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Author Topic: Unsteady ewes after lambing  (Read 10054 times)

pastie4x4

  • Joined Sep 2012
  • tavistock
    • jtp landscapes
Unsteady ewes after lambing
« on: February 22, 2013, 01:50:32 pm »
Any advice on recently lambed ewes going off their feet am having to stand the ewes up so the lambs can feed which ewes are v reluctant to do thanks

Foobar

  • Joined Mar 2012
  • South Wales
Re: Unsteady ewes after lambing
« Reply #1 on: February 22, 2013, 01:59:46 pm »
Twin Lamb Disease?  Any other symptoms?  Any blindness or temperature, or pear-drop breath smell?  Pooing and weeing ok? Eating ok?
« Last Edit: February 22, 2013, 02:02:49 pm by foobar »

pastie4x4

  • Joined Sep 2012
  • tavistock
    • jtp landscapes
Re: Unsteady ewes after lambing
« Reply #2 on: February 22, 2013, 02:09:46 pm »
eating and drinking ok, no blindness,loose poo, weeing ok. can ewe have twin lamb disease if it showed no signs before or during lambing?

ZaktheLad

  • Joined Aug 2012
  • Thornbury, Nr Bristol
Re: Unsteady ewes after lambing
« Reply #3 on: February 22, 2013, 02:12:06 pm »
That would be my thoughts too - Lambing sickness (Twin Lamb Disease).   Best to get the vet so ewe on her feet asap and give her lambs the best start possible.

Foobar

  • Joined Mar 2012
  • South Wales
Re: Unsteady ewes after lambing
« Reply #4 on: February 22, 2013, 02:13:54 pm »
How recently lambed?
And how many ewes affected?

BadgerFace

  • Joined Jan 2009
  • Sussex
Re: Unsteady ewes after lambing
« Reply #5 on: February 22, 2013, 02:22:14 pm »
eating and drinking ok, no blindness,loose poo, weeing ok. can ewe have twin lamb disease if it showed no signs before or during lambing?


As she is eating and drinking ok, I would say it's worms hatching.
Breeder of Pedigree Torddu Badger Face Welsh Mountain Sheep & Anglo Nubian Goats

pastie4x4

  • Joined Sep 2012
  • tavistock
    • jtp landscapes
Re: Unsteady ewes after lambing
« Reply #6 on: February 22, 2013, 02:24:14 pm »
lambed 2-3 days ago 3 ewes affected so far

Foobar

  • Joined Mar 2012
  • South Wales
Re: Unsteady ewes after lambing
« Reply #7 on: February 22, 2013, 02:26:37 pm »
Hmm, yes, I would agree with BadgerFace then, worms.
I would worm them all asap, and give HE drench to give them a boost.


Did you worm pre-lambing?

kanisha

  • Joined Dec 2007
    • Spered Breizh Ouessants
    • Facebook
Re: Unsteady ewes after lambing
« Reply #8 on: February 22, 2013, 02:46:22 pm »
seems odd to be worms and yet affecting ewes so severely just after lambing is something like low magnesium due to lactation a possiblity?  mild rather than acute obviously
Ravelry Group: - Ouessants & Company

BadgerFace

  • Joined Jan 2009
  • Sussex
Re: Unsteady ewes after lambing
« Reply #9 on: February 22, 2013, 02:56:04 pm »
Late stages of pregnancy and stress from lambing lowers a ewes resistance to worms.
Breeder of Pedigree Torddu Badger Face Welsh Mountain Sheep & Anglo Nubian Goats

Foobar

  • Joined Mar 2012
  • South Wales
Re: Unsteady ewes after lambing
« Reply #10 on: February 22, 2013, 03:00:46 pm »
I am ashamed to admit that in my first year, I had a ewe that did the same thing as this, after lambing (that afternoon in fact) her poo loosened and she gradually went down.  Treated by vet for pretty much everything under the sun, but suspected worm overload.  She was dead by the end of the next day.
I had planned to worm once she had lambed.  I now worm two week pre-lambing, or at the point that they go into the "lambing field".
If they weren't wormed pre-lambing then worm them now.

kanisha

  • Joined Dec 2007
    • Spered Breizh Ouessants
    • Facebook
Re: Unsteady ewes after lambing
« Reply #11 on: February 22, 2013, 03:19:12 pm »
good to know  thanks  :thumbsup: I have always wormed my ewes prelambing I understood the worm burden rose massively prior to lambing but didn't realise it could bring the ewes down so much was thinking more of the lambs;
Ravelry Group: - Ouessants & Company

Marches Farmer

  • Joined Dec 2012
  • Herefordshire
Re: Unsteady ewes after lambing
« Reply #12 on: February 22, 2013, 03:32:35 pm »
The immune system operates at a much lower level in the weeks before lambing.  I usually worm ours pre-tupping then before turn out, which is two or three days after lambing.  I tail the lambs, worm the ewes and mark them in the same session, so I know everything's done.

Foobar

  • Joined Mar 2012
  • South Wales
Re: Unsteady ewes after lambing
« Reply #13 on: February 22, 2013, 03:34:49 pm »
I guess when to worm will be governed by whether you lamb indoors or out.

Hazelwood Flock

  • Joined Sep 2011
  • Dorset.
Re: Unsteady ewes after lambing
« Reply #14 on: February 22, 2013, 04:28:18 pm »
Wouldn't hurt to give her some calcium in case it's milk fever....
Not every day is baaaaaad!
Pedigree Greyface Dartmoor sheep.

 

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