Not Dislocated, Broken

[BrownSheep]

Her unbroken leg is doing the twisting motion.
My aunt put a brace on it to try and prevent it. That led to both of the hind legs having shortened ligaments so she can't bend the legs. Because of this she can't get up when she lays.

She is actually going to see our small animal vet tomorrow to see if it isn't something we can fix. If not we'll raise her up to a 100 lbs. ( or until August) and butcher her.

To be honest I think she would have faired better if she hadn't gone to my aunt's. Everything was done with good intentions but it ended up weakening her.

 

[Ridgetop]

Maybe something can still be done for her. I know it is a hassle but massaging the ligaments worked on goats that were too crowded in utero and couldn't straighten their pasterns or hocks. It's a shame if there is nothing that will save her, but a lamb in the freezer is better than none. Hard, but it is life with ranching and livestock and having been through this experience, you will be prepared with the knowledge of what to do for the next time it happens to someone.

 

[Sheepshape]

I had a ewe lamb who broke a rear leg hip right near the socket such that her leg was drawn right up and she walked on three legs as best she could. She didn't appear to be suffering greatly, so we gave her regular Metacam and watched. Gradually the leg came down such that she could walk, but the back leg was very bowed, though not noticeably shortened. She grew well and became a very strong and likeable ewe with a strange gait, but not obviously in any discomfort. We allowed her to lamb and she had lambs in 2 years without a problem. Year 3 her gait became worse towards the end of her pregnancy and she had some difficulty get up. We took care of her and she was better after her lamb was born. We felt that 'enough was enough' and reluctantly sent her for slaughter.

 

[Ridgetop]

Right to do so. As she aged the weight of the pregnancies probably put a lot of strain on the false joint. Probably arthritis would have caused lameness early in life even without pregnancies. She eventually would not have been able to get up and walk anymore. Your decision was the right one and spared her a lot of pain.