health question

[chickenlady]

I am bottle feeding five lambs, when I got them they were all fine. Walking, jumping and sucking just fine. Now I have one now that can not stand up. She started with just standing there and not moving. We have given her extra electrolites and she was doing good but this morning she can't even stand when we put her down. She is alert and eating fine. She sucks down her bottle and knows when she is full. She is going to the bathroom fine but all over herself because she can not stand to walk. She does kind of crawl if she wants to move and she is trying to stand. The only thing that seems to be wrong is that she can not stand up. Any thoughts?

[GoatTalker]

Did they have colostrum? Have you given them any CD Antitoxin? BoSE? I have had babies flat on their side for 6 weeks and make it, so unless the baby is crying in pain, I do not destroy them.

[chickenlady]

They have all had colostrum from their mamas. I have not given them anything else. She is not crying in pain. Is there anything you do for them while on their sides? Do you leave them in the pen with the other lambs that are healthy?

[chickenlady]

Also her back legs seem to be unresponsive to touch, the right one is worse then the left. She was walking on them fine when she came home. The babies are about a week old. My hubby thinks she seems underdeveloped in the hind quarters. The last thing I want is to put down a healthy animal. Can I give them DT and T? I feed them next at around 1 and will give them that if they can have it. How much?

[GoatTalker]

What are you feeding them? Yes you can give them the Antitoxin, the toxoid will take 2 weeks to kick in, which is too long right now. I would bring the sick ones in, under controlled temperatures, and environment. I would also give the BoSE, they may have white muscle disease, and nothing will correct it the way BoSE will.

[chickenlady]

I am giving them lamb milk replacer with colostrum in it. I was planning on switching over to regular milk replacer today. I will call my vet and see if I can get the Bose.

[chickenlady]

My son just got back with the BoSe and I am going out to administer it to her. The vet also said to give her a shot of peniccilin because she may have gotten an infection in her hind quarters.

[Chaty]

The thing about replacers is that most of the time the replacer just goes thru them and they basically starve to death...hopefully this isnt the case but there have been cases of Salemonella in some replacers. how are the pooping? hopefully this isnt the case.

[chickenlady]

It is normal poop. The rest of the sheep are on the same thing and doing fine. The vet said it sounds like she may have been pulled from her mama before she got colostrum. He also said she could have gotten an infection. I gave her the BoSe, then the penicillin and then a CD and T. She is actually able to bet herself up to her knees and move a little. She is also a little more stable on her feet. Tomorrow will tell us more.

  For all the advice.

[GoatTalker]

Did you give CDT or CD Antitoxin? If it was the CD&T, it won't help for 2 weeks, and that could be too late.

[chickenlady]

Oh I did not know there was a difference. I gave her CD and T. I will get some of the other stuff tomorrow. She took four steps on her own and is doing really well.

[chickenlady]

She is up and starting to walk.

[GoatTalker]

 

[chickenlady]

Thank you for all the advice. I was able to pass on the knowledge I gained here to help a friend with one of her bummers.