[Jacob-list] Re : Ewe with a constantly wet tail

[gordon johnston]

Hi Cheryl

Are you sure your ewe is a ewe ?  We had a Shetland lamb a few years ago who
squatted to pass urine like a ewe but was definitely male.  He had a penis
but an open urethra (the tube from the bladder to the outlet ) which caused
a bifurcated scrotum. The urethra opened to the surface just below the anus,
hence his need to squat, but he was constantly wet and smelled of urine.
Because of the malformed genitalia it was not possible to castrate him, but
he was of course sent for slaughter as soon as he reached a reasonable
weight.  (He was called Boris, because his mother was Yell ---Boris Yell's
son ??)

If your ewe's problem is with the urinary tract then she will smell of stale
urine.  Even if she is a true female, there could be a physical problem with
the formation of the urinary tract, or she could be incontinent as a result
of a neurological problem.

Could the wetness be caused by a discharge from the uterus ?  This would
probably but not necessarily have foul smell.

Juliet in Scotland