Archive for Downsizer For an ethical approach to consumption
|
Di Howes
|
How do I get a sheep to stand up again?I have a castrated ram (pet - bottle fed as a lamb). About 10 days ago he was sheared and a couple of days later I noticed he did not come out of the field shelter. His poo was black and runny like treacle. Phoned vet who said this indicated internal bleeding and he probably wouldn't survive.
Well he did and although it seemed painful for him to eat ( I suspect he was kicked by the horse) I got pain killer injections and antibiotics for him and kept him going on ewe drink (glucose). He's also had pro-rumen drenches each day and is now eating well. BUT despite trying hard he cannot get up. We have been rolling him over and rubbing his legs and have even hoisted him up on the loader of the tractor using straps so that his feet are just touching the ground. It seems that he has lost the strength in his muscles.
Has anyone any other suggestions before I make the final decision and give in?
|
alison
|
We had a ewe like this. She survived.
We started by using a hay bale, and straddling her over it, with her feet touching on all sides, for 1/2 hour at a time. Also did standing over her, wedged between my knees, and balancing her upright.
Maybe for 10 mins at a time, depending how my back liked it.
Alternated with laying down, and we did it on our front grass, unpenned, seeing as she wasn't going anywhere.
It took a couple of weeks.Eventually we stood her up, and she could hold it, obviously for longer and longer, until she needed penning up.
Good luck.
|
Di Howes
|
Thanks. We thought this morning about putting a piece piece of wood, padded between 2 bales of straw and straddling him across this to get his legs just touching the ground.
Won't give up yet - he is trying so hard.
|
Mutton
|
Its not just the muscles, its that the tendons have shortened and it is very painful for him - and sheep are not big on pain.
We got a pregnant ewe back on her feet over the course of about five days after she'd been off her feet when she was ill.
We got a strip of old hessian back carpet, screwed a pair of pieces of wood across either end. Basically a strip that went under her tum and rib cage (basically from just at the front legs to just in front of the back legs) and with a handle either side. This we used for lifting her. We took her out into a fresh lush field, no other sheep, and the following routine developed over the next few days.
First off, other half held her off the ground, I gently stretched each back leg until it reached the ground to ease the tendon. Then we lowered her a fraction so she could reach grass.
Kept repeating until she was prepared to put her feet down and put some weight on them. (Over a couple of days.)
We'd lift her up, gently stretch legs, then I'd stand up on the other side and take a handle, we'd sort of totter her forward a few steps until she had new lush grass to nibble while sitting, let her down and then repeat ten minutes later. We had folding plastic chairs, books, blankets and coats and would sit and read for ten minutes in the chill until she'd eaten everything in reach and then lift and carefully move her on.
After couple of days she was tottering along to reach a plant she really wanted, but didn't have the welly to stand up in the first place.
Then she got bossy. If we lifted her up before she was ready to move, she'd refuse to put her feet down.
It was about five days for her to get back to lurching to her feet herself and a bit longer before she was really right. Gave birth during convalescence and I think the weight going helped.
I think we did about four outings per day.
In case you didn't know - always lift and put down a sheep the same way they get up. Bum first, then front, rather than front first. That is if you are lifting them with hands.
With the sling we were lifting her equally front and back. There was an interim stage where she could push herself up off the ground if we were providing some of the lift.
|
Di Howes
|
Thank you for this. We tried today putting him in a sort of sling made from an old sheet folded to make a strip the width of his tummy and then raised him on this. We lowered him onto a bale of straw and his feet would just reach the ground. We rubbed his legs and tried to get him to put the weight onto first the front then the back. He was moving his legs but not taking the weight.
Our problem is he is so heavy the only way we can lift him is with the loader on the tractor! Will persevere as he is eating well and quite bright although exhausted after his physio!
|
Mutton
|
Ah, yes. One of our reasons for choosing Soay was they are light.  Both for the sake of our fairly fragile moorland soil and our backs.
Good luck.
|
Di Howes
|
Thank you for all the suggestions. Unfortunately Eddie died this morning. I think he had a heart attack as it was very quick.
|
Blacksheep
|
Thats a shame, sorry to read this, have just caught up with your thread. It does sound like he suffered some internal damage, but at least you gave him a chance to try and heal.
|
Mutton
|
Alternative is blood clot coming loose from internal injury of horse kick type - causing either stroke or as you say heart attack.
|
T.G
|
Sorry to read about Eddie
|
earthmamma
|
RIP Eddie 
|
|