Lamb ram is dying 😢

[halfacrehomesteader]

I don't know if there is anything else I can do. My ram was acting lethargic and when I checked his eyelids they were white. I treated him and the rest with ivermectin and corrid incase it could be coccidia because him and his sisters stools are lose. His sister is showing signs of being lethargic now and he is completely down. Can't keep his head up. He couldn't walk starting this morning but was at least still eating until maybe 3 hours ago. I gave him vitamin b as well this morning. I'm afraid it's too late for him by the looks of it but I'm scared I will lose the sister. Any ideas?

 

[SageHill]

I think you need a vet. Hope you've got one.

 

[secuono]

You need far better dewormer than watery ivermectin.
Prohibit.
Pig iron injections.
Treat the other if it's at all pale or unthrifty.
Brace for death of the ram.

 

[Baymule]

Your lambs have barber pole worms. They attach to the intestines lining and suck blood. Your lambs are anemic and dying from blood loss.
Prohibit is Levamasole. So is Levamed. You can use either one. Available at feed stores.
Pig iron is given by a shot, buy syringes and needles. B vitamin shots are recommended also.
Nutridrench for sheep is an oral drench with molasses and vitamins, it’s good for them.
Good luck with your lambs.

 

[Sheepfarmer22]

How are the lambs?

 

[halfacrehomesteader]

How are the lambs?

I meant tovget back on and update but it has been a little hectic. Sadly I lost the ram but everyone else is doing great. I ended up getting prohibit as suggested. I usually use a natural wormer and it works really well. I have one prone to overload and I have to give her overload doses all of the time and it gets her back on track quickly. I wasnt having much trouble with the lambs though and got too complacent and didn't give them their regular dose as often as I should. Especially with all of the rain we have been having. Definitely a hard lesson to learn. The ewe that is prone to overload was the one that had orf this spring and her twins are the ram lamb that died and the other lamb that was sick and the ones that had orf also this past spring. I think she will go into retirement and not be breed anymore.

 

[farmerjan]

The only problem with retirement, is she will still be there on the property and will continue to be susceptible and pass copious amounts of worms and larvae.... so if she has contact with the others, she will be able to continually reinfect them. Sad to say, this ewe that seems to have no resistance, needs to go. Not breeding her is commendable, but she is still going to be a source of contamination for the rest of the sheep. Why feed her when she cannot do anything positive for the flock.

 

[halfacrehomesteader]

The only problem with retirement, is she will still be there on the property and will continue to be susceptible and pass copious amounts of worms and larvae.... so if she has contact with the others, she will be able to continually reinfect them. Sad to say, this ewe that seems to have no resistance, needs to go. Not breeding her is commendable, but she is still going to be a source of contamination for the rest of the sheep. Why feed her when she cannot do anything positive for the flock.

I didn't think about that aspect of it. I have such a small amount of sheep that the ones we keep have sort of become working pets if that makes sense. I'm not apposed to selling her though. Because we are so small I also have to be choosie about what we keep. I had planned to get rid of her lamb for that reason. I might need to consider selling her as well I guess. I kind of like her though . She is a bit of a sassy thing and reminds me of a cranky but loving old lady .

 

[SageHill]

It's tough to get rid of/ auction / sell ones you get attached to. I started out with the sheep to primarily train dogs / teach herding lessons. Once totally on my own, getting appropriate sheep for others' dogs became practically impossible. Most of the original sheep here came from that. Though as time moves on my goals switched to producing sheep for the freezer / auction / private sale for freezers.
While we have a good sized parcel, we don't have room to bury them. One of the elders died early this year - cost $300 to have her hauled away. I had two left from the original flock - both easily over 10 yrs. I could see them slowing and laying down more. I had a lot time with them training dogs and teaching. Both good sheep. They went to auction last month. Sad, but it's what needed to be done. I made the decision that auction time for olders will happen between 8-10. While it would be nice to let them age out and die peacefully in retirement from whatever their purpose was, I'm not set up for that either $$ or being able to bury w/o coyotes digging them up.
This ranching stuff is an evolution of sorts. Some stuff you just have to learn on your own for what will work for you.

 

[Mini Horses]

This part of livestock is sad but true. They don't live forever. And no matter how great the care, there is a life expectancy.