Author Topic: Lamb refuses to walk on front legs (Read 12206 times)

Fishyhaddock · « **on:** April 12, 2015, 10:34:35 pm »

Hi all, born 6 hours ago this little lamb refuses to use her front legs and is crawling around on her knees. When I stand her up she holds herself up for a few seconds and then sinks back on her knees again and shuffles around the pen. New one on me. I am sure someone has come across this before?

Thank in advance Fishy

Fishyhaddock · « **Reply #1 on:** April 12, 2015, 10:45:20 pm »

Just read some earlier threads and some suggest vit d, maybe rickets. Must go another one lambing...

darkbrowneggs · « **Reply #2 on:** April 12, 2015, 11:27:37 pm »

Had it happen very occasionally with my BWM but from memory they just seemed to sort themselves out after a bit. Can't remember having to do anything. With mine they were just bent a bit at the wrist/ankle bit so the hooves were back.

rat catcher · « **Reply #3 on:** April 13, 2015, 12:06:52 am »

I had a spate of lambs years ago from some bought in, in lamb ewes with the symptoms you described. Vet prescribed vit d and suggested massaging to help straighten them. All came right in the end.

Fishyhaddock · « **Reply #4 on:** April 13, 2015, 12:45:36 am »

Thanks everyone. She is trying hard and stretching further and further each time so

Fishy

Backinwellies · « **Reply #5 on:** April 13, 2015, 09:34:52 am »

sunshine and maybe splints for a few days and she will be up and running

zwartbles · « **Reply #6 on:** April 13, 2015, 07:50:23 pm »

Try this !
Also available in other colours

Fishyhaddock · « **Reply #7 on:** April 13, 2015, 09:00:57 pm »

Ha ha. We have one here just like your DIY splint! Plus given her a jab of vit d and she is definitely stronger. She is a tiny black faced welsh mountain ewe so have the height means she can now reach mums udder although walking has yet to be mastered. But I am hopeful for this little one.

Liz Kershaw · « **Reply #8 on:** April 15, 2015, 07:29:55 am »

we have exactly this problem on our tiny twin and splinted her (or rather, the vet did) afte 5 days as it wasn't sorting itself. I'm not sure how long to splint her for and am worried about leaving her and the rest of her little family out overnight as there's a very active fox around here at the moment. They are out all day and I'm bringing them into the stable at night. They're a week old now. Has anyone any thoughts how long the legs are likely to take? She really is a tiny girl. We had two pregnant ewes and lost one pre-lambing so it's down to poor mum on her own to protect. Last year's lambs are in the next bit of land divided by electric fence so ewe can see them but ideally I'd like new lambs, mum and last year's to be together as soon as poss.