Selfsufficientish.com

hi
I have 2 pet lambs-8 weeks old.Ive had a few 'problems'...eye infection...bloating...scours etc...but have managed to get them thru that...however... one of them has now completely stopped eating grass...hay... creep (lwell...amb 18-on the farmers advice...they wont eat creep) and drinking, for a few days.

Her urine is also clear...and looks just like water.I havent actually seen her poo for a few days,but she may have done as obvioulsy I cant watch her 24/7...

I was still giving them 2 bottles a day...but on ringing the farmer for advice today,was told to stop the milk as of now,and just give warm water via bottle.

Lou is now constantly hanging around the back door of my house...and doesnt go out to 'play' with Molly,whos been her constant companion for the last 6 weeks She still trots around the grass with me...but doesnt seem as playful as she was...

I checked her mouth,and cant actually see any obvious obstruction etc...

She puts her head down to the grass..but just appears to sniff it...tho she also looks like she's chewing cud sometimes....

Im really worried Im going to lose her... so....any advice would be really welcome please...

thanks very much

Mandy

So sorry your lamb is having troubles! I have little experience with lambs, but with any other stock that we have, we would separate and pen up the suspected ill one. If it is confined alone, you can then know for sure if it is pooping or not (and if the poop is in the Normal range), whether it is eating/drinking and how much.

I am glad you have a farmer near to ring for help, good neighbors can be invaluable. Hope the little one perks up for you.

If it's still running about, it can't be too bad - normally, when they are seriously sick, they just lie down and get very weak. It might be an idea to take its temperature, that way you'd know if there is an infection of sorts. Is the breathing normal? Pneumonia is often a problem, too. At 8 weeks it should be drinking water from a bucket, too, so you shouldn't need to bottle it anymore.

hi again
thanks for your replies

shes never been great at drinking from a bucket/washing up bowl etc
so am feeding water from bottle just to make sure she gets it and stays hydrated really...

shes still making lots of noise-I presume because shes hungry..? but wants to stay in the shed today-as its pouring with rain here...

I noticed her breathing sounded a little 'raspy' at times this morning-so wonder if thats a sign of pneumonia..? Im guessing that'll need antibiotics,so will ring vet anyway first thing tomorrow... That wouldnt make her wee clear tho would it..? Just wondered if anyone had any ideas on what that might be please..?

thanks for any help...its much appreciated..

Mandy

Yes, if the breathing is raspy, that sounds very much like pneumonia, or a less dangerous respiratory problem, and will need to be treated with antibiotics. If you are calling the vet anyway, do it as soon as you can; lambs can go downhill very quickly (and can recover equally quickly!).

Isn't it strange how some lambs won't drink from a bowl, some won't drink from a bottle... I've had all kinds before, too! As long as it gets the water, and you have the time to fiddle about with bottles, that's OK. Don't know about the urine; maybe if it's not eaten or drunk milk then that's normal that there is no colour in it? Sort of just water going in the front and coming out the back end again?

In foals, the clearer urine is not a bad sign, it is normal. They drink a lot and pee a lot, but it is pretty clear, looks like water. But again, not so familar with lambs. Can you compare it to your other lamb's urine? Is it the same or different?

When you're sick...you see a doctor!

If an animal is sick see a vet! Otherwise you'll have a dead animal because you didn't act upon it!

Hmmm.....
Im a nurse and animal lover Bonniegirl-so planned to see vet!!!
-but emergency vet didnt think it warranted a visit as she was still drinking ok, so not a lot I could do except care for her...which I did)

Dear all

thanks for your valued replies...
been to vet first thing this morning...who doesnt know why shes stopped eating... so. have got 4 days supply of Energaid, and 2 days supply of science recovery for small animals...if shes still not eating.. need to take her back on friday...

Hope she returns to her former self soon...she just looks so forlorn standing around... but... the good news is shes still drinking water from a bottle (wont touch it from anything else tho...)

thanks again for your help and support...

Mandy

ps.. mare owner.. vet says urines ok... tho Molly (other lamb) has 'wee coloured wee'.... so... who knows... (certainly not me lol)

Maybe it was a bug. If you keep giving her everything the vet says, that might get her strength up a bit and that alone could help her start eating. with many animals, if they get a bit ill and off their food they get too weak and dehydrated to want to start again, so I think you're doing the right thing.

I wish my pet lambs ate a bit more, one is very underweight - at eight weeks old he should be weaned, but we have gone back up to two bottles a day. We wormed him last week, so hopefully its not that. hes just a bit of a fussy eater!

hello again

Hmmm...Lou still not eating...but guzzles her electaid/science diet from bottle... then returns to laying at or staring at my kitchen door
Still comes to me when I call her tho...

Rang vet...who says as he can find nothing physically wrong with her...he thinks she's developed a human fixation! So... I need to continue giving her the water from bottle (as its the only way she'll take it)...add science diet to it... and to 'Stick with it and see how she goes...'

Was wondering whether anyone else has ever encountered this please... any tips...suggestions welcomed.
thanks & best wishes
Mandy

Just a quick update....

Lou has started eating grass again :) tho she still isnt eating dry feed,and as I havent seen her drink any water Ive given her a bit via the bottle daily.
She still likes spending time around me.... but will also spend time with Molly now too :)
So.... fingers crossed she's going to be ok... :)

Mandy