Ewe down after having twins

[BarbraJoan]

Hi everyone,

We have a very small farm with only 5 sheep, Left for work this morning and noticed one of our ewes had a lamb, came home late tonight and noticed she had another. She is now unable to stand, just can't seem to balance on her back legs. A huge storm was coming in i didn't wanna leave her and her lambs in the rain. We managed to get her into the shed, she definitely isn't weak she stood her ground and didn't wanna be taken away from her babies, a neighbour wrapped the twins in towels and the ewe was pulling me following her twins but kept falling over while i tried to keep her balanced.
They understandably all traumatised by this event they took a while to settle. She drank an entire bowl of water and left some oats and hay. I just checked them they all looked snuggled up and calm. It's now very late at night i will check on them first thing in the morning, any advise ? i'm gonna call the vet in morning ! poor babies im stressed with worry

 

[sticky]

Google twin lamb and also milk fever.

 

[Highland Mule]

Could she be having a third? Have the first two suckled?

 

[Fendt516profi]

@hill shepherd no you weren't the last.

 

[BarbraJoan]

Could she be having a third? Have the first two suckled?

is it normal to have another 12 hours later ? yes the two twins been suckling while mum laying on her side

 

[Highland Mule]

is it normal to have another 12 hours later ? yes the two twins been suckling while mum laying on her side

I’ve had a breach triplet some hours later, against the scan result and it wouldn’t have come out without help. Best have a check, I’d say.

Sounds like you’re just learning though - have you any neighbouring shepherds you could call upon? Where are you in the world?

 

[Woolless]

Sound advice above. I would also add that it sounds like she may have nerve damage due to a traumatic lambing. An anti-inflammatory would be worth giving.

 

[M-J-G]

Did she have a bad time lambing the second lamb?
I'd check for a 3rd lamb, give her steroid in case she has nerve damage and calcium.

I'm guessing if you don't have many ewes you won't have a huge stock of drugs, so it will probably mean a phone call or a trip to a vet anyway.

 

[Highland Mule]

Any update @BarbraJoan ?

 

[BarbraJoan]

Hi everyone thanks for your comments, sadly vet came out in the morning, and the Ewe seems to have done her hip, and was put down i've set up a old baby pen in our shed with the lambs, they got hay, water and heater on at night. they both are feeding very well, tho one seems weaker then the other and seems to sneeze like she has a cold. They have had 3 nights since mamma was put down, and the weaker lamb hasn't declined so i'm taking this as a good sign ? she may have got less colostrum then the stronger lamb, i've been adding an egg to their formula, fingers crossed !

 

[sheepdogtrail]

Hi everyone thanks for your comments, sadly vet came out in the morning, and the Ewe seems to have done her hip, and was put down i've set up a old baby pen in our shed with the lambs, they got hay, water and heater on at night. they both are feeding very well, tho one seems weaker then the other and seems to sneeze like she has a cold. They have had 3 nights since mamma was put down, and the weaker lamb hasn't declined so i'm taking this as a good sign ? she may have got less colostrum then the stronger lamb, i've been adding an egg to their formula, fingers crossed !

Sorry about that. Not much you could have done other than be there when she went into labor to help her out. But this is farming as it intersects with human life. No matter how hard we try, somethings are beyond us. I am glad that you have her lambs around. She left them in good hands.