Abortion/ring womb/prolapse

[Devil's advocate]

Right, not had one exactly like this before.

We don't vaccinate for abortion & do get the odd one in our homebred closed flock, if they do abort it is usually shearling.

So I've found a shearling due to lamb on 1st March, with a water bladder out & unusually pushing her undilated cervix out too.

I've put the cervix back in with a plastic spoon & jabbed her with calcium & Pen/strep.

The shearling has now settled down & is very content chewing on haylage.

I shall check her at 9pm & if she is pushing try to remove what I assume to be the dead lambs, if she is content leave her all night. Then remove the spoon at 5am & try to lamb her then. If no joy get her shot later in the day.

Am I doing the right thing(s)

 

[ARW]

I might be wrong but I don’t think she would push anything out with ringwoom

 

[An ancient git]

If eating ok . let nature take its course .... you may end up with a knacker-man job , but I wouldn't mess about too much yet . Start sticking your hand in and your screwed whatever ....

 

[Northeastfarmer]

If the water bag is coming out I’d be checking what’s going on

 

[Al R]

If you think she’s aborting put some lube in and let her be - isolate ideally!
Don’t go potching!!! 10 days early it is possible they can make it but you do wonder why she’s exiting them early. I’ve had 4 abort in the last few weeks, 2 of them have never seen any of the others and only thing they have in common is the owner ?‍

 

[Jerry]

A shot of metacam might be in order for a prolapse if that is what it is. Helps reduce swelling.

 

[Devil's advocate]

A shot of metacam might be in order for a prolapse if that is what it is. Helps reduce swelling.

If there is a live lamb in there, the pain killer would mean it would be born a sleep. I don't think it is a prolapse, I think it is an abotion but she is not quite ready. Plus I do want her to get on with it, it seems to be a prolapse because the cervix won't open. As said once the spoon was fitted she just acted as if nothing had happened.

 

[Devil's advocate]

If you think she’s aborting put some lube in and let her be - isolate ideally!
Don’t go potching!!! 10 days early it is possible they can make it but you do wonder why she’s exiting them early. I’ve had 4 abort in the last few weeks, 2 of them have never seen any of the others and only thing they have in common is the owner ?‍

Thanks to all for their opinions & who really knows.

But I'm going with Al R advice it what I was hoping really. She is isolated.

The problem is of course with the water bag out, whatever is inside the womb will soon start to decompose. If she starts to push I will try to help, but otherwise leave the decision to the shearling.

I'm quite experienced but not seen anything exactly like this.

 

[Devil's advocate]

If the water bag is coming out I’d be checking what’s going on

Normally I would agree, but with the inside outside so to speak, I could easily examine the cervix it is only very slightly open, little finger only. but the water bag has slipped out but not broken.

 

[Devil's advocate]

If the water bag is coming out I’d be checking what’s going on

Normally I would agree, but with the inside outside so to speak, I could easily examine the cervix it is only very slightly open, little finger only. but the water bag has slipped out but not broken.

Perhaps it is abortion that has caused the prolapse or possibly prolapse & she has pushed so hard the water bag has been forced out. It is unusual.

 

[yellowbelly]

Right, not had one exactly like this before.

We don't vaccinate for abortion & do get the odd one in our homebred closed flock, if they do abort it is usually shearling.

So I've found a shearling due to lamb on 1st March, with a water bladder out & unusually pushing her undilated cervix out too.

I've put the cervix back in with a plastic spoon & jabbed her with calcium & Pen/strep.

The shearling has now settled down & is very content chewing on haylage.

I shall check her at 9pm & if she is pushing try to remove what I assume to be the dead lambs, if she is content leave her all night. Then remove the spoon at 5am & try to lamb her then. If no joy get her shot later in the day.

Am I doing the right thing(s)

Had something similar 5 or 6 years ago. Left it alone and it eventually aborted on it's own.
What ever you do, you're unlikely to get live lambs. Make sure she's covered with antibiotics - the price that culls are, it would be daft to shoot her.

 

[Devil's advocate]

Had something similar 5 or 6 years ago. Left it alone and it eventually aborted on it's own.
What ever you do, you're unlikely to get live lambs. Make sure she's covered with antibiotics - the price that culls are, it would be daft to shoot her.

I'm gonna need some gloves, don't usually use them.

I'm not expecting live lambs, but I don't want to stop her from pushing with metacam, the sooner she lambs/aborts the better.

 

[Al R]

I'm gonna need some gloves, don't usually use them.

I'm not expecting live lambs, but I don't want to stop her from pushing with metacam, the sooner she lambs/aborts the better.

Put some lube in, I don’t wear gloves apart from using those long length ones for aborting ewes only that won’t pass. 95% of the time with me I just see a few gulls eating something in the field and then a patch of blood on the ewe, indoor very rarely see them as so few and usually only triplets and singles in at point of lambing so never studied one much before sorry.

 

[will6910]

Am I the only one that has never shot a sheep that couldn’t lamb ? I’d rather have her with vet and at least save the ewe and be able to sell as a cull

 

[Devil's advocate]

Am I the only one that has never shot a sheep that couldn’t lamb ? I’d rather have her with vet and at least save the ewe and be able to sell as a cull

The worry is vet, puts her down & then gives you a big bill.

I'm not sure what the vet could do, maybe give her a jab to help her to open her womb.

Or knock the poor thing around, & she dies in pain a few days later.

I use the vet more than most, but this one is an oddity. Toxo vaccine would be better investment, with hindsight. In most cases abortions are not too bad, this one is complicated.

 

[will6910]

True. I must be odd or soft I’d still prefer vet to do what they can to save them first

 

[Anymulewilldo]

Am I the only one that has never shot a sheep that couldn’t lamb ? I’d rather have her with vet and at least save the ewe and be able to sell as a cull

The trouble is that the cost of a c section is more than the value of the cull. So if I can't lamb it myself experience has always shown that the vet won't either. Better to spend £18 on disposal and go buy a replacement than spend £120 on vet, sell cull for £60-£80 then still have to find another £40 plus replacement cost. Plus the ewe isn't guaranteed to survive if there are rotten lambs in there. Harsh economics but we are all in business

 

[Devil's advocate]

Off to bed soon, shall have a walk to look at her first.

2 am to market tomorrow, solicitor at 9.30 am, hospital to collect Aunties paperwork 11.30am. So hope this shearling is not too much trouble.

Will keep you all posted as to the eventual outcome.

 

[farmerm]

The trouble is that the cost of a c section is more than the value of the cull. So if I can't lamb it myself experience has always shown that the vet won't either. Better to spend £18 on disposal and go buy a replacement than spend £120 on vet, sell cull for £60-£80 then still have to find another £40 plus replacement cost. Plus the ewe isn't guaranteed to survive if there are rotten lambs in there. Harsh economics but we are all in business

That’s my take too. Might take the occasional one but it’s a rare day that it turns out to be a worthwhile financial investment.

 

[farmerm]

Off to bed soon, shall have a walk to look at her first.

2 am to market tomorrow, solicitor at 9.30 am, hospital to collect Aunties paperwork 11.30am. So hope this shearling is not too much trouble.

Will keep you all posted as to the eventual outcome.

2am to market? Bugger that. Do you have to catch a ferry or something?