[bizzielizzie66]

Hi there. We have a seemingly healthy ewe lamb of 8 days old. Over the last two days (not before) she has had a wet tail.  She isn't scouring.   I know this can be a sign of e coli in a newborn but she just seems too stocky and healthy and bouncy for it to be that.  She suckles well from mum. Any ideas? Tail band went on 4 days ago and looks fine.  I'm going to get the deck chair out tomorrow and just try and sit and watch her for a good while but any suggestions would be helpful.

[farmvet]

she maybe just peeing on it.  The part below the ring will have lost feeling, that above may be a bit sore altering how she moves it.

[Old Shep]

I've noticed that once the tail below the ring is just "hanging" they can get  mucky bottom - perhaps coz the tail can't be held out the way?

[bizzielizzie66]

Thank you for your input you two. It's kind of you both to reply.  I have spent pretty much all day watching her on and off and she's much less bouncy today - and still wet - and now I think it's too high up on her hindquarters to be just urine.  I spoke to the vet and have done what she says - LA antibiotic injection. Keep a close eye and look out for signs of dehydration. She is definitely trying to fight something off. I've got electrolytes to hand. We thought she seemed slightly better this evening and we did at last see her suckle - which she hadn't done all afternoon. Her temp was 40.5 - so raised certainly. Will let you know. Thanks again for taking the time to reply 

[Daisys Mum]

Can't offer any advice but  For little lamb

[SallyintNorth]

The vet just showed me an ace trick.  You can squirt Rehydion in as a gel, you don't have to mix it up in water or milk and give it as a feed.    So if you have a lamb squitty and/or dehydrated, you can give it a squirt of 2ml Rehydion (which is how much would be in a 100ml feed) to give it electrolytes and help it rehydrate.  (It needs water available, and/or for you to be sure it has had at least that much fluid of course.)  It seems to do the trick.

[bizzielizzie66]

Thank you Sally - you are always such a mine of clever information!
The ewe lamb looks brighter today and her hind quarters were dry this morning - though need to check again this evening. BUT.... I still haven't seen her poo despite much watching!!  If this was an e coli or salmonella type thing it's really odd.  To go straight to the "passing water" stage without the scouring before hand is not what I would expect. Particularly as you think, if they are at that passing water stage, they are usually pretty much exhausted and on their last legs.
I suspect the soil - despite our mole catching efforts, there are still a few mole hills and the lambs are inevitably drawn to trying to eat them!

I hope she will be ok - she was our last lamb to be born and she was from my favourite ewe - her lambs are always friendly and funny.  She was a massive single who my husband had to help out - his very first assisted lambing and I was so, so proud of him. 

So fingers crossed for Unity the Ryeland lamb and thank you for your help