- Thread starter
- #71
Baymule
Herd Master
What do I need to do for my ewe? is there anything I should watch for? How can I help her dry up her milk? Thanks everyone. 
Baymule's Lambs, 2nd Lambing
- Thread starter Baymule
- Start date
Mini Horses
Herd Master
So very, very sorry for your loss of those beautiful lambs.
I share your pain -- it is so very hard to experience and you just can't rationalize it or the reasons. Anyone who says or thinks that there is no compassion for these animals, many raised for food use, are wrong. We FEEL it!!!
As for the ewe, I would watch her and just lightly relieve any heavy pressure from milk. She should dry up with no nursing.
I share your pain -- it is so very hard to experience and you just can't rationalize it or the reasons. Anyone who says or thinks that there is no compassion for these animals, many raised for food use, are wrong. We FEEL it!!!
As for the ewe, I would watch her and just lightly relieve any heavy pressure from milk. She should dry up with no nursing.
norseofcourse
Herd Master
I am so sorry they didn't make it 
My heart breaks for you, I know you did everything you could.
My heart breaks for you, I know you did everything you could. - Thread starter
- #74
Baymule
Herd Master
That's what I thought, but wanted to ask and make sure.
Really sorry Bay That's a shame. Is there anything you can do to alter the way the hay bale sets so it can't happen again?
That's a shame. Is there anything you can do to alter the way the hay bale sets so it can't happen again?
Ferguson K
Herd Master
I'm sorry for your loss friend . You went above and beyond. At least you have a good learning experience. Unfortunate how it happened.
TAH
Herd Master
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you are the best sheep mama ever. You did everything you could, try not to beat up on yourself to much. She should dry up just fine, because she had just colostrum.
- Thread starter
- #78
Baymule
Herd Master
Had to put my ewe down today. I am crushed. Out of all of them, why did it have to be Sheepalicious? Why her? She would let the others run ahead going to pasture, but she hung back walking beside me with her neck up against my leg. She baa-baaed at me when I went outside or she heard my voice. If I sat on a milk crate in the lot, she sniffed my face and waited for attention. She stood transfixed when I stroked her neck, she loved it. She was my love with her own special place in my heart. She followed me like a dog. I am devastated.
This morning I picked up our 2 1/2 month old grand daughter. Coming in our driveway, I saw the other sheep but not Sheepalicious. I knew something was wrong. I put the baby down for sleep and ran outside. She was down, in the same spot she gave birth to her lambs. I got her up, but her legs were stiff and she didn't want to walk. I got a soft cotton lead rope and called my husband. I looped the rope around her hindquarters and pushed while DH pulled. We got her to the lot and decided to take her to the vet. I called our neighbor Robert and he came right over and they hooked the trailer to his truck. DH's truck was in the shop for brakes, so we didn't even have a truck. I called another neighbor to come over and stay with the baby. She brought her 3 year old boy and came right over. DH gave Robert the keys to my car so he could go back home. On the way to the vet we both gave thanks for having such wonderful neighbors.
The vet is a young man, but he nailed it right away. He called it Ruptured Prepubic Tendon. He cautioned us that prognosis was not good and animals with this condition were culled. Basically what happened is the tendon that holds the abdomen in place ruptured and everything was hanging down, like a pot bellied pig. He wrapped his arms around her belly and lifted up, we could hear sloshing inside her. He told us fluids were accumulating in her uterus. To make sure of his diagnosis, he did his internet research and made phone calls for more information.
I sat in the trailer stroking her neck, crying. My husband was crying too, but he pulled it together to be a comfort to me. Poor thing was suffering, every breath an effort. It pulled her lungs downward and she struggled to breathe. She turned her face to me, forehead to forehead and my tears rolled off my face and dripped onto hers. It was as if she was asking me to do something for her, but there was nothing I could do. The vet's wife came out to tell us that he was looking it up and hadn't forgotten us, left and came back with a box of kleenax.
The vet said he studied it in school, but it was his first case. He said it is uncommon, but happens to all farm animals. Normally a mare, or cow is put in a sling to hold the abdomen up and the foal or calf delivered by C-section in an effort to save the baby, then the mare or cow is put down. Goats and sheep, not so much. He said the condition doesn't affect the meat and production ranches take the animal to slaughter. Sobbing, I said I can't eat her, I just can't. And I sure can't prolong her suffering by hauling her to slaughter. The whole idea of trying to salvage a few dollars for her was repulsive to me. My husband agreed and was trying so hard not to cry, but he was crying too. The decision was made to put her down. The vet and his tech were so gentle with her and so kind to us. She was standing, as it took effect, her knees buckled and they held her on the way to the trailer floor. I stroked her neck because she always loved that.
Looking back, several days before the lambs birth, her belly was hanging low. I just thought she was really ready to give birth, which she was, but the tendon had already ruptured. That is why she didn't run to pasture. That is why she didn't run back to her shelter at night. That is why she slowly walked and stood spraddle legged. She was in bad shape and I didn't know it. After the birth, her belly still hung low, but I didn't think much about it. She just had babies, right? She'll tighten back up and be her regular self. I've had babies and my belly was kinda floppy for awhile too. I just didn't know.
I am posting links about this condition for everyone's information. There are a few pictures. This is what we, as a community do, we help others learn from our misfortunes and educate each other.
http://lib.dr.iastate.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1138&context=iowastate_veterinarian
http://ivj.org.in/downloads/313409.5pg64-65.pdf
https://www.vetstream.com/equis/Content/Disease/dis00388
I am crushed. Out of all of them, why did it have to be Sheepalicious? Why her? She would let the others run ahead going to pasture, but she hung back walking beside me with her neck up against my leg. She baa-baaed at me when I went outside or she heard my voice. If I sat on a milk crate in the lot, she sniffed my face and waited for attention. She stood transfixed when I stroked her neck, she loved it. She was my love with her own special place in my heart. She followed me like a dog. I am devastated.This morning I picked up our 2 1/2 month old grand daughter. Coming in our driveway, I saw the other sheep but not Sheepalicious. I knew something was wrong. I put the baby down for sleep and ran outside. She was down, in the same spot she gave birth to her lambs. I got her up, but her legs were stiff and she didn't want to walk. I got a soft cotton lead rope and called my husband. I looped the rope around her hindquarters and pushed while DH pulled. We got her to the lot and decided to take her to the vet. I called our neighbor Robert and he came right over and they hooked the trailer to his truck. DH's truck was in the shop for brakes, so we didn't even have a truck. I called another neighbor to come over and stay with the baby. She brought her 3 year old boy and came right over. DH gave Robert the keys to my car so he could go back home. On the way to the vet we both gave thanks for having such wonderful neighbors.
The vet is a young man, but he nailed it right away. He called it Ruptured Prepubic Tendon. He cautioned us that prognosis was not good and animals with this condition were culled. Basically what happened is the tendon that holds the abdomen in place ruptured and everything was hanging down, like a pot bellied pig. He wrapped his arms around her belly and lifted up, we could hear sloshing inside her. He told us fluids were accumulating in her uterus. To make sure of his diagnosis, he did his internet research and made phone calls for more information.
I sat in the trailer stroking her neck, crying. My husband was crying too, but he pulled it together to be a comfort to me. Poor thing was suffering, every breath an effort. It pulled her lungs downward and she struggled to breathe. She turned her face to me, forehead to forehead and my tears rolled off my face and dripped onto hers. It was as if she was asking me to do something for her, but there was nothing I could do. The vet's wife came out to tell us that he was looking it up and hadn't forgotten us, left and came back with a box of kleenax.
The vet said he studied it in school, but it was his first case. He said it is uncommon, but happens to all farm animals. Normally a mare, or cow is put in a sling to hold the abdomen up and the foal or calf delivered by C-section in an effort to save the baby, then the mare or cow is put down. Goats and sheep, not so much. He said the condition doesn't affect the meat and production ranches take the animal to slaughter. Sobbing, I said I can't eat her, I just can't. And I sure can't prolong her suffering by hauling her to slaughter. The whole idea of trying to salvage a few dollars for her was repulsive to me. My husband agreed and was trying so hard not to cry, but he was crying too. The decision was made to put her down. The vet and his tech were so gentle with her and so kind to us. She was standing, as it took effect, her knees buckled and they held her on the way to the trailer floor. I stroked her neck because she always loved that.
Looking back, several days before the lambs birth, her belly was hanging low. I just thought she was really ready to give birth, which she was, but the tendon had already ruptured. That is why she didn't run to pasture. That is why she didn't run back to her shelter at night. That is why she slowly walked and stood spraddle legged. She was in bad shape and I didn't know it. After the birth, her belly still hung low, but I didn't think much about it. She just had babies, right? She'll tighten back up and be her regular self. I've had babies and my belly was kinda floppy for awhile too. I just didn't know.
I am posting links about this condition for everyone's information. There are a few pictures. This is what we, as a community do, we help others learn from our misfortunes and educate each other.
http://lib.dr.iastate.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1138&context=iowastate_veterinarian
http://ivj.org.in/downloads/313409.5pg64-65.pdf
https://www.vetstream.com/equis/Content/Disease/dis00388
NH homesteader
Herd Master
Thank you for sharing and I am SO sorry. I don't know what to say except
luvmypets
Herd Master
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Oh my god Bay, my heart breaks for you
I lost my ewe and her twinsa few years ago. Everyone knows you are the best sheep momma.
I lost my ewe and her twinsa few years ago. Everyone knows you are the best sheep momma.
