Lambs losing use of back legs.

[yellowbelly]

If it was just the one I would say spinal abscess but 20! I would get one to the vets for postmortem.

Had odd ones with same symptoms in the past and treated with a course of pen/strep (on vet advice) and has cured the problem.Always been in Texel X lambs that were doing very well (growing really fast). Twenty all at once seems it may be something else than spinal abscesses.

 

[Still Farming]

What does vets pm say

 

[spin cycle]

Dirty needles ? Spinal abbesses?
Sounds like a problem I had due to ^^

could be but ...100% sterimatic here.

 

[neilo]

Selenium/B12 deficiency...

OR spinal abscess. But youd be bloody unlucky to get so many.

Definitely NOT swayback.



You sure about that? Texels are susceptible to Copper poisoning, they are known to do well in areas with low Copper/high Iron (locks up copper) levels because of it. It's also advised never to give Texels Copper.

We used to get the odd swayback lamb every year here (high Iron) when we had Blackies, mules and Suffolk tups - and we copper jagged everything.

Now we run Lleyns and Texels, havnt jagged copper in 10 years and have never had a case in that time, not many farms round here who use Texels tups will jag for copper either.

+1 on the Texel thing. Less likely to get swayback if anything, as they are better at absorbing it (Charollais similar) than most breeds, but can give issues with poisoning instead on some places/management. I know plenty that still have to supplement copper to continentals though, myself included.

I wouldn't be so quick to rule out swayback for the OP. When we used to see it years ago (running predominantly Welsh Mules & Suffolk tups at the time), it would show as lambs dragging themselves round by their front legs. Never a good outcome for those.

 

[bruce9001]

Had this evening a lamb that was totally healthy in the morning with this exact condition!

Never seen it before but total loss of the use of its back legs and as others say dragging itself along totally healthy and alert otherwise!

Not been jagged for anything and about 10 weeks old!

Has movement of its tail etc and when you puah against the back leg it does have strenght to push against you!

On lamb pellets so shouldnt of thought it was a vitamin deficiency etc but going to take to vets in the morning to take blood sample etc!!

Picture attatched

 

[bruce9001]

 

[Woolless]

No problems until I read this thread but early this morning spotted a lamb as described, absolutely normal other than off his back legs. Has a faded number on him, so must have been inside as a young lamb, which suggests spinal abscess/joint ill to me.

Still got a bit of power in his legs, as I had to break into a canter to catch him! Given Naxcel (antibiotic recommended for tough joint ill cases) and metacam at 0500, so I'm hoping for some improvement this evening.

 

[bruce9001]

Been to the vets.
Done a "cheap" (£20) xray and it has a spinal infection which is wearing the bone away and fractured hence why cant walk on back legs....

Probably not get better but giving it the chance with strong antibiotics and pain relief....

 

[Woolless]

Been to the vets.
Done a "cheap" (£20) xray and it has a spinal infection which is wearing the bone away and fractured hence why cant walk on back legs....

Probably not get better but giving it the chance with strong antibiotics and pain relief....

It depends on how badly the bone is damaged but I fear a lead injection may be for the best.

Good on you for getting it properly investigated, though.

 

[bruce9001]

Its inside out the shite weather so will give it 48 hours and if not best thing for it is the lead bullet!!

Took bloods just to check trace elements as boss saod a few years back they had alot dragging there legs right out behind them so i suspect they had swayback then so...

 

[Woolless]

No progress with my lamb tonight. Hope you're faring better @bruce9001.

 

[Downton_shep]

Any results yet @CopperBeech ?

 

[peewit]

Ours still can't weight bear but with 'physio' and antibiotics is regaining movement in both legs so not giving up yet.

 

[Keepers]

 

[Northeastfarmer]

I don't like the amount of people on this thread all having lambs going the same way

 

[Keepers]

I don't like the amount of people on this thread all having lambs going the same way

Sorry this is one of @CopperBeech's today! title was meant to be there but didn't appear

 

[Northeastfarmer]

Sorry this is one of @CopperBeech's today! title was meant to be there but didn't appear

Ah I thought you'd had one as well

 

[Keepers]

Ah I thought you'd had one as well

Touch wood, none so far!

 

[CopperBeech]

I'm trying a jab of potassium selenate.

 

[Nithsdale]

I had on about a month ago...

After being down a week a cerebral injection of lead was the only option