Sunday, March 3, 2013

One Sick Lamb

















Yesterday I noticed the bigger of Barley's two ram lambs was not looking good.  He was lethargic and hunched looking.  I thought he wasn't getting enough to eat, since Barley doesn't seem to be great at standing still to let the lambs nurse.  I milked her out and fed him a few ounces of milk by bottle a few times that day, and hoped he just needed more groceries and he'd perk back up.  He didn't have a fever, and I gave him an enema just in case he was constipated and not wanting to eat.  This morning I went out to feed and he was much worse. I took his temperature and it was very low, only 97.7 (normal sheep temp is 101-103*F).  I first put him under a heat lamp, but then after talking to my almost-vet friend decided he'd be better off in the house since he was hypothermic at that point. 

I brought him in and put him under the heating pad, and tube fed him a sugar water (using Karo syrup) solution.  Unfortunately, I didn't have any dextrose solution or lactated ringers.  David happened to be in town, so he picked up some pedialyte for me, and I've since tub fed him a few more times with a pedialyte/sugar solution.  I gave him some vitamin B complex and a dose of antibiotics, since his temperature spiked to around 103 today.  He's not able to keep a steady temperature, so I'm having to use the heating pad now and then to keep him at a good temp. 

I'm hoping he'll perk back up and survive, but I'm not too sure he will.  I'm doing all I can though, so hopefully it's enough.  If he makes it through the night I'll pick up some dextrose solution and lactated ringers tomorrow.  Cross your fingers for him!

3 comments:

Becky said...

Oh no! I'm so sorry he's sick! I hope he makes it! Let me know how he's doing.

Mary Ann said...

Good for you for trying so hard to help him! Poor little thing.

Deb Johnson, Quiltbeeme said...

Oh Katie...........I am so very sorry. I know you must be so upset hon. Love you, Momma

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