Lambs With swollen knees

[JoeFo]

Have noticed the last few days some of the lambs are walking with swollen knees (one knee)

They were all lambed outside and were dipped with iodine.

Got rings about 10 days ago, no sign of infection on the lambs so don’t think it’s joint ill

Any suggestions what may be up?

 

[Anymulewilldo]

Sounds like classic Joint Ill I'm afraid

 

[Woolless]

We've had bother with joint ill in outdoor lambs this year. We tag a lot at 12-24 hours and it seems to have got in through that as many have infected ears. Maybe got in through rubber rings with you? My theory is that the battering the ewes received late winter has resulted in less/poorer quality colostrum, as we normally only have two or three. Betamox LA plus metacam cleared up about half. Fenflor has sorted most of the rest but there's a few that will need euthanised and a handful more that may never be sound enough to go on a trailer. I'll make sure that the freezer is empty come the autumn..

 

[JoeFo]

The things is no sign of infection and lambs haven’t got any worse over the past 5 days. Could they get injured sucking the ewe, they are about 3-4 weeks old at this stage

 

[Northeastfarmer]

I’d say pretty much joint ill

 

[Bob the beef]

As @ woolless said.
Almost definitely joint ill. we have had a real issue with it this year, never had much problem before. Lambs 6-10 days old going fine then just start hobbling. We lamb outside and the ewes have all been lambing in the dusty bits at the bottom of trees etc. Fenflor and metacam . Jagging first time straight forward, if they need done again can be a bugger to catch them

 

[JoeFo]

Yes, impossible to catch them!

 

[bazza3034]

Probably lambed on a wet day always causes me joint ill

 

[andybk]

surprising how it will sort itself out after initial doses of ab / metcam had two very bad ones here 3 out of 4 legs affected , (couldnt walk more than few yards ) , both now out running with flock, no way to catch them though one still holding a back leg . but as above will need to freezer them down the road

 

[bazza3034]

surprising how it will sort itself out after initial doses of ab / metcam had two very bad ones here 3 out of 4 legs affected , (couldnt walk more than few yards ) , both now out running with flock, no way to catch them though one still holding a back leg . but as above will need to freezer them down the road

Is metacam a pain killer

 

[Woolless]

Is metacam a pain killer

yes and anti-inflammatory.

 

[Frank-the-Wool]

We have had an extraordinary number of Joint Ill lambs recently and no antibiotics have had any effect. They have seemed to get better but then suddenly go downhill at about 3 weeks old and go off their legs or just die.

When we were using Pen & Strep daily it seemed to cure them, but we have been unable to get any again until today so hopefully it will cure them. We have been dry and all outdoors with very little intervention so nothing obvious triggering the problem. On another flock we had issues but that was caused by Ticks which we soon fixed by treating them.

 

[Northeastfarmer]

We have had an extraordinary number of Joint Ill lambs recently and no antibiotics have had any effect. They have seemed to get better but then suddenly go downhill at about 3 weeks old and go off their legs or just die.

When we were using Pen & Strep daily it seemed to cure them, but we have been unable to get any again until today so hopefully it will cure them. We have been dry and all outdoors with very little intervention so nothing obvious triggering the problem. On another flock we had issues but that was caused by Ticks which we soon fixed by treating them.

I still maintain that colostrum quality wasn’t good enough this year

 

[Muddyroads]

I’ve had a few this year too. Reassuring to know I’m not the only one.

 

[egbert]

seen more than usual this year- despite conditions being dry and clean.
Basil tidied up one or two, treatment improved some....but not one which flops about, and isn't going anywhere after 2-3 rounds of treatment.
The poor devoted ewe keeps working at him, coming back diligently.
I'm starting to eye the lambs coat to be put on a bottle lamb ...but don't like to do the deed.

 

[Woolless]

I still maintain that colostrum quality wasn’t good enough this year

I think you're bang on but we'll never really know, will we?

 

[Woolless]

seen more than usual this year- despite conditions being dry and clean.
Basil tidied up one or two, treatment improved some....but not one which flops about, and isn't going anywhere after 2-3 rounds of treatment.
The poor devoted ewe keeps working at him, coming back diligently.
I'm starting to eye the lambs coat to be put on a bottle lamb ...but don't like to do the deed.

I've a couple heading that way too

 

[Northeastfarmer]

I think you're bang on but we'll never really know, will we?

We won’t...I’ve had some this year and wont of had any for many years

 

[primmiemoo]

Had it in lambs that were born on hot, still days. Could it be they were not jolted into action at birth in the normal way - no shivering - and didn't suckle fully within the first few hours?

 

[milkloss]

We have had an extraordinary number of Joint Ill lambs recently and no antibiotics have had any effect. They have seemed to get better but then suddenly go downhill at about 3 weeks old and go off their legs or just die.

When we were using Pen & Strep daily it seemed to cure them, but we have been unable to get any again until today so hopefully it will cure them. We have been dry and all outdoors with very little intervention so nothing obvious triggering the problem. On another flock we had issues but that was caused by Ticks which we soon fixed by treating them.

Did you try noroclav?