Author Topic: Twin lamb disease (Read 2777 times)

fifixx · « **on:** January 31, 2014, 06:11:42 pm »

A quick heads-up to remind everyone to watch for signs of milk fever or twin lamb disease.

I thought this morning by the way she was panting, bit wobbly but not down and still eating that one of the due 1st March does had milk fever. Had a horrible time giving her 50ml of calcijet under the skin - each time I put 10-20mls in she bellowed and lay down in pain - late morning. Called vet after giving her another 10 mls and not happy with the level of her pain when injecting.

He suggested oral calcium (why didn't I know of this???) and that it sounds now like Twin lamb disease so I have drenched with 60 ml glycerol and he recommends 30 ml twice a day plus 100 ml oral calcium daily plus antibiotics.

whew - last year she had triplets so although not scanned am going to feed her for 3.

Reason: She's got a sore leg and hasn't been getting her fair share of feed in the last few days although I have tried to feed her a bit more - so she's stressed too. As usual, in a commercial meat herd she wouldn't even be here with her slightly gammy leg.....I'm going to have to find a retirement barn for all my oldies!

Very thankful to have helpful vets happy to chat on phone and give advice for free instead of having to get them out for £50

Rosemary · « **Reply #1 on:** January 31, 2014, 08:31:59 pm »

Poor girl - hope she's on the mend now

Well done for spotting it and acting so quickly

Anke · « **Reply #2 on:** February 01, 2014, 07:48:06 am »

I have in the last year (with my goats) for these cases also injected Vit B, as an appetite stimulant. BUt you may have to continue to drench her until she kids...

fifixx · « **Reply #3 on:** February 01, 2014, 08:29:41 am »

Calling vet as not happy with her - tooth grinding which I think is a sign of head pain and in same position as last night. They can do intravenous injections which are faster acting than my hopeless drenching where half of it gets spat out!

fifixx · « **Reply #4 on:** February 01, 2014, 06:20:00 pm »

So not Twin lamb disease!

She is a month off kidding and the vet took a blood sample - she has a low protein and he is thinking possibly humuncus worm, fluke or Johnes - needs a different test for that!

But - he thinks the main cause is she got bashed on her arthritic leg and it hurts so much she couldn't even eat

but now she has had metacam, continuing with glycol drench and oral calcium as not eating means she might now get twin lamb disease, worm and fluke drench and vit B injection....

This evening she nibbled some concentrate and one strand of hay - so fingers crossed, she will give me 2 healthy male kids!

Anke · « **Reply #5 on:** February 01, 2014, 09:42:17 pm »

Have you tried her with bananas, apple slices or carrot sticks? Toast with either Marmite or honey may also be taken. Mine also go mad for Readigrass.

that you can stabilise her. It may be a long month yet...