4 mo old lamb died now ewe sick

[RedBrush Farm]

Lamb appeared healthy until yesterday. All day stood around, slightly hunched and ears back. Would not eat or drink. Gave baking soda water as that was what I was told to give for stomach. He was dead this morning. After moving him out, noticed his mom is acting the same way. Will not eat or drink. Forced down some baking soda. Did discover that hay had slight musty smell and what could be mold? Also have been running them on fresh green pasture for first time this year.
These are our first sheep.....
Any advice appreciated.

 

[SheepGirl]

Maybe bloat. What is the ewe's temp?

 

[RedBrush Farm]

I don't know. I have never taken a goats temp before. I intended to try once my husband gets home to help me. I just gave her baking soda mixed with ginger and mineral oil. I massaged her tummy as long as she would allow. No gas release although she did burp. Thanks for responding. These are my first sheep and I feel so bad that I dont know what to do......

 

[bonbean01]

So sorry!!!! This is a painful way to start out

Bloat is a possibility...being poisoned by something in the pasture maybe? Moldy hay is never good...this may require a vet or a local sheep farmer with experience. Hope she'll be okay!

 

[RedBrush Farm]

She was no better by 7:00 (although she did poo - a little hard stuff and then diareah) so I tried the tube down the throat. There was no "giant" expell of air, but for several minutes there were "bubbly" sounds and a bad odor. There was also a large clump of undigested hay/ grass came up and she burped 3 or 4 times. She stands then lays down. She needed help getting up the last time she stood before I came in. Is there anything else I can try????

 

[bonbean01]

I'm sorry it's not going well Really wish I had some good suggestions for you but I don't.

 

[woodsie]

When I had a goat that bloated (too much grain) I used a turkey baster and got a bunch of baking soda with veg oil down her throat and it cleared it up within a half an hour. Sounds like you tried that though so I am guessing it is not bloat. How much baking soda did you get into her?

Do you have anything poisonous around? or noxious weeds?

Hope you find some answers soon.

 

[RedBrush Farm]

She is still alive this morning. She still looks very sick but is lying down with feet under her. She also turned her head to look at me. There are no poisonous plants that I know of. We checked before we got them. (we only bought 3 for a start) Should I force feed her water today if she won't drink? I know she had no water yesterday. Gosh, we feel like this is trial by fire. We love animals and it is heart breaking to see her like this and to have already lost her baby as well. Does this type of thing happen often when raising Sheep????

 

[Four Winds Ranch]

I don't believe it happens alot, just once in the odd while, for me anyway!
I don't think you ewe has bloat as with bloat, you can tell something is wrong, you treat them for bloat, they either feel better and start eating and drinking within a hour, or, they don't make it!!! :/ It all usually happens pretty quick, in my experience anywhere from 20min., to 3 hours!
It sounds to me like she has ate some kind of poisonous something! Unfortunatly, with piosoning there is not a lot that I know of that you can do to help her, just make sure she has clean water and feed in front of her and hope she pulls through!!!
If she has a temp., I would immediatly give her antibiotics, as it could be a infection/bacterial infection. I have lost a few lambs in the past to bacterial infections, and they went alot how you explained yours!
Good luck!!!
Keep us posted!!!