[twizzel]

I have a 3 1/2 mth old ewe lamb with a joint infection. Vet looked at her on Friday and had a good poke and prod, came to the conclusion it was a joint infection, her fetlock is hot and slightly swollen, not weight bearing. Gave her a painkiller injection and I gave her alamycin, he said to keep giving it every 3 days until improvement and to keep her in a small pen so she can rest.

Saturday she looked slightly more comfortable I think due to the painkillers. Sunday she seemed back to square 1 again, so I gave her another dose of alamycin yesterday. She's no different today, still not weight bearing. She's bright in herself and eating well. I'm contemplating ringing the vet again for another painkiller injection but worried that after 5 days on antibiotics she should have made some improvement? A vet nurse friend said joint infections are notoriously difficult to get rid of. She's destined for the freezer but obviously need to sort it asap.  I'm really stumped

[shep53]

Not quite sure what you expected , if you had sprained your ankle or maybe broken a small bone would you be up and running around in 5 days !!!!  it may take weeks for her to put weight on it

[Hellybee]

ask about Synulox (think thats how its spelt ) xx

[Me]

To be brutally honest joint ill often causes severe joint damage. No amount of antibiotics can change that if it has happened. I have prescribed many an antibiotic for JI and have had some cases where understandably the farmer assumed the antibiotics were not working. I have killed some such lambs, opened a joint or two and cultured the pus - sterile. No growth. So the bacteria were dead but the damage done was long term/permanent.

I suspect in cases where after a few days the farmer said to me the antibiotic hadn't worked and I prescribed a second choice to miraculous results really the first probably had worked but it took more time. Its sad but a proportion of JI cases need putting down. Particularly sad as the animals are usually bright and happy otherwise.

[twizzel]

What causes joint ill in older lambs? She was fit as a fiddle until this time last week, out at good grass, had her first heptavac jab and was due the 2nd this week (have held off giving her it though).

I wasn't expecting her to be totally sound, just thought she might have shown some improvement. I think I'll give the vet another ring tomorrow and see what he suggests, maybe another course of different antibiotics like synulox may help. I'll be gutted if I have to shoot her she's fit and well in herself otherwise. Vet seemed fairly optimistic when he saw her on Friday so will try to speak to him again tomorrow.

[Me]

This may not be one of those cases that does need putting down but I thought the sterile pus in knackered joints experiences were worth sharing

[twizzel]

I've just been down to have a look at her and she seems to be bearing weight a little better and not hopping on 3 legs.  the antibiotics may be starting to work but I'll keep her topped up on them until she's sound.

As I said in my post earlier she's missed her 2nd heptavac dose, the others had theirs yesterday. Is it worth giving her the 2nd dose after the 4-6 wk interval they should have it at? I've kept the bottle in the fridge sealed with cling film.

[Me]

I take the view that it can't do any good in the bottle

[twizzel]

Update- she seems slightly more comfortable on it this morning and starting to weight bare a little more, so fingers crossed  she's due another dose of alamycin tomorrow morning so hopefully the antibiotics are starting to really fight the infection. She's still in with her friend, they made it out of the rain on Friday and are now in the cool out of the sun so certainly living the life of luxury I'll give her her heptavac once she's sound and the antibiotics are out of her system.