Lambs throwing head back

[Andy84]

I was marking lambs today and this evening I have two lambs about a week old that can’t stand and keep throwing their heads back?
all they got was an ovidrench, ovivac P and Crovect. Looks a bit like CCN but they were fine before marking?

 

[Humble Village Farmer]

Sounds like CCN, a little bit of stress like being in a pen can bring it on

 

[CollCrofter]

Had one exactly the same and roughly the same age. It was hypothermia and starvation. Are they twins? Check the ewe/ewes for milk?

 

[Paul E]

It's a genetic thing........
Over generations sheep have evolved in pissy wet environment where it rains all the time.
In nice weather, they throw their heads back as they can't work out just "Why the f**k isn't it pissing down?, and whats that big warm orange thing in he sky?

 

[Al R]

I was marking lambs today and this evening I have two lambs about a week old that can’t stand and keep throwing their heads back?
all they got was an ovidrench, ovivac P and Crovect. Looks a bit like CCN but they were fine before marking?

Why ovidrench lambs at a week old and crovect? I know nothing of ovivac? Genuine questions as I’m intrigued as never done anything to lambs before 4 weeks.

 

[Andy84]

Why ovidrench lambs at a week old and crovect? I know nothing of ovivac? Genuine questions as I’m intrigued as never done anything to lambs before 4 weeks.

I had a couple with touches of Nemotedirus and they ate going to the hill so need tobe covered for tick. The bulk of them are older there was jist a couple of tail Enders in the group.

 

[Andy84]

I had a couple with touches of Nemotedirus and they ate going to the hill so need tobe covered for tick. The bulk of them are older there was jist a couple of tail Enders in the group. They would actually be about 10 days old tbh

 

[Al R]

I had a couple with touches of Nemotedirus and they ate going to the hill so need tobe covered for tick. The bulk of them are older there was jist a couple of tail Enders in the group.

The tailenders makes sense, I bolused 3-4 lambs 5 weeks old the other day. Sorry by your original post I thought you’d done hundreds of lambs at that age - doubt the ovidrench would do anything at sub 20 days so probably would’ve left them.

 

[Moors Lad]

Wonder if Crovect would harm them at that age - how much did they get? Seem to remember many years ago a friend had a problem after putting Crovect on very young lambs.

 

[Andy84]

Wonder if Crovect would harm them at that age - how much did they get? Seem to remember many years ago a friend had a problem after putting Crovect on very young lambs.

I did wonder this I usually use spot on but changed after not being happy with the effectiveness of it. The maximum the biggest lambs got was 20ml but the smaller ones got less.

 

[Andy84]

UPDATE - I gave both lambs 2ml of mineral drench (still can’t get injectable B vitamins) and tubes them some colostrum today make sure they at least had full bellies overnight and some glucose and they are both running about happy as Larry this morning!! ??‍

 

[CollCrofter]

UPDATE - I gave both lambs 2ml of mineral drench (still can’t get injectable B vitamins) and tubes them some colostrum today make sure they at least had full bellies overnight and some glucose and they are both running about happy as Larry this morning!! ??‍

Did they feel empty? You'll need to watch them like a hawk. Back with the mothers?

My lambs don't get anything from the day they are born in April till June when they get a worm dose, a bolus and then a wee spray of Dysect or similar. To be honest I've never seen or heard anyone spray lambs at such a young age. Have you had a bad/early maggot season?

 

[Highland Mule]

FYI.

Crovect and lambs

How young can you crovect lambs? Have to get them all in over the next few days anyway, and was wondering if I could combine jobs. Lambs will be 2-4 weeks old. I'm thinking too young?

thefarmingforum.co.uk

 

[CollCrofter]

Apologies, I missed this too. Just for ticks maybe a drop of Spotinor till older?

 

[Paijes]

UPDATE - I gave both lambs 2ml of mineral drench (still can’t get injectable B vitamins) and tubes them some colostrum today make sure they at least had full bellies overnight and some glucose and they are both running about happy as Larry this morning!! ??‍

Have got a lamb that’s doing the same thing, gave her vitamin b injection last night but still the same this morning

 

[neilo]

Have got a lamb that’s doing the same thing, gave her vitamin b injection last night but still the same this morning

You need to keep the B1 injections up regularly, which isn’t cheap at £50 per 50ml bottle! I always give 5ml of Dexadreson/Rapidexon too, to rapidly reduce the swelling on the brain that causes the symptoms, and a drench of Propylene Glycol seems to help too.
Still touch and go whether the survive/recover fully though, depending on how soon it’s spotted.

I’ve had a dozen or so lambs with CCN this year for some reason, when we’d normally be unlucky to see one a year. When I mentioned it to my vet he said they had seen lots of cases this year. Nobody seems to have any idea why. Certainly no breed or diet connection between cases here.