[pharnorth]

Two of my eight lambs have had abscesses between the toes within a few days of birth. One was a front foot the other a back foot. I have treated with Footmax, poultice and a jab 1ml of pen and it is looking good. They have been on clean soft barley straw throughout.  One was turned out yesterday and of course it became apparent just as he walked off so I managed to catch him and treat him. The other one I have kept in the barn with mum to make it easier to treat.  I am pretty confident that the cleanliness is good. Also I have checked all the sheep and no scald or anything else of concern. Have I been unlucky or has anyone else had a similar experience?

[princesslayer]

I had one lamb like it last year (out of six) and assumed it had trodden on something as they were out and about within two days. Can it be caused without a specific injury?  A newbie. All seem fine this year, on the same ground.

[pharnorth]

I thought with the first perhaps it was a thorn or a seed from the hay but with the second it seems unlikely as the bedding is pretty clean.  I wondered whether the ram had a particularly thin skin between the toes as he had gone lame in the same way during the 6 weeks he was with us.

[princesslayer]

One of my lambs is now lame! Ewe had ram and ewe lamb twins last year and the ewe lamb went lame around 10 days old with an abscess (that you couldn't see from the outside). She's had another set of twins this year, ewe and ram, and the ewe lamb is now lame! She's a week old. Nothing visible, I've sprayed all her feet with Terramycin.

I'm hoping it's just a coincidence and it doesn't abscess.

[waterbuffalofarmer]

it  ould be genetic. I have a ewe very similar to this, which strangely hasnt been in lamb for two years, she is going the end of this month.

[Sbom]

A genetic abscess   An abscess is an area of infection...not sure that can be genetic 

[waterbuffalofarmer]

sorry I mean't genetic as in the weak feet susceptible to abscesses

[pharnorth]

Just had the Vet out for a different issue and she took a look. She also thought 2 out of 8 was somewhat surprising given the conditions they were kept on and their age. So suggests a genetic issue possibly around either soft or dry skin (cracking easily).  Will see how they go over the next 6 months...l.

[princesslayer]

By way of update, the same ewe's female lamb cleared up with spray (think I caught it early?) but her tup lamb got an abscess on the back foot. Lanced and antibiotics and it seems right. Not sure whether spraying regularly in first few weeks of life might prevent them abscessing? Definitely won't be keeping any of her lambs for breeding though.

[pharnorth]

Mine are now both cleared up but I will be doing the same  princesslayer, cull that line from the flock. Of course I knew poor feet is often genetic but I kinda thought that manifested itself later in life, not within days of birth. It would be interesting to get views of the experienced Shepherds on that.

[Rosemary]

I've had three so far this year with abcesses in the wee gland between the two cleats. Never knowingly had this before. All have developed it several days after turnout.

My vet said to squeeze out the pus until it bleeds daily for three days. I had ABs for the first two but not the third. All were sound within 24 hours of the squeezing out.

Maybe an effect of the mild winter? More bacteria in the soil / grass?

[Marches Farmer]

Genetic susceptibility would be my first suspicion in that situation.  I cull for anything and everything.

[Rosemary]

Genetic susceptibility would be my first suspicion in that situation.  I cull for anything and everything.

I've had the same lines of sheep for years and never had this.

[princesslayer]

My lambs run in the same ground as my chickens for about a week before proper turnout. Could be something to do with that?

[pharnorth]

Ok seems I spoke to soon. The ram lamb is hopping again. I can't see that it is ground conditions as both developed it before they even went out and he has had a reoccurance after a fortnight since being turned out.  Totally different conditions.