RIP Freddy

We thought that Freddy  initially had jointill

But  it didnt really improve as we expected, and he developed more problems 



And things got worse inspite of  the treatment (Vitamin E and Selenium) .

So the vet came and had a look at him .

The initial problem we thought was an infection of the joint, even though he was a bit old to get that.
And now the Vet thought he had meningitis - the infection has spread to the brain - or perhaps it was an incurable neurological problem.


So sadly, RIP Freddy

Another limper

The previous limping lamb has got better - but we've got another one 

And catching it the 'ankle' joint ( left rear leg)  is perhaps a  little swollen. 

And it has a high temperature high 40.7 degrees .  The normal temperature of a lamb is 38.3-39.9 C (100.9 -103.8 F). But it didnt stop her  running around . !

We've had jointill before. She is a bit old ( 3 weeks)  for it , but nevertheless its a course of antibiotics for the 7kg lamb  

In sheep its called  Norocav. Given to people its call Augmentin.

So daily inections for the next 5 days 

the limping lamb

we spotted this  in one of the newborn lambs .
the concern is that it is 'jointill' ( septic arthritis ). We've had a case before 
It would need antibiotics  if it was infective .

But thelamb was active ( as you can see)  and its temperatre was 40 degrees C - which is normal for lambs.

so we decided to wait and watch .

And its improving slowly.

Limpy the lamb - update

So she is walking better. And the temperature is down ( from 40.5 to 39 deg C)  and she got her 2nd jab of antibiotics today.

And the effusion (fluid around the knee)  is more obvious.

but she is still  taking all the milk, walking better and even running around - and heres an  action picture to prove it !

Limpy the lamb

Over the last 48 hours one of our lambs started off with a limp. It has developed so that she does not put the left front leg on the ground.

On inspection it looks OK. When picked up there is full range of movement at the shoulder and the other  joints of the limb.

And they are both still feeding normally.
 

 and active, albeit with a bit of limp.

We spoke to the sheep farmer in the valley who suggested a  dose of penicillin - which he happened to have and she got a dose . But on the next morning things were no better and so a trip to the Vet was necessary.

And on close examination, as demonstrated by the vet, she has an effusion ( collection of fluid) in the knee joint and a temperature. So the diagnosis is probably jointill , or similar  infection . The umbilicus , the usual source looks OK though.

We've caught it early and with the correct antibiotics, she should get back to normal.
And so its  change of antibiotics to Norocav . In people this is Augmentin(co-amoxiclav). And if things aren't better in a couple of days we go back.

So people and sheep are different.
- there was no limitation of movement.
- moving the affected limb caused no change in behaviour (ie no response to pain, if sheep feel pain)
-the joint didn't feel warm ( yet) - possibly because its covered in wool!

But the antibiotic choice would appear to be similar.  Hopefully we wont have to go back , but if we do I wonder what happens next. Draw some fluid of the joint and different antibiotics ?