sheep's lambs not in uterus

[gregory76]

An Older experienced ewe very heavy with lamb went down but is still eating and drinking. The lambs do not seem to be in the uterus. Reaching inside the uterus I could feel a lamb's hoofs but it seems to be outside the uterus on the other side. The uterus seems entirely empty but seems to have only one small hole in the back the size of a finger or less. That would seem to be some sort of tubal pregnancy but these lambs are alive (for now) and of good size. There are no vets within a hundred + miles and would be cost prohibitive. I have never seen anything quite like this. Has any one else? Is a cesarean section the only option?

 

[Jackov Altraids]

I've experienced similar.
It feels weird but I guessed it must be the vagina that has got stretched or deformed in some manner to make it feel different.
The small hole will be the cervix.
I would be patient and watchful. She might not actually lamb for a few days.

 

[serf]

Sounds like Ur to keen , she prob not ready to lamb yet or going to prolapse too

 

[Mc115reed]

Sounds like your feeling ringwomb too me it’s a long old stretch too the back of the uterus

 

[gregory76]

I appreciate the quick response. The tiny opening is very far inside. Well more than a foot inside. She was pushing and some slime but we decided to wait for now. Thankyou.

 

[neilo]

I appreciate the quick response. The tiny opening is very far inside. Well more than a foot inside. She was pushing and some slime but we decided to wait for now. Thankyou.

Have you got any calcium inj you can give her? That, and waiting a while, can help the cervix to open naturally.

Other than that, are you sure of the due date? IF she is due now, and straining to lamb without managing, you can usually get viable lambs out by shooting the ewe and cutting them out through the abdomen.
Always a last resort obviously, but better than losing the lambs because the ewe can’t birth them and her prognosis isn’t great if she’s a downer ewe anyway tbh.

 

[BAF]

Youve got to be quick though if you shoot her, they won't last long inside a dead ewe. I'd have her fully prepped for the 'surgery' first if you are going to shoot her.

 

[steveR]

Youve got to be quick though if you shoot her, they won't last long inside a dead ewe. I'd have her fully prepped for the 'surgery' first if you are going to shoot her.

How long do you think? Hear of it being done, but never seen it.

 

[BAF]

How long do you think? Hear of it being done, but never seen it.

Couple of minutes max I'd say. It's like knocking off the power. If I was going to do it I'd have her side clipped ready to open her up the second she hit the deck. I've seen c sections done and they're not too difficult, it's keeping everything clean and sealing it all back up that's tricky but if that doesn't need doing I'd say it's a 30 second job.

 

[Oldmacdonald]

Have you got any calcium inj you can give her? That, and waiting a while, can help the cervix to open naturally.

Other than that, are you sure of the due date? IF she is due now, and straining to lamb without managing, you can usually get viable lambs out by shooting the ewe and cutting them out through the abdomen.
Always a last resort obviously, but better than losing the lambs because the ewe can’t birth them and her prognosis isn’t great if she’s a downer ewe anyway tbh.

Does calcium help ringworm? If so, how much do you give them?

 

[neilo]

Couple of minutes max I'd say. It's like knocking off the power. If I was going to do it I'd have her side clipped ready to open her up the second she hit the deck. I've seen c sections done and they're not too difficult, it's keeping everything clean and sealing it all back up that's tricky but if that doesn't need doing I'd say it's a 30 second job.

It shouldn’t take more than a minute to get lambs out of the side door in those circumstances ime. I don’t think I've ever lost a viable lamb doing it tbh, although found a few that had been dead a while where I had delayed trying to put off the inevitable.

 

[neilo]

Does calcium help ringworm? If so, how much do you give them?

It can do. It’s been a year or two since I’ve had one, but I give 60ml of Calciject then go and have a brew.
It could be the time that makes a difference too of course?

 

[BAF]

Sensiblex will open a ewe up if she's lambing and hasn't opened up or has given up halfway through and closed down again.

 

[Guleesh]

It shouldn’t take more than a minute to get lambs out of the side door in those circumstances ime. I don’t think I've ever lost a viable lamb doing it tbh, although found a few that had been dead a while where I had delayed trying to put off the inevitable.

It shouldn't take more than 15 seconds really. Trouble is getting them to breath sometimes, I guess the usual squeeze through the pelvis does a lot to trigger the necessary reflexes.

 

[ladycrofter]

@Guleesh correct it has a name can't remember. The squeeze activates the "wake up and breathe" hormones. You can apparently sort of simulated with your hands on sectioned lambs. I've done it to a dopey one and it seems to work.
@gregory76 you've certainly got yourself a situation there and you're going to have to make some decisions.

I think you are definitely feeling legs through the cervix you'll know when you're in the uterus because it feels like a huge barrel full of membranes. And lambs.

I vote for calciject if you've got it, then leave her alone and let her get on with it herself. Are the feet that you feel coming the right way up?

 

[Guleesh]

@Guleesh correct it has a name can't remember. The squeeze activates the "wake up and breathe" hormones. You can apparently sort of simulated with your hands on sectioned lambs. I've done it to a dopey one and it seems to work.
@gregory76 you've certainly got yourself a situation there and you're going to have to make some decisions.

I think you are definitely feeling legs through the cervix you'll know when you're in the uterus because it feels like a huge barrel full of membranes. And lambs.

I vote for calciject if you've got it, then leave her alone and let her get on with it herself. Are the feet that you feel coming the right way up?

Madagan squeeze ?? probably spelt completely wrong, I've never seen it but understand it's a series of half hitches of rope put tight around a calf that will kind of reset it's system, can be done to a calf that hasn't sucked for days since birth and it'll suck straight away apparently.

 

[ladycrofter]

That's it! I read a paper on it, the science etc. very interesting. New routine for dopey lambs, swing it and squeeze it starting at the nose. Poor buggers