Wednesday, April 16, 2008

Maddie's Lamb






This lamb was born April 16th single and I watched his birth also. All normal and his placentae looked normal. He was another blind sick baby. With the help of Jeannette my friend, we gave this guy and the two born the other day 1/4cc thiamine and B-Complexe IM. The twins, one ewe one ram, walked around a bit the little boy danced and played then layed down as usual wanting to sleep. This new guy went into what I call the "frantic" part of this thing that is happening. Run, run, run, I should say he was walking fast, in circles would not let me calm him nor would he pay attention to his Mom. About a half hour later he was down and his breathing is fast and raspy. One hour later he is down flat and I'm sure he will not make it. I will be taking him to the State Lab tomorrow and the vet will be here to take blood from his mom and a few other ewes.

It seems that the more these guys stress the faster they die. Or there are degrees of this problem. So far three of the babies were "frantic" and died quick, before maybe 6 hours and the one that lived 7 days was calm. The Bella twins are both easy to calm down and even after their shots did not show any excitement. They are two days old.

So much for another day in paradise!

Thank you everyone for all your help so far. I'm getting emails and phone calls it really helps. I never thought I'd love blogging. Being able to network with so many will help find the answer I'm sure. Our vets need the help of other shepards. There is so much to know and Nevada does not have the sheep necessary for them to learn much.

7 comments:

~~Sittin.n.Spinnin said...

Thats the horrible truth of it, I called a vet about ecoli last year, she told me to give the lamb mineral oil and penicillin, needless to say if I would have done that we would have lost the lamb.
I really hope my daughter follows through with her wish to be a veterinarian, we could sure use her :)
These folks that think it isnt genetic, what do they think it is? From what I have seen, you have done every thing that might help prevent it in subsequent lambs. But then, I dont really have the experience to say one way or the other, I really wish I could do something. I know how frustrating this is for you. Hang in there.

Michelle said...

Dear Mim, you have to be experiencing the worst possible lambing season ever. At least the ewes are surviving, so hopefully a cause will be found (with a cure or preventative!) and you and the girls will be able to go on and have a good lambing season next year. It doesn't seem possible that ALL these lambs from different ewes could be suffering from a genetic problem; seems more likely it is infectious or metabolic. Given all the meds you've been administering, I would lean towards an infectious problem of some sort, but I don't have a clue what it could be. Will be praying you get some answers soon.

Tina T-P said...

Oh Mim - We are so sorry to hear of your losses - I hope the vet can find out the cause so you will not loose any more. T.

Laura said...

You know, it sounds a bit like anaphalaxis... You might want to use your epi-pen on the next one. It will work, or it won't, either way, they're dead - but you tried everything to save them.

Hang in there - I have one ewe left, and she's crossing her legs!

Kathy said...

Hang in there, Mim! Getting the state vet on board may be a good step in identifying this problem.

I'll be keeping you in my thoughts!

Anonymous said...

I am so sorry that you are losing your lambs but i'm glad you're blogging. It's a nice way to keep in touch. How things get better. Heidi

Tammy said...

Dear Mim,
I saw your link from the In Stitches blog. I am so sorry for all you are going through. That would be so heartbreaking. My heart goes out to you. I think you are doing the right thing--most importantly getting a necrospy done on the lamb, and having blood tests in the works. Once a problem goes beyond one lamb, its best to hopefully get some answers from the lab. I have no idea what the problem could be, but since they are responding to thiamine/vit b complex, then that is possibly the key. For every lamb to be affected, I would think it would have to be a nutritional/metabolic problem or as Michelle suggested an infectious problem. Hopefully if it is either of these, then the lab results will be benefical. Take care of yourself, and keep us all posted. Again, so sorry you are having to endure this.
Tammy