-
SHEEP-fed-barely-sprouting-fodders, page : 140
The onset of milk fever strikes suddenly, and the disease progresses rapidly. The first signs are excitability, muscle tremors, and a stilted gait. These are followed by staggering, rapid breathing, staring eyes, and dullness. The ewe will lie down and be unable to get up. If she reaches the final stages of the disease, she will slip into a coma and die. Strange as it may seem, although the disorder is called a "fever" the temperature remains normal or even subnormal, and the ears become very cold. If the ewe is down but not comatose, there is a chance of recovery.
There are several veterinary preparations for treatment available including a paste than can be given orally during the early onset of milk fever. However, never give the paste once the ewe is down, because there is the possibility that if she can't swallow it correctly, the paste will enter her lungs and kill her within a short time. The good news is that if a ewe is down, IV treatment is the best bet, it works very quickly in restoring the ewe, however, this treatment should not be attempted by an inexperienced shepherd. Call your vet out and tell him to come as quickly as possible. If for some reason he is unavailable then inject the ewe subcutaneously with 75 to 100 ml of calcium gluconate in five places. This medication should be in your medical supply box for cases of emergency.
Subcutaneous injections act more slowly, but there is less of a chance of causing cardiac arrest than an IV injection, and this is much safer for the inexperienced shepherd. Calcium gluconate can also be given intraperitoneally in the paunch on the right side of the ewe. To do this lay the ewe on her left side, and inject into the right side if she has already lambed. This method is faster than subcutaneous and safer than an intravenous injection.
The result is close to a miracle, the ewe gets up minutes after treatment. You must continue to give some paste twice a day for 3 days after the onset. Next year keep an eye on the ewe that had the problem because it could occur during the next lambing.
Pregnancy Toxemia – ketosis:
Pregnancy toxemia usually occurs in the last week or so of pregnancy and often in twin or triplet carrying ewes. If this disease is not treated or a ewe does not lamb straight away it is highly fatal.
It can be reliably diagnosed by using a urine test strip, however, this disease is usually recognizable by its symptoms.
The cause is an excessive buildup of ketones – they are byproducts of fat metabolism, in the bloodstream. This disease runs in a vicious cycle, because multiple or large fetuses require high amounts of nutrients, but as they grow and take up more abdominal room, the ewe's ability to consume sufficient feed to support her and her unborn lambs
There are several veterinary preparations for treatment available including a paste than can be given orally during the early onset of milk fever. However, never give the paste once the ewe is down, because there is the possibility that if she can't swallow it correctly, the paste will enter her lungs and kill her within a short time. The good news is that if a ewe is down, IV treatment is the best bet, it works very quickly in restoring the ewe, however, this treatment should not be attempted by an inexperienced shepherd. Call your vet out and tell him to come as quickly as possible. If for some reason he is unavailable then inject the ewe subcutaneously with 75 to 100 ml of calcium gluconate in five places. This medication should be in your medical supply box for cases of emergency.
Subcutaneous injections act more slowly, but there is less of a chance of causing cardiac arrest than an IV injection, and this is much safer for the inexperienced shepherd. Calcium gluconate can also be given intraperitoneally in the paunch on the right side of the ewe. To do this lay the ewe on her left side, and inject into the right side if she has already lambed. This method is faster than subcutaneous and safer than an intravenous injection.
The result is close to a miracle, the ewe gets up minutes after treatment. You must continue to give some paste twice a day for 3 days after the onset. Next year keep an eye on the ewe that had the problem because it could occur during the next lambing.
Pregnancy Toxemia – ketosis:
Pregnancy toxemia usually occurs in the last week or so of pregnancy and often in twin or triplet carrying ewes. If this disease is not treated or a ewe does not lamb straight away it is highly fatal.
It can be reliably diagnosed by using a urine test strip, however, this disease is usually recognizable by its symptoms.
The cause is an excessive buildup of ketones – they are byproducts of fat metabolism, in the bloodstream. This disease runs in a vicious cycle, because multiple or large fetuses require high amounts of nutrients, but as they grow and take up more abdominal room, the ewe's ability to consume sufficient feed to support her and her unborn lambs