problems for the ewe but have taken the decision now.

[woollyval]

Its always hard but relax and have tea is often the way! I think that if appetite not affected then there is nothing to worry about! ewes who are having problems generally don't eat!

I have only once ever had a vet out to a lambing/kidding problem and that was a goat with obvious ringwomb for the second year running.....we got kids out by cesar and put goat to sleep as she was old and was not going to be happy 

Its not comfortable in last bit of pregnancy....and sheep cannot have a moan bout it over a cuppa!!

[kanisha]

LOL re appetite you don't know this sheep! she might lose it if she was dead!

[Moleskins]

I'm with all the others on this, one of mine kept having me stand in the shed in the cold every night for about ten days convinced that this was it the lambs were on their way, I think it's some kind of sheep practical joke.

[kanisha]

ewe lamb born late last night. everyone OK