Eww swollen back legs

[Reece1503]

I’ve got a Texel shearling ewe due to lamb in 5 days, both her back legs have swollen up at exactly the same time and evenly down both legs feels very fluidy and wobbly, never seen this in sheep before.
Could it just be water retention and swelling pre lambing like some women get? any answers or treatment suggestions greatly appreciated

 

[Longlowdog]

This may help or may not but you are not alone.
A friend has just had a ewe that filled all her legs with fluid and became seriously lethargic to the point of being very worrying. Off her food and off her feet. The vet said he couldn't say for certain what caused it but thought cellulitis may be the reason. As the ewe was so ill he suggested a Cesar to save the ewe which my friend agreed to. Two live lambs were recovered to the surprise of both parties. The ewe was in no fit state to look after them so they went on a bottle as no surrogate mum was available. The ewe is still poorly and being held upright by a web of ratchet straps for part of each day to encourage her to take her own weight and pee and poo naturally and she is slowly recovering.
This ewe is being fed whatever hay she will pick at, a little lamb creep and rumen stimulant powders. The vet would have liked to prescribe steroids to increase her appetite but was concerned they would interfere with her Cesar wound healing.
This ewe was seriously ill, I hope yours is less serious and all works out well for you.

 

[Cowmansam]

Do they get black leg like calves can ?

 

[muleman]

Give it a shot of metacam.

 

[Reece1503]

Thanks for the advice the ewe still eating and mobile although somewhat slowly Gave the ewe a shot of loxicom and a twin lamb drench for the drop in food consumption fingers crossed she’ll improve when lamber

 

[primmiemoo]

Do they get black leg like calves can ?

Sheep can and do get blackleg. Before clostridial diseases were vaccinated against as routine, I would see one die of it per year even in the tiny flock we children had back then.

It kills fairly quickly. Gas gangrene is pretty horrible as a way to go, though.