Baby lamb very weak

[Sheepshape]

I'm coming in late here, and it sounds as though the problem is becoming clear.

The side of the udder which is hard....is it also hot/discoloured? If so mastitis. If not, then there may still be a wax plug. If the latter persist in trying to milk her to dislodge it. If she has mastitis removing infected milk will be a good idea, too, but the process will be painful for her. If she has mastitis she will need veterinary antibiotics and anti-inflammatories. If there is fibrosis in the teat due to mastitis in a previous year then the milk won't come down, but there will be enough milk from the other teat. Whatever, it sounds as though you will need to milk the ewe and feed the lamb with it from a bottle until she is strong enough to do it for herself.

Is the lamb well otherwise? Is she shivering/limping etc which may indicate joint ill. Is the navel dry and clean looking? Is she eliminating? Is the poop normal? Any scours?

Good luck to you......and keep posting to let us know how things are going.

 

[Don & Sandy]

I think the lamb was starving. Other than the hunching that was spoken ok and being cold she is fine now. She has had 7 oz of formula plus sucked her mama a little in the past 6 hours. She is now alert, can stand and seems content, a 180 degree turn from how she was this afternoon when she was limp and couldn’t stand.

 

[Don & Sandy]

We fed the baby all through the night, she is alert, active and bright-eyed. Took her back down to see mama this morning and she nursed on the good teat. We applied warm compresses to the side with mastitis and still no change. We took our baby back home with us so we could feed her in another 3 hrs. She’s taking about 4 oz at a time. Game Plan: took baby back to mama so she can get whatever the ewe can give her and we are going to supplement with bottles 3 x a day. If the lamb starts digressing, we will change plans. Meet Hershey

 

[Mike CHS]

It's a lot of effort but I think you might have a good save here.

 

[Baymule]

Hershey is very fortunate to have been born to such a kind and loving Lammy Grammy and Lammy Grampy.

 

[Sheepshape]

Well done, you.

Do get momma's udder sorted out, though (if possible). The quicker that non-functioning side is sorted, the better the likelihood that it will go on to function.Low-grade mastitis can cause fibrosis in the ducts and mean that the udder may make milk, but the milk won't come down. Severe mastitis can be fatal or lead to gangrene on that side with loss of that half of the udder (not trying to scare you, but trying to indicate what a problem mastitis is).

Glad to see that the little lady is thriving. Hard work, but so rewarding.

 

[Don & Sandy]

Well done, you.

Do get momma's udder sorted out, though (if possible). The quicker that non-functioning side is sorted, the better the likelihood that it will go on to function.Low-grade mastitis can cause fibrosis in the ducts and mean that the udder may make milk, but the milk won't come down. Severe mastitis can be fatal or lead to gangrene on that side with loss of that half of the udder (not trying to scare you, but trying to indicate what a problem mastitis is).

Glad to see that the little lady is thriving. Hard work, but so rewarding.

We’re actually waiting on a call back from our vet. She shows no sign of mastitis, such as fever, tenderness or any pain, but that side of her bag is hard and feels like there is a baseball in her bag. There’s no looseness in it at all.

 

[Don & Sandy]

Went down to feed Hershey this morning and she’s up and moving like any other lamb and she downed a 4 oz bottle! Thank you all for your advice. We’re still working on mama.

 

[Don & Sandy]

Hershey update-our baby is now downing 6 oz bottles 3x a day and getting a little from mama. Spoke with the vet and he said she has “hard bag” that was probably a result of mastitis sometime in the past and there’s nothing we can do. She is an 11 year old ewe that we’ve only had a year. We will finish out this lamb and sell the ewe.

 

[Baymule]

At least you got a nice lamb out of her.