Lamb with weak hips

[GoldenrodRancher]

I'm very new to this forum, but I joined because I feel like this would be the best place to find help for my problem.

One of my sheep, a lamb who's just over a year old, suddenly started having some problem with her hips:
She's able to stand just fine. She's bright and alert. Doesn't show any limp or signs of stress as she walks. But she's sitting down a lot more, and the second her back legs are off balance her hips tilt and she takes some time to right herself. Even when I let them out to pasture this morning she ran fine. But at last night she ran with her back legs at a 45 degree angle! When she got to the pen and started going for the feed, however, she ran much more normally (with the exception of her hips being a bit lower than normal as she went.)

I've ruled out any outright toxic plants. Aside from horse nettles (which they don't touch) I couldn't find anything in that pasture nor is she showing any signs of poisoning aside from those weak hips.

My fear is that it has something to do with nutrition. Even though I feed grain every night, I'm worried that ram might be eating more than just his share. I poured some mineral salts into a bucket for them, but unlike her mom the lamb wasn't very interested. She's also still a healthy weight and looks fine physically. So I'm starting to think the ram might have injured her in some way. Either by trying to mount her or by shoving/ramming her out of the way.

I'm going to check on her throughout the day to see if it gets any better or worse. And I'lll take pictures if I catch her having trouble again.
Any ideas or advice would be greatly appreciated!

 

[Mini Horses]

First, separate either her or ram. Feed her alone, etc. I suspect he mounted her & his weight injured her. Could be soft tissue inflammation on spine, or hips. Give some aspirin for pain. See if it improves. May take a week.

 

[GoldenrodRancher]

Alright, I'll set up a space for her. As far as the asprin goes, how should I give it to her & how much should I give her?

 

[SageHill]

No idea on the aspirin amount. I'm sure someone here will have an idea on that. I agree with @Mini Horses and I'll add in a possibility on thinking outside the box -- could she have perhaps been stung by something bee, hornet, wasp, spider?? No idea what to do about that other than wait it out. Just thinking outside the box.

 

[Mini Horses]

Even separated, she does need to be able to move around some. Even sore, movement stimulates healing with stretching, blood movement, etc.

As to aspirin....IF SHE WERE MINE (I'm not a vet or recommending dosages for yours) I would dissolve an aspirin in water, add a little honey or syrup (offset bitter taste) and give morning, mid day & night....for 2-3 days, until soreness dissipates for her. I'd just be taking the edge off discomfort & reducing the internal tissue swelling.

Update us on her progress, please. We care and we learn together.

 

[GoldenrodRancher]

could she have perhaps been stung by something bee, hornet, wasp, spider??

As far as spiders go, I'm not sure. But there has been an unpleasant uptick in Yellow Jackets & their much larger European Hornet cousins. They're also grazing in a goldenrod patch so any pollinator that stings could possibly be the culprit.

While I'm not confident that was the cause, It probably is something I should keep an eye out for.

Even separated, she does need to be able to move around some. Even sore, movement stimulates healing with stretching, blood movement, etc.

As to aspirin....IF SHE WERE MINE (I'm not a vet or recommending dosages for yours) I would dissolve an aspirin in water, add a little honey or syrup (offset bitter taste) and give morning, mid day & night....for 2-3 days, until soreness dissipates for her. I'd just be taking the edge off discomfort & reducing the internal tissue swelling.

Update us on her progress, please. We care and we learn together.

Don't worry, I'm partitioning off half of the main pen for her. More than enough space for her to walk, or even run around if she's well enough! I appreciate the info on dosages as well.

Thanks for the help, I'll keep you updated as things progress!

 

[GoldenrodRancher]

Alright. I've got her seperated. But I'm worried that I just made her condition worse: After a lot more struggling than I would have liked, I got her quarantined. The second she realized she was seperated she panicked and began running around as best she could. It must have exacerbated the injury because now she can barely stand.

I feel terrible right now. I know it was the best way to help her get better, but I can't shake the feeling of making it worse. I can only hope that she's feeling a bit better in the morning, and I don't wake up to see that the ram has bulldozed the partition fence.

Edit: The lamb keeps trying to force her way through the fence, I don't know what to do. I'm worried she's gonna hurt herself even worse.

 

[SageHill]

Alright. I've got her seperated. But I'm worried that I just made her condition worse: After a lot more struggling than I would have liked, I got her quarantined. The second she realized she was seperated she panicked and began running around as best she could. It must have exacerbated the injury because now she can barely stand.

I feel terrible right now. I know it was the best way to help her get better, but I can't shake the feeling of making it worse. I can only hope that she's feeling a bit better in the morning, and I don't wake up to see that the ram has bulldozed the partition fence.

The best layed plans …….
Can you feed her on one side of the fence and the rest on the other side? Just a thought. If you put her in a small pen like a lambing jug that would prevent a lot
Of running, but doesn’t mean she’d fet
Into other trouble.
Or put one or two of
Her buddies with her.

 

[GoldenrodRancher]

The best layed plans …….
Can you feed her on one side of the fence and the rest on the other side? Just a thought. If you put her in a small pen like a lambing jug that would prevent a lot
Of running, but doesn’t mean she’d fet
Into other trouble.
Or put one or two of
Her buddies with her.

I can feed her on that side no problem. I set up water there, too. I even cleared the small shed out & lined it with pine shavings for her.

But I only have the Ram, the Ewe, and the lamb in question. If I put the ewe with her, the ram will bust through. I tried isolating the ram first, but he ripped the fence nails out of the wood to get back to the ewe. I can only isolate the lamb because he doesn't care as much about her.

 

[Mini Horses]

If they can be on fence line it should calm her. Keep the ewe & ram water near so they must go there near her....she'll see them. Even limit those two from access to a far field, if easily possible.

Is the ewe her mother? Normally they will stay reasonably close. Put hay near so they must be within sight, etc. While you have pasture, often something different will entice.

They don't like separation.