[moony]

We had a ewe come to us last week in pretty poor condition weight wise, in fact about as thin as I have seen. Came from somewhere with hardly any grass and as she has a loose tooth at the front she just hasnt been getting enough in her. She was well bagged up when she came. On Weds morning she lambed a whopping ram lamb. The labour was hard for her but not too bad. Since then she has been unable to stand. She can support her weight with her front legs out wide if we lift her but cannot support it enough to walk and cannot remain standing for long. We have jabbed her with calcium, given her molasses to eat, and drenched her with it mixed with warm water and drenched her with glucose in water. We have spoken to the vet who basically says we have done everything we would do and that some just don't recover. She has eaten hay fine and sheep nuts fine. Her poo is as normal and she urinates when we stand her up. That was fine yesterday but has a hint of pink tonight.

Anyone any ideas as to what else we can try with her? How long should we persist. She seems brighter in herself today.

[SteveHants]

As long as the ewe readily feeds, Id keep stuffing it full of high-energy stuff - beet pellets maybe. You never know, it might recover. If it loses its appetite, looks glazed, I'd shoot it then.

[shep53]

As said she needs time and care, so long as she's eating fine

[JMB]

Not an expert but if she's eating that's a really positive sign.
You will know instinctively when / if she's had enough and can't go on.
Keep at it and well done xxxxx

[FiB]

cant add anything except admiration - you seem to have done all the right things - I dont have half that stuff in, so need to revisit stock cupboard!   

[Anke]

Is she also feeding the lamb? Maybe not a good idea... also if she isn't and she is not likely to recover enough to go back to the tup - what's the point in keeping her?
Once the lamb has had his colostrum ( about 2 days I think) it may be kinder for her to let her go...

[Old Shep]

DIdn't the vet suggest some anti biotics and anti inflammatories?  Might not do any good but won't do any harm. Pink urine suggests something more than twin lamb disease or lack of calcium.

[moony]

Thanks for all the advice. Been down to check her tonight and her breathing was very shallow. Died a minute or so later. She wasn't feeding the lamb. We took that away after 2-3 hours when she still hadn't got up. Hes doing really well though. Just to add my point for keeping her is I try to give them all a chance. She is not an old ewe, just was in poor condition when we got her. I have had one be down for 24hrs and get up and be absolutely fine. She went on to lamb again 2 more times without problems. There is also the financial aspect with the fact that if she had got up at worst she would have been worth £50 after a months grass as a cull where as now I get the joy of having to pay for her to be collected.
Just hoping the other one that came with her doesnt end up the same way when it lambs, although she is looking in considerably better condition.

[Pedwardine]

So sorry to hear that moony. Have you rescued these ewes from somewhere? Sounds like she was just hanging on to lamb and that was all she could do poor thing. Hope the lamb continues to thrive and good luck with your other ewe.

[Fleecewife]

What a shame, but you did your best for her.  For future info, if a sheep has a wobbly tooth at the front, it's usually best to remove it - once it's gone she can graze again without the pain of the loose tooth.  It sounds as if she was too far gone when you got her to recover.  Hope all goes well with the other ewe and that this one's lamb thrives.

[sabrina]

At least you did what you could, poor thing just gave up by the what you say.