My sick lamb needs a vet. How long can I feed him colostrum?

In order to give him the best chance for survival you need to get your vet out there to check him out. Colostrum is the "first milk" that a ewe produces after lambing. Colostrum contains a high level of several nutrients that are important for lamb health and performance. Colostrum also contains a high level of antibodies against a variety of infectious agents. At birth, the lamb does not carry any antibodies because antibodies in the ewe's bloodstream do not cross the placenta. It is critical that lambs receive colostrum during the first 24 hours of life in order to ensure adequate absorption of these antibodies. Antibodies are large protein molecules that can cross the intestinal wall and enter the blood stream of the lamb only during the first 24 to 36 hours of life. Absorption of these antibodies is most efficient during the first few hours after birth. It is recommended that lambs receive 10 percent of the body weight in colostrum by 24 hours after birth. All lambs need colostrum. While it is possible for lambs to survive without colostrum in a relatively disease-free environment, the likelihood of disease and death is higher in lambs that do not receive colostrum. The ideal colostrum source for supplemental feeding of lambs is from healthy ewes in one's own flock. So, if the lamb did not get colostrum this could be a huge problem. Your vet will be able to tell if he got enough colostrum and if not, they can give him some through his neck vein. I am assuming this is available in Romania. Hope this helps. Best wishes.

Did the lamb get colostrum? If not, you need to call your vet out ASAP to get him some. There is a homemade recipe you can follow but sheep's colostrum is going to be best. It would be more helpful if you mentioned the lamb's age. Homemade colostrum substitute: 680ml cow's milk 1 x beaten egg 1x teaspoon cod liver oil 1 x teaspoon glucose -feed 50mls every three hours for the first 24 hours. If your lamb is small and weak feed smaller quantities (20-50 ml) more frequently (every 4 hours). This is not ideal and does not contain the antibodies that are passed to the lamb through the colostrum, but if you don't have colostrum it can give the lamb an energy boost and it will help him pass his first stool. After he has had a day of colostrum, your lamb will need to go onto a normal sheep's milk substitute. If you find an orphaned lamb and do not have any sheep milk replacement, you can feed the lamb full cream powdered milk until you can buy some. You can feed warmed pasteurised full cream cow's milk if you have nothing else. Switch to sheep milk replacement as soon as possible and follow the manufacturer's instructions on how to prepare it. Buy the best brand you can afford and use the same brand until the lamb is weaned. This will reduce the risk of abdominal upsets and scours. Hope this helps. Best wishes.

Check her temperature. If she has a fever, call out your farm vet. Potential causes include infection, vitamin/mineral deficiency (namely vitamin E and selenium), parasites (the most worrisome being meningeal worm) or trauma. Keep her warm and as stress free as possible. If necessary, rig up a sling to help her get around. The easiest is a towel slung underneath her behind the front limbs. Without an exam, it is difficult to determine definitively what is happening. If her symptoms are worsening, consider an emergency vet call out or trip to the nearest veterinary ER.

Respiratory infections are common in sheep, especially young ones. If you can, it would be best to have a vet come out and take a look at him in person to make the best treatment recommendations. Different vets use different medications for respiratory issues in sheep, but personally I normally use either LA 200 or Nuflor as a more effective antibiotic for this issue. LA 200 may be available over the counter in your area, but you will need to have a vet come out and do an exam for Nuflor since it's prescription only.

If you suspect your lamb ate a toxic plant and is now showing symptoms it is best to seek veterinary care immediately. If you think you know what the lamb ate it is best to let your veterinarian know so that the correct treatment can begin. There is not much you can do at home on your own without the supervision of a veterinarian.

Hello. My concern would be that this lamb has pneumonia, a common problem with rejected neonates. You will need to contact a veterinarian to see if this is the case & get little Maize on a proper course of antibiotics. Best of luck with her & thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

Rectal prolapse in a lamb usually requires treatment and correction by a veterinarian. In some cases, the lamb may need to be euthanized if the prolapse cannot be corrected, leads to infection, or continues even after treatment. Lambs that have tails docked too short, or that are experiencing illnesses that cause diarrhea or coughing may also have a higher incidence of prolapse. Treatment usually involves fixing any underlying health issues that may be causing the prolapse, injections to reduce swelling/retain the rectum better, or rings to hold in or amputate affected parts of the rectum. It would be best to contact a vet to come out and take a look, especially if this has continued or home treatment hasn't worked.