Lamb holding front leg up

Bexs1990

Member
Livestock Farmer
Hi
Any advice Would be great.
I have a lamb that’s 10days old, noticed 5 days ago she was lame holding her front leg up. She won’t put any weight and refuses to use it. Iv Penstrep & loxicom her and still no improvement.
I have had the vet out and she can’t put her finger on anything, just gave her a shot of steroids for 2 days.
I mention that she was Heptavac in the shoulder of the bad leg.
has anyone else had a similar problem?
Thanks bex
 

Bexs1990

Member
Livestock Farmer
The Heptavac was administered by someone else, Iv had them as cades. ( I don’t do mine till 4-6 weeks) explain this to the vet.
iv treated for the likes of joint ill and still no improvement
 

Estate fencing.

Member
Livestock Farmer
I get reactions to hep, did 500 yesterday and about 50 are lame on the front this morning but most will be better tomorrow. It might have just hurt its leg.
 

primmiemoo

Member
Location
Devon
Probably already considered, but a thorn can go in deep. Also, there are more ticks around in more parts of the country. A tick-born abscess in the leg, possibly?

Failing that, a greenstick fracture?
 

Bexs1990

Member
Livestock Farmer
Iv never had any problems in the past with Heptavac just lambs being abit quiet the next day.
can’t feel any form of abscess, or any hot patches.
she has a small lump on the shoulder/ rib cage from which we think is the injection site of the hep.
the vet has bandage her leg up and gave her steriods, mentioned maybe nerve damaged from the injection but other than that still no future forward.
 

delilah

Member
Heptavac shouldn’t be given to a lamb under three weeks old, so you need to have a serious look at your management in that respect. As to the leg, it’s usually either scald or joint ill, but with vaccinating so much ahead of the proper time who knows.

You probably don't give a sh!t, but have you ever considered the possibility that your condescending style may put folks off seeking advice ? Have a think about the welfare implications of folk being too timid to ask, eh.
 

primmiemoo

Member
Location
Devon
Iv never had any problems in the past with Heptavac just lambs being abit quiet the next day.
can’t feel any form of abscess, or any hot patches.
she has a small lump on the shoulder/ rib cage from which we think is the injection site of the hep.
the vet has bandage her leg up and gave her steriods, mentioned maybe nerve damaged from the injection but other than that still no future forward.
All possibilities are thought through, then. There is that nerve that involves the elbow ~ and 2 ml subcut is proportionally greater for a tibby lamb than for a month old, that's true. With luck, it should subside @Bexs1990 .

I sort of remember a story in the Herriot books ~ the dog whose owner was determined had a broken leg, but which Herriot diagnosed as nerve damage, and was right 🙂
 

Bexs1990

Member
Livestock Farmer
I’m hoping so, There a pair of fantastic looking lambs and I just hope it comes right.
this year is my first year Iv experienced illness with in my flock, 3 weeks ago joint ill ( which I never heard of) to this Cade with this problem.
I may have a look and see if there is any references from James Herriot on sheep he may have an answer :)
 

Highland Mule

Member
Livestock Farmer
You probably don't give a sh!t, but have you ever considered the possibility that your condescending style may put folks off seeking advice ? Have a think about the welfare implications of folk being too timid to ask, eh.
I care less about hurting the feelings of a shepherd vaccinating lambs at <5 days old to their probable detriment than I do about the welfare of the animal? Yep, that’s fair comment.

Thinking about it, if an anonymous internet poster being a bit robust actually puts someone off, then I’m not sure that livestock farming is the right path for them, given the regular challenges we face.
 

primmiemoo

Member
Location
Devon
I’m hoping so, There a pair of fantastic looking lambs and I just hope it comes right.
this year is my first year Iv experienced illness with in my flock, 3 weeks ago joint ill ( which I never heard of) to this Cade with this problem.
I may have a look and see if there is any references from James Herriot on sheep he may have an answer :)
💡 Radial nerve?

Herriot's stories can be a good springboard for further reading, but a text book should be better 👍
 

delilah

Member
I care less about hurting the feelings of a shepherd vaccinating lambs at <5 days old to their probable detriment than I do about the welfare of the animal? Yep, that’s fair comment.

Thinking about it, if an anonymous internet poster being a bit robust actually puts someone off, then I’m not sure that livestock farming is the right path for them, given the regular challenges we face.

You could convey your welfare messages without the patronizing, aggressive style. Then folks with thinner skins than us would feel confident to ask and everyone would be a winner. Except you wouldn't be able to sit back and feel so smug with your put downs, so I guess that's a non-starter.
 

Highland Mule

Member
Livestock Farmer
got a few tthis year, suspect its joint ill, noramlly get maybe 1 but this year 3/4 keep jabbing them with betamox LA 1 come good other seem same?
I had a joint ill case this year that wouldn’t respond to Betamox LA - 3 jabs at 3 day intervals and still wouldn’t put any weight on the left. I’ve changed to daily Pen Strep now and it seems to be improving but early days. Might be worth a try for those that aren’t coming right.
 

Old Shep

Member
Livestock Farmer
OK this is stating the obvious. A lamb at that age going lame, my first thought would be joint ill. Is there any fluid on the knee or "shoulder" joint? If so it is joint ill and requires a course of strong antibiotics and anti inflamatories. I do really hope though that the vet would have diagnosed this if the case, but recent stories have given me less confidence! So do get a second opinion if you think this is the case. (This isn't vet bashing - I have a great respect for good vets).
 

Farmer_Joe

Member
Livestock Farmer
Location
The North
I had a joint ill case this year that wouldn’t respond to Betamox LA - 3 jabs at 3 day intervals and still wouldn’t put any weight on the left. I’ve changed to daily Pen Strep now and it seems to be improving but early days. Might be worth a try for those that aren’t coming right.
worth a try will get some tomoz cheers

just catching them thats hard!
 

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