Prolapse advice

arctictree

First year lambing and the first thing that happens is one of my ewes gets a prolapse!

Anyway, got the Vet out and she pushed it in and stitched her. As far as I can remember, I now have to cut the stitches once she starts lambing. Anyone know what problems I am likely to encounter? Will she prolapse again when giving birth? Also, do you lads stitch a prolapse yourselves or do you always get the Vet in? Thanks.

Bleating Lamb

arctictree wrote: »

First year lambing and the first thing that happens is one of my ewes gets a prolapse!

Anyway, got the Vet out and she pushed it in and stitched her. As far as I can remember, I now have to cut the stitches once she starts lambing. Anyone know what problems I am likely to encounter? Will she prolapse again when giving birth? Also, do you lads stitch a prolapse yourselves or do you always get the Vet in? Thanks.

There are different views on this but personally I don't think stitching is best answer as ewe might try to lamb out through the stitches which is not a good job,better to use a harness or spoon and take it off when the ewe has milk inher udder when you draw teat which means she is in a few days of lambing,did stitch in the past,or tie the wool across end real tight(which is a skill in itself)...but last few years find the spoon a better job:

Bleating Lamb

Bleating Lamb wrote: »

There are different views on this but personally I don't think stitching is best answer as ewe might try to lamb out through the stitches which is not a good job,better to use a harness or spoon and take it off when the ewe has milk inher udder when you draw teat which means she is in a few days of lambing,did stitch in the past,or tie the wool across end real tight(which is a skill in itself)...but last few years find the spoon a better job:

Are you able to watch sheep full time.,cos if not that could be tricky when that lassie goes to lamb....every case is different but ofter ewe settles down when pressure of lambs inside her is gone.

rancher

Bleating Lamb wrote: »

Are you able to watch sheep full time.,cos if not that could be tricky when that lassie goes to lamb....every case is different but ofter ewe settles down when pressure of lambs inside her is gone.

This is the way we treat prolapses, the harness works most times on its own, but sometimes it needs the retainer as well. we take out the retainer after a few hours once the ewe settles down and the ewe can actually lamb through the harness

http://www.premier1supplies.com/sheep-guide/2012/10/using-a-prolapse-harness-retainer/

jt65

I am greatly amazed that vets are still stitching, thought this practise was out dated for decades

as rancher says the harness or better still make up your own retainer from soft rope (lidl had some ideal rope lately)

TBH I find the homemade far superior to the bought one as you tie the knots to suit the exact size of the ewe and depending on the severity of the prolapse can apply pressure to suit

ewe can lamb through it unassisted

rancher

jt65 wrote: »

I am greatly amazed that vets are still stitching, thought this practise was out dated for decades

as rancher says the harness or better still make up your own retainer from soft rope (lidl had some ideal rope lately)

TBH I find the homemade far superior to the bought one as you tie the knots to suit the exact size of the ewe and depending on the severity of the prolapse can apply pressure to suit

ewe can lamb through it unassisted

All the straps on the harness are fully adjustable, will fit any ewe

J.O. Farmer

Stitching should be a last resort. Use a rope or buy a harness they rarely fail. The problem with stitching is she can't lamb through them. Even if you are home all the time you can't live in the sheep shed and surely it's the time you won't be round for several hours is when she will start lambing.
I only ever stitched one that was well gone in that the prolapse was still coming out after taking the rope of several days after lambing.

J.O. Farmer

Stitching should be a last resort. Use a rope or buy a harness they rarely fail. The problem with stitching is she can't lamb through them. Even if you are home all the time you can't live in the sheep shed and surely it's the time you won't be round for several hours is when she will start lambing.
I only ever stitched one that was well gone in that the prolapse was still coming out after taking the rope of several days after lambing.

jt65

rancher wrote: »

This is the way we treat prolapses, the harness works most times on its own, but sometimes it needs the retainer as well. we take out the retainer after a few hours once the ewe settles down and the ewe can actually lamb through the harness

http://www.premier1supplies.com/sheep-guide/2012/10/using-a-prolapse-harness-retainer/

rancher wrote: »

All the straps on the harness are fully adjustable, will fit any ewe

never have to use a retainer with the rope no matter how bad

I know the straps are adjustable but it still does not match a properly made rope

arctictree

Thanks lads, got some good advice and a demonstration yesterday on the use of a rope. So, I still have the ewe in the field with the stitches. I'll bring her in today and cut them when she starts to lamb. Hopefully this won't happen when I'm in the leaba!

arctictree

Well an update on this. Ewe lambed this morning and luckily a neighbor was around to cut the stitches as I was in work. Two nice lambs came out shortly after.

TBH, thinking about it, stitching is probably a preference for the Vet as its a quick job for him. A harness seems to be better for the shepard as he has time to watch the ewe and see if it needs to be tightened etc

Conmaicne Mara

I wouldn't be a fan of stitching neither, don't remember any prolapses in my flock, but there has been some in Dad's flock, it's the thing he dreads the most every year.

Username John

We had a good few one year, I kinda got good at putting em back in

But I found the spoon thing good enough. Made a home-made harness as well that did the job good enough...

They're a dose when they happen tho, more the watching afterwards than he actual putting em back together...

The one that did prolapse, cull her. She'll do it again next year if given a chance.

ganmo

ould lad would always use twines to tie up a ewe, don't think we've ever stitched up a ewe.

arctictree

Have 3 now with prolapse harnesses on them and another that I'm watching closely. Seems to be a lot for the small flock (30) that I have. And these are not even the ones that prolapsed last year. Looks like i'll have to do a serious cull this year.

Sheep breeder

arctictree wrote: »

Have 3 now with prolapse harnesses on them and another that I'm watching closely. Seems to be a lot for the small flock (30) that I have. And these are not even the ones that prolapsed last year. Looks like i'll have to do a serious cull this year.

prolapse is usually down to two things wrong feeding or breeding in the ram.

ganmo

Sheep breeder wrote: »

prolapse is usually down to two things wrong feeding or breeding in the ram.

I would of thought wrong breeding in the ewe

Sheep breeder

rams are known to bring it through to alot of the female off spring, a number of years ago in england a ram that was used in Ai a lot of pedigree flocks produced females that prolapsed in every flock that he was used in.

ganmo

Sheep breeder wrote: »

rams are known to bring it through to alot of the female off spring, a number of years ago in england a ram that was used in Ai a lot of pedigree flocks produced females that prolapsed in every flock that he was used in.

Ah ya that's the risk with ai.
I thought u were saying the ram of the lambs in ewe with the prolapse

Username John

We had a good few one year - nt sure why. Same war we had a few abortions as well, the ewes caught something I'd say. We sent lambs off to the lab but they didn't find anything...

What's your feeding regime artic - in case it is that?

Sheep breeder

ganmo wrote: »

Ah ya that's the risk with ai.
I thought u were saying the ram of the lambs in ewe with the prolapse

how is it a risk with AI in ewes ??.

Arrow in the Knee

Sheep breeder wrote: »

how is it a risk with AI in ewes ??.

He's saying that as a result of more farmers using (the ram that is producing females that are more prone to prolapsing) through AI that there is more of his offspring prolapsing.

J.O. Farmer

Sheep breeder wrote: »

how is it a risk with AI in ewes ??.

The same ram could be used in hundreds of pedigree ewes in different flocks each year so a fault will come through in lots of flocks.

ganmo

Exactly. Using one ram over thousands of ewes is good in one way but any bad in the same way in that his good and bad traits get spread though the flocks quickly

arctictree

Lads, one of the ewes just lambed, nice set of triplets. Do ye think I should put the harness back on her and if so, for how long? Thanks

ganmo

arctictree wrote: »

Lads, one of the ewes just lambed, nice set of triplets. Do ye think I should put the harness back on her and if so, for how long? Thanks

wait for her to clean then put it back on
ya might get away with 3/4 days

Bullocks

Had a ewe lamb prolapse today but it popped back in grand and has stayed in since . What are the chances it'll stay in or should I be looking for a harness ?

sea12

Bullocks wrote: »

Had a ewe lamb prolapse today but it popped back in grand and has stayed in since . What are the chances it'll stay in or should I be looking for a harness ?

If it was me put the harness on.

Bullocks

sea12 wrote: »

If it was me put the harness on.

Just went up to the shed now and she is still alright, I have no harness tonight but I'll get one in the morning if thats time enough hopefully

ganmo

if you've no harness use twine/rope
I'll get a pic...

Bullocks

ganmo wrote: »

if you've no harness use twine/rope
I'll get a pic...

Thanks ganmo I'll have a stab at tying up something. Good instructions there