[Jacob-list] Need any medical help on ram

[Linda]

Hey Peggy,

I hope he makes it. This may relate. I had a ram that got tangled in 
electric fence (completely my fault) and I found him in the morning with 
the wire wrapped around his hindquarters. It was in the winter, but not 
as cold as you are there. He was hypothermic, with a temp right around 
90. We also brought him in and warmed him by the heater in our living 
room. The vet came and gave him iv glucose. I fed him by syringe until 
he was strong enough to eat out of a bucket I held up for him. The vet 
recommended putting him in a sling at least twice a day and flexing his 
legs. I couldn't get a sling rigged that balanced him properly(his head 
was so much heavier than his butt), but found that putting him straddled 
over a couple of hay bales worked. It was important that he be moved 
frequently and was held upright for periods during the day to avoid 
pneumonia. I also flexed his legs while he was hanging on the hay bale 
per the vets instructions. Other than the physical therapy, food, 
vitamin/mineral supplements, and water, the vet had no other 
suggestions. The diagnosis was nerve damage from the electric fence 
coupled with hypothermia.
In my case, the ram got steadily stronger and stood after two weeks. 
Other than a slight head tilt, he was normal after that.
Unfortunately, by then his first lambs had been born. He didn't survive 
the culling process. Still, I'm glad I went to the trouble to save him, 
as it was a learning process.
Best of luck with your guy.

Linda

Marguerite Van Beek wrote:

> This morning our yearling ram (our best yearling ram) was found 

> underneath the lean to in his field.  It is not very large and flipped 

> over in the strong winds we had last night.  I have no idea how long 

> he was there but when we found him he as frozen to the ground barely 

> alive.

> His temperature was unreadable on the thermometer lower than 90.  We 

> worked on him throughout the day, 2cc banimine, 500 ml of lacated 

> ringers, lamb drench.  We also had him inside our home downstairs in 

> the basement.  I took til 3 pm to notice any change in the temperature,

> it slowly made it to 100.3 this evening around 6:30.  He is alert, we 

> gave him mixture of water and mashed up feed by syringe, which I think 

> made the difference.  He cannot stand up yet and I am not too sure he 

> will.  I don't know how much damage was done by the cold and the lean 

> to on his body.  Twice Alex's new husband came in and told us we were 

> wasting our time and suffering and should be put down.  Is there 

> anything anyone can think of that I should be giving him.  I will kep 

> trying if he is willing to fight.

>  

> Peg

> Hardwick NJ

>  

> PS  Only a Jacob could fight this

> ------------------------------------------------------------------------

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