Nursing problem Lamb

[Bridgemoof]

Po's baby is having problems. She started off a little weak in the back legs, I helped her get up and nurse. She seemed to do fine. We gave her a shot of BoSe and that helped her.

Little later, I went back out and helped her nurse a little again. She didn't nurse for very long. Then I noticed she sounded really congested after she nursed. Then it got to the point where she really wouldn't nurse because it was making her congested. We called the vet and we got a shot of Dexamethasone to dry her out and an antihistamine. Her body temperature has been pretty normal. 103.3

She's not lethargic or weak acting. But now she won't really nurse at all. We tried to give her a bottle but she just kind of sucked it in her mouth but didn't swallow anything.

Got up in the middle of the night and more of the same. She wouldn't take the bottle, when I tried to get her to nurse she started sucking then stopped after about 30 seconds.

Do you think we should tube feed her? I don't want to take the risk of getting more fluid in her lungs if she already has some.

 

[Bridgemoof]

Well we ended up tube feeding her at about 4 a.m. and I am happy to report that this morning she has turned around 100%. When I checked on her this morning, she got up, cried a little, went right to her mom's udder and drank for a few minutes. Whew! That's the second lamb we've saved by tube feeding using our frozen goat's colostrum. I am so relieved because she is SO PRECIOUS! She also sounds much less congested, so it looks like the Dexomethazine worked.

 

[CocoNUT]

YAY! Don't make me worry like that! She certainly is an adorable little fluffy thing!

 

[aggieterpkatie]

Keep an eye on her temp for a few days just in case. 103.3 is a tad high. It should be more like 101 or maybe even 102. Glad the dex helped!

 

[Bridgemoof]

I'm glad you said that Aggie because I was thinking 103 was in the normal range. I'll go take it again and see if it's come down.

 

[Four Winds Ranch]

It is amazing how they make a compleat turn around once their little bellies are full!!!!! Yay!!!!

 

[Bridgemoof]

Well Po's little lambie continued to nurse successfully throughout the day. But I wouldn't say she is thriving. She's been sleeping a lot, compared to the other lamb that was born yesterday (different ewe). But I did take her temperature earlier and it was 101.3, which sounds better, right? I hope that she and her mom both pick up a little energy tomorrow. I will let them out of the jug to get some fresh air. I opened that gate to the jug today but they didn't even want to come out.