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SHEEP-fed-barely-sprouting-fodders, page : 142
The good news is, when it is caught early, it is easy to treat. You can treat her by giving 4 ounces (118.3 ml) of propylene glycol not the poisonous type of glycol used in antifreeze. 4 ounces (118.3 ml) of glycerin diluted with warm water, or a commercial preparation that can be given orally twice a day. To prevent a relapse, continue treatment for 4 days even if she seems to have recovered!
Once a full blown case has occurred, it might be too late for treatment to be effective, and a cesarean section will be necessary to save the ewe. As for the lamb, unless the ewe is very close to her birthing date the lamb will be lost. Subclinical pregnancy toxemia is a more mild form of the same disease and is characterized by a weakened ewe that may produce a small or a dead lamb.
Retained Afterbirth, placenta:
Retained afterbirth is uncommon. In most cases the afterbirth comes away normally within the first hour after lambing, the length of time depends on the ewe's activity. Should you notice the afterbirth to be partially hanging out do not attempt to pull it because this might cause the ewe to strain and bring about a prolapse or some other form of injury. Vets do not consider the afterbirth to be truly retained until at least 6 hours after lambing. Some ewes actually eat the afterbirth, so don't be too concerned and think it is retained, even though time has passed.
If the removal of the afterbirth is necessary, it is best done by your vet because he/se can differentiate between the maternal and fetal cotyledons. The removal of the afterbirth before 48 hours after birth is usually inadvisable during this time the vet may prescribe the drug oxytocin to help the ewe expel the afterbirth. If it is allowed to remain in the ewe, a retained afterbirth will result in uterine infection and sterility.
Nutritional deficiencies, and in particular a deficiency in selenium, seem to play a role in retaining the afterbirth.
Vaginal prolapse:
If a ewe's vagina is going to prolapse then it is most likely to occur before lambing, however, it can occur after a difficult labor. If you observe the vaginal lining, which is a red mass protruding from the genital opening, do not delay treating it because it will become progressively worse and that means more difficult to "repair".
The good news is that it is an infrequent problem, however, always be on the watch for it.
Should you notice the lining just beginning to protrude, then get the ewe into a crate that is capable of elevating her hind end, by doing this you will decrease the pressure. Let her head stick out and feed her mostly grain and some green feed such as grass, weeds or give her a treat of a couple of apples, make sure they do not have green seeds which
Once a full blown case has occurred, it might be too late for treatment to be effective, and a cesarean section will be necessary to save the ewe. As for the lamb, unless the ewe is very close to her birthing date the lamb will be lost. Subclinical pregnancy toxemia is a more mild form of the same disease and is characterized by a weakened ewe that may produce a small or a dead lamb.
Retained Afterbirth, placenta:
Retained afterbirth is uncommon. In most cases the afterbirth comes away normally within the first hour after lambing, the length of time depends on the ewe's activity. Should you notice the afterbirth to be partially hanging out do not attempt to pull it because this might cause the ewe to strain and bring about a prolapse or some other form of injury. Vets do not consider the afterbirth to be truly retained until at least 6 hours after lambing. Some ewes actually eat the afterbirth, so don't be too concerned and think it is retained, even though time has passed.
If the removal of the afterbirth is necessary, it is best done by your vet because he/se can differentiate between the maternal and fetal cotyledons. The removal of the afterbirth before 48 hours after birth is usually inadvisable during this time the vet may prescribe the drug oxytocin to help the ewe expel the afterbirth. If it is allowed to remain in the ewe, a retained afterbirth will result in uterine infection and sterility.
Nutritional deficiencies, and in particular a deficiency in selenium, seem to play a role in retaining the afterbirth.
Vaginal prolapse:
If a ewe's vagina is going to prolapse then it is most likely to occur before lambing, however, it can occur after a difficult labor. If you observe the vaginal lining, which is a red mass protruding from the genital opening, do not delay treating it because it will become progressively worse and that means more difficult to "repair".
The good news is that it is an infrequent problem, however, always be on the watch for it.
Should you notice the lining just beginning to protrude, then get the ewe into a crate that is capable of elevating her hind end, by doing this you will decrease the pressure. Let her head stick out and feed her mostly grain and some green feed such as grass, weeds or give her a treat of a couple of apples, make sure they do not have green seeds which