Help needed ASAP

[RedBrush Farm]

We are not happy about the culling idea. We name all our sheep and she is somewhat of a pet. She always follows me around and noses me for a treat.... She is the first one to greet me every morning.... This is really hard. I'm trying to look at it as something that must be faced when you farm, but it isn't always that easy.....

 

[RedBrush Farm]

I think I will call someone tonight. I just need more information.... We live in SEMissouri and are currently getting snow and freezing rain. Hopefully can get someone out here tomorrow. Thanks everyone. I'll keep updating but am going to get off here and make some calls....

 

[Goat Whisperer]

I hope you are able to get the help you need for your ewe. So sorry you have to go thru this

 

[purplequeenvt]

You should really try to get someone out there tonight if at all possible. She could have lambs tangled up. It's odd that she seems to have started labor and got as far as a water bag and then stopped completely.

Too bad I'm up in VT. I'm the go to person around town for lambing problems.

 

[bonbean01]

I'm also sorry you are not closer to me...in northeast MS or I'd be so happy to get over to you and try to help!!!! You really do need someone tonight. Please don't wait for morning or it may be too late. Tangled lambs is my biggest fear here and I am lucky to have people to call for help day or night...really hoping you get some help from someone tonight...as soon as possible. Sending prayers for your ewe, the lambs and you!!!! This is a tough one!!!

 

[frustratedearthmother]

I'm just throwing this out there.... unlikely but maybe worth a thought...?

Are you absolutely 100% sure she didn't have a false pregnancy? They will act pregnant and look pregnant, but "labor" stops when they discharge the built up fluid.

Found this article that refers to goats, but it can happen in sheep too.

http://www.liv.ac.uk/farm/species/goats.htm

"The most commonly affected are adults who have kidded several times, and may have been subject to artificial light manipulation of the breeding season, particularly in large dairy enterprises. The aetiology of this condition is still not well understood, but essentially is a build-up of clear fluid within the uterus in the presence of a persistent corpus luteum (CL) which secretes progesterone, but without a conception/pregnancy. The doe acts as if pregnant, with enlargement of the abdomen, udder development, and often milk production if not already milking. The false pregnancy can last for a variable length of time depending upon the initiating cause, but typically may last ~21days (ie 1 oestrus cycle) if the doe has had no contact with a billy, or at least ~150days (ie 1 gestational period) if it has followed early embryonic death. Following destruction of the CL the uterine fluid is released, hence the term “cloudburst”, and the doe will then often continue to milk for a lactation period. There is a high recurrence rate with ~40 % recurring in the following oestrous cycles of the current breeding season, and a 50% chance of recurrence beyond the current breeding season. Thankfully the condition can be readily diagnosed using ultrasonography, and treated successfully with medical therapy by a veterinary surgeon."
Whatever it is - I hope your ewe recovers!

 

[bonbean01]

Thank you for that information Frustrated...I had never heard of this.

 

[frustratedearthmother]

I only bring it up because I had it happen to a goat once - many years ago. If I had not been there, I would never have believed it. I had waited and waited for this doe to kid. She began a very half-hearted labor without much active pushing, but he did produce a bag, it ruptured and I swear GALLONS of fluid came out - but no baby anywhere and when I tried to go in and see what was going on - she was only the tiniest bit dilated. It was the weirdest thing...

 

[bonbean01]

Glad you posted that Frustrated...this forum is so good to learn from. People's experience does not always comes in books and manuals....thank you again.

 

[Support]

I'm so sorry you have to go through this traumatic experience.

I hope that you and your sheep will get past through this.