Ewes with chapped teats

[twizzel]

Got a ewe with 2 week old twins on her (1 of her own lambs and 1 fostered). She was doing grand until a couple of days ago noticed she wasn’t standing to let the lambs feed, on closer look one side is very chapped and sore, the actual teat is partially hard but she is full of milk which all looks normal when stripped out. Gave abs just in case of infection. Do I lift the fostered lamb and add it to the pet pen or persevere with tying her up and letting them suck several times a day? When she’s restrained they do get a good feed. Attached photo of problem side, ewe is marked for cull at weaning but it’s what I do with her lambs that I can’t decide on.

 

[primmiemoo]

If you have micropore tape in your household medicine box, use that as a dressing (bit fiddly, but doable - make sure teat end isn't taped over, obvs), or apply a good udder cream.

My vet advised me that if there's inflammation from beginnings of mastitis, a jab of Metacam helps.

 

[clod hopper]

Have you got salt available for the ewe and lambs? Salt will help a little and help prevent it develop into orf (sorry spelling issue me thinks)

 

[Agrivator]

Have you got salt available for the ewe and lambs? Salt will help a little and help prevent it develop into orf (sorry spelling issue me thinks)

Anecdotal evidence is that salt on the lambs lips will just make the sores worse.

 

[clod hopper]

Anecdotal evidence is that salt on the lambs lips will just make the sores worse.

A lamb is not going to smear the test in salt! Bit by bit over time it will help

 

[twizzel]

Yeah they have rock salt. The fostered lamb has some mild sores and the sore teat has a couple too, but is chapped quite bad as well. Been putting udder salve and udder mint on it, and she’s had metacam and abs again tonight. Topped the fostered lamb up to relieve the pressure on her a bit, I guess that’s all I can do really.

 

[Agrivator]

A lamb is not going to smear the test in salt! Bit by bit over time it will help

The old saying about ''rubbing salt into the wound'' is based on bitter experience.

Sore teats in ewes are one of the saddest afflictions, and the presence of salt will only exacerbate it. If the ewes need ad lib salt or minerals, put them in a container which is too high for the lambs to reach.

 

[twizzel]

A bit of udder salve and metacam and she’s letting them suck this morning