Unsteady lamb

forumuser

We've a 10 day old lamb who has been very unsteady on her feet since she was born. I've googled but can't find anything that matches her. Swayback seems to affect back legs but she appears to have trouble with her front legs - it's like they're too long.
She's in otherwise fine form, drinks well and is thriving (she's a single so may not have done so well if in competition with another lamb). She doesn't seem to have any pain but she's very wobbly so falls sideways a lot if she tries to bounce or go too fast.
We gave her an antibiotic injection after talking to the vet on the phone and he said it might be joint ill but it doesn't seem to have helped. We're going to get her looked at but in the meantime wondered whether the good people of Boards might have any ideas?

Username John

forumuser wrote: »

We've a 10 day old lamb who has been very unsteady on her feet since she was born. I've googled but can't find anything that matches her. Swayback seems to affect back legs but she appears to have trouble with her front legs - it's like they're too long.
She's in otherwise fine form, drinks well and is thriving (she's a single so may not have done so well if in competition with another lamb). She doesn't seem to have any pain but she's very wobbly so falls sideways a lot if she tries to bounce or go too fast.
We gave her an antibiotic injection after talking to the vet on the phone and he said it might be joint ill but it doesn't seem to have helped. We're going to get her looked at but in the meantime wondered whether the good people of Boards might have any ideas?

Is she walking on her knuckles, rather than on her feet?

forumuser

Username John wrote: »

Is she walking on her knuckles, rather than on her feet?

No, doesn't use her knuckles at all

Bleating Lamb

Hi forum user, have a very similar lamb here a week of age,is walking on the knuckles of his front legs,if your lamb is able to keep up with the ewe it will probably be ok in time.

Anyone suggest anything for a lamb walking on his knuckles....I was thinking Colovet might help in case it is a mineral deficiency?

White Clover

Bleating Lamb wrote: »

Hi forum user, have a very similar lamb here a week of age,is walking on the knuckles of his front legs,if your lamb is able to keep up with the ewe it will probably be ok in time.

Anyone suggest anything for a lamb walking on his knuckles....I was thinking Colovet might help in case it is a mineral deficiency?

Most likely selenium deficiency.

Lambman

Could be tendonitis try bending the joints and massaging them a few times everyday

mcgiggles

We had one born walking on his knuckles, thriving putting on weight seems happy enough, tried splints on him didnt help.. now 2 more born last night with same.. selenium deficiency you think?

Bleating Lamb

White Clover wrote: »

Most likely selenium deficiency.

Thanks,is there anything you can give the individual lamb for that?....don't have time to be massaging his joints etc as he is out in field.

charolais0153

Bleating Lamb wrote: »

Thanks,is there anything you can give the individual lamb for that?....don't have time to be massaging his joints etc as he is out in field.

Get vitesel for him

White Clover

As charolaois has said, vitasel should do the trick. Selenium is one of the major minerals required for healthy cattle and sheep. I saw a few calves last year with that problem and twas a selenium deficiency. Also I believe it's connected to when a ewe/cow doesn't open for Lambing/calving.

ganmo

Selenium is one of those minerals that is hugely variable in the ground, and the gap between deficiency and toxicity is small

White Clover

ganmo wrote: »

Selenium is one of those minerals that is hugely variable in the ground, and the gap between deficiency and toxicity is small

Correct, however it's more common to see selenium deficiency as opposed to toxicity. A blood sample analyzed would tell alot.

ganmo

White Clover wrote: »

Correct, however it's more common to see selenium deficiency as opposed to toxicity. A blood sample analyzed would tell alot.

you're right, safest way to supplement it is with vitamin E

razor8

What's the symptoms of toxicity?

White Clover

razor8 wrote: »

What's the symptoms of toxicity?

Never came across it but I presume death would be the outcome.

ganmo

razor8 wrote: »

What's the symptoms of toxicity?

ya theres death and the other usuals like infertility poor growth etc but the main signs in sheep would be cracking hooves and poor(brittle) wool

in horses they loose their mane and tail hair and the hoof can separate

Sheep breeder

It could be a touch SVB as we have one lamb born this way when we had deformed dead lambs earlier in play, had one last year and the lamb this year is thriving and gone to the field with the bottom of the legs fused and not a deficiency.

Lambman

Just had one born myself walking on its knuckles and I know I commented on her that it could be tendonitis... having seen it it's not that in my lamb anyway as the joints are a small bit swollen and fairly hard only born last nite.... as for joint I'll I never heard off a lamb being born with it (open to correction) so I'm wondering how you lads got on with the selenium deficiency route?

forumuser

Lambman wrote: »

Just had one born myself walking on its knuckles and I know I commented on her that it could be tendonitis... having seen it it's not that in my lamb anyway as the joints are a small bit swollen and fairly hard only born last nite.... as for joint I'll I never heard off a lamb being born with it (open to correction) so I'm wondering how you lads got on with the selenium deficiency route?

Had her at the vet and he was stumped. Didn't reckon it was a mineral efficiency as she was the only one born that way. So he gave her penicillin and vitamin injections so we'll see how she is over the next week or so.

Lambman

Hopefully pulls out a it for you... I wonder what kinda injection was it or can any1 recommend a good vitamin drench with selenium?

mcgiggles

Our vet gave our 3 shots I must ask himself what they were. 2 are perfect again and the last is getting there..

forumuser

I think it was Vitamin B

ganmo

Lambman wrote: »

Hopefully pulls out a it for you... I wonder what kinda injection was it or can any1 recommend a good vitamin drench with selenium?

selenium is used to make vitamin E in the body so look for something with plenty of E in it