Premature lamb, advice needed please.

Sumi

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I'm posting this on behalf of a friend. Her ewe gave birth to a preemie lamb about a week ago and the little one is not out of the woods yet. Here's a summary from my friend:

"Here is the rundown on Gracie...

Lambing due date April 27th... she came April 15th, cold below freezing night, hypodermic, barely breathing when we found her, birth appeared fine, ewe stable.

She received colostrum within the first 24hrs, her mama had none we had to get some. She passed the meconium , was fairly stable and was within the couple days switched over to a lamb milk replacer.

We noticed she was lacking control of her legs and weaker so concluded she had constipated, we tried castor oil and then moved to an enema. That worked cleared things out, her sucking ability is not the best, however she is not dehydrated urinates normally and it's of proper colour. (My mum is a lab tech, so knows this stuff well lol)

She has been given her vit e and selenium shot. Her mama is perfectly fine, ZERO complications whatsoever.. this is her first lamb though, the rams 3rd. No infection of navel, was treated(iodine) and cut properly .

She ate better last night and finally this AM has had a movement on her own, no blood, nothing to cause concern in that either. She is still weak, has control of her legs and slight with her head, floppy though but alert and aware of her surroundings.


I think that covered it lol She's in our house, so stable temps and we often hold her and is covered to keep chill away, no fever has ever occurred either."

The ewe, unfortunately, gave up on the lamb and she's being kept in the house and looked after my friend and her family. Is there anything else she can do for her?
 

BrownSheep

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It sounds like you have all of your bases covered.

I would suggest adding electrolytes if you're only getting a minimal amount of milk into her, but you said she is hydrated so it really is optional. If she has and further digestion issues probiotics can be administered by giving her yogurt.
 

Sumi

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Thank you so much. The yoghurt, I'm thinking the easiest would be if she dilutes it and gives it to her in a bottle? How much could she give her safely in a day?
 

Sheepshape

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Well done, and keep going.

A few years back i had seriously prem twins (about 3 weeks early) born to an ill ewe. They didn't stand for a couple of weeks, had very sparse fleece growth and couldn't suck. Clearly mum couldn't manage them.

They were tube fed for the first week,wore sweaters,and were kept in the house.

After a week they could stand and suck,after two weeks they were fully mobile and didn't need there sweaters and were able to go to the shed after 3-4 weeks. Both went on to become healthy adults.

they are a lot of work (and very clearly you have already done a lot of work) but the end results can be very worthwhile.

Good luck to you and your baaaby.
 

Sumi

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Thank you, sheephape! Here is the little one:

gracie 1.jpg


Gracie 2.jpg
 

Sumi

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Hi all, I'm afraid Gracie didn't make it. She passed unexpectedly yesterday afternoon, after showing signs of finally improving. Her owner and the vet are unsure of the cause.

Thank you again for your help and advice, it was much appreciated!
 
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