[Ian c]

I have a few cade lambs for the first time this year so I am still a novice with sheep. They are only 9 weeks old and I have 1 castrated ram that is growing very slowly compared to the others and over the last couple of days seems to be developing what I think maybe swayback.  ie he occaisionally looses his balance on his back legs. He eats well and seems otherwise generally healthy. Can anyone tell me if there are any other problems that might cause the same thing and is there anything that can be done before contacting the vet

[SallyintNorth]

If it's swayback, I'm afraid it's untreatable.

Other this it could be include a spinal access.  The vet would be able to give steroids and/or antiinflammatories for this.

[Anke]

I would think spinal abcess quite likely. Did he have his tail docked?

[Ian c]

Hi, yes the tail was docked

[Marches Farmer]

Swayback is just that - the rear end sways around and he'll sometimes stagger at the back end. It'll get worse as the lamb gets heavier, but in my experience it's always the strongest lambs that suffer from it.  Might be worth checking with your vet, since it could be something like joint ill if the lamb's not thriving as well.

[Ian c]

Thanks for the info, check in with the vet in the morning then

[Hellybee]

Could the castration have caused a problem?

[SallyintNorth]

Could the castration have caused a problem?

My first thought - but he's 9 weeks old, it would have shown up before now, wouldn't it?

[Hellybee]

I dunno, we don't castrate.  Just a thought 

[waterbuffalofarmer]

could he have picked up tapeworm at all or hurt his head in any way?  it does sound like a spinal abscess though so would be worth getting vet out. Could you keep us posted how he does, very interesting this. I hope ot is treatable whatever it is have there been any changes to diet at all it could be a lack of something?

[SallyintNorth]

Could the castration have caused a problem?

My first thought - but he's 9 weeks old, it would have shown up before now, wouldn't it?

I realise I made an assumption - that it was castrated by ring at 1 week old or younger.  It may have been castrated by a different technique, and more recently.