Lamb losing power in back legs

mcgiggles

Hi all, my OH just rang me and said we have a lamb about 5 months old thats struggling with his back legs all of a sudden, he walks a bit on them then trips and falls, he's bright and lively and eating and not failing otherwise. I've googled and coming back with anything from cocci to selenium deficiency to tick paralysis, just said I'd ask on here see if anyone has come across it before. (Based in NW if that makes a difference) thanks!

White Clover

mcgiggles wrote: »

Hi all, my OH just rang me and said we have a lamb about 5 months old thats struggling with his back legs all of a sudden, he walks a bit on them then trips and falls, he's bright and lively and eating and not failing otherwise. I've googled and coming back with anything from cocci to selenium deficiency to tick paralysis, just said I'd ask on here see if anyone has come across it before. (Based in NW if that makes a difference) thanks!

Not an expert here by any stretch...but, Would it be early symptoms of swayback? A deficiency more than likely?

ganmo

I know what you're on about, hind legs can't separate too far and spine doesn't seem as rigid. I always thought it was swayback but I was never able to cute it

greysides

I think you need to talk to your vet as they'll be familiar with the local pattern of disease. Swayback usually affects younger lambs. At this time of year, something like an abscess in the back from Tick Pyaemia is a possibility.

drive it

mcgiggles wrote: »

Hi all, my OH just rang me and said we have a lamb about 5 months old thats struggling with his back legs all of a sudden, he walks a bit on them then trips and falls, he's bright and lively and eating and not failing otherwise. I've googled and coming back with anything from cocci to selenium deficiency to tick paralysis, just said I'd ask on here see if anyone has come across it before. (Based in NW if that makes a difference) thanks!

Had a lamb like this a few weeks ago he lost the power in back legs but could drag himself around and was eating and sucking the ewe, brought him to the vet and she said he had an abscess on his spine, she gave him a few shots and I had to inject him for 3 days after a day and a half he started to walk a bit on them after that he took off a bit wobbly for a couple of weeks but sound since

mcgiggles

Thanks for replies all, he asked vet, vet said maybe meningitis or back injury, gave some shots tuesday she's wobbly on and off, still happy out munching away on grass. Hopefully shots will help her. She's an absolutely gorgeous lamb it'd be a shame to lose her :-(

ganmo

Just take your time when your moving her and take her out of any pen asap

mcgiggles

ganmo wrote:

Just take your time when your moving her and take her out of any pen asap

We havent moved her other than bringing her in from the field.. shes in a pen in a field near the house.. good size one (would fit 20 lambs in it) should we let her out into the main field?

ganmo

It's up to yourself. If she's settled in the pen and has grass/feed, water etc then ya can leave her there for now