[MrsJ]

Our bottle fed lamb is in trouble.  She was taking the bottle well and occassionally managing to swipe some from her mum who rejected her.  She then started to scour badly.  The vet has given us electrolyts which she took but looked very poorly.  She went back on the milk but same thing happened.  Vet has suggested repeat the electorlyts today and try a different brand of milk (she's been on Lamlac).
Does anyone have any other suggestions?  She's two and a half weeks old now and I would hate to lose her.

[jaykay]

Things I have found that have helped:

• Feed the milk cool, rather than body temp. It sounds horrid but it can help.
• Add live yoghurt - about an 8oz pot to 2 litres milk replacement.
• Feed smaller amounts, more often.
• Check your milk replacement dilutions - it's easy to get the amounts wrong.

But that said, don't dilute the milk replacer more than you're supposed to, as all that happens then is that they try to drink more volume to get the same amount of nutrients.

[woollyval]

Is she still with her mum? is she swiping milk from the ewe AND having bottles?
If you need to try different milk try goats milk....very very good

[MrsJ]

Mum is a bit odd.  She fed her for the first couple of days, then rejected her for food, but does call to her and shows interest when we feed her.  She is fine with her other lamb.  She did the same thing last year.  A few days after we turned them out into the field, the ewe was lame so we turned her over to deal with her feet and the lamb latched on and suckled for the entire time!  She didnt always want all her bottle, so we assumed she is either sneaking a crafty suckle in now and again from mum, or chancing it with the other ewes (we had one last year that did this).  However, she is obviously not getting enough this way.

[woollyval]

Keep checking her belly.....if not sunk in don't offer bottle.....she may be having too much as opposed to not enough!......just a thought! They can be very greedy little people!

[MrsJ]

thanks for all the advice.  I do hope she makes it as she's such a cute little thing.