[Jacob-list] Help!

[J Thomas]

Sue -- So sorry to hear about Chloe's challenges!

I, too, have the same shearing stand. Good to know
that it can be used for these types of first aid
situations.

I checked in my "Managing Your Ewe and her newborn
lambs" by Laura Lawson.  There is a large discussion
of prolapses and how to repair on pages 237 - 242. It
discusses causes, antibiotics, etc.  For the
replacement aftercare section it discusses reducing
the amount of roughage with a combination of more
grain and alfalfa pellets and only a small amount of
green, leafy alfalfa hay. You should adjust gradually
1/2 pound of additional grain every 4 to 5 days to
prevent causing overeating diseases.

It also discusses giving the ewe oxytocin after the
birth of her lamb(s) to help the uterus shrink rapidly
and prevent re-prolapse problems and infection.
Oxytocin is a prescription drug. It also discusses
prolapse being the result of additional abdominal
pressure caused by several lambs, large lamb(s), fat,
gut fill with bulky feeds or a combination of any of
these.  If you use a commercially made retainer it can
stay in the ewe until after lambing. Perhaps a call to
you vet would be in order just to be sure and to
inquire about need for oxytocin following delivery.

If you don't have this book I would strongly recommend
purchasing it!  I bought mine on-line from Barnes &
Noble. It was a great help this year when my ewe,
Tumbleweed, a yearling ewe, needed help with delivery
of her ram lamb. However, I know that iseespots.com
(Mary Ellen Hanson) carries both this book and the
companion about Lamb challenges in her on-line store.

Good luck and keep us posted please! Looking forward
to possibly seeing you again in Maryland this year at
the Sheep and Wool Festival?!?

Joy

=====
Joy Thomas, Son-Rise Farm
Home of Jacob Sheep
http://home.infospace.com/sonspots1

__________________________________________________
Do You Yahoo!?
Yahoo! Movies - coverage of the 74th Academy Awards®
http://movies.yahoo.com/