Hello, hoping for some advice about a ewe.
Ewe lambed Saturday 1500, 2 lambs, and was instantly very good with cleaning and sorting them out. She had bagged up nicely, and had something to eat and drink. On regular but discreet checks, the lambs seemed to be suckling, but it became obvious they were not getting anywhere. I gave them made up colostrum, and had a look at her - large udder, warm to touch, full, but didn't feel solid/hard, and wasn't obviously painful. Tried to milk her and nothing. Assumed bad technique, and checked her temp ( normal ) and heart rate ( bit high, but to be fair, she had only given birth a little while before, and I was poking at her ) breathing fine. Gave her some more time, and although the lambs kept trying, there wasn't anything. Worried about mastitis, so called vet who suggested oxytocin, which I gave, and to try massage and gentle milking. Still nothing. Gave lambs some more colostrum - not too much as vet suggested that if they were hungry, they would keep trying, and that would stimulate milk. Midnight Saturday night still nothing, and lambs hungry. More colostrum. Ewe still fine in self, no temp, panting a bit, but eating and drinking, laying down, moving around etc and not objecting to the lambs trying to nurse, but still nothing. Spoke to vet again Sunday who said a second dose of oxytocin may help - it didn't - and to start bottle feeding lambs as it was unlikely to kick in now. Lambs are fine - taking feeds ok. Ewe still eating and drinking, but her udder is solid and warm/hot. Not discoloured, nothing from nipples, and no sign it is causing her pain ( my eyes water just looking at it ) and vet says no need to do anything, as if there is no milk coming out, then infection ( mastitis ) is unlikely to have got in, and it will be like she is drying off after weaning, and the milk will be resorbed over time. She is a lovely girl, and this was always going to be her last pregnancy, but I wanted her to have some time retired as a lawn ornament - so I am a little worried about what to do for the best. Vet says put her in field with the other ewes/lambs, and bottle feed her 2 - less risk of infection than being in, but the grass may stimulate the milk, which makes her more at risk of mastitis - and as the lambs are getting less interested in trying to get milk from her, and more interested in the appearance of regular bottles from the nice milk lady, I am torn ! Any/all advice gratefully received.