Skip to main content

Lamb Walking On Knuckles/ Contracted Tendons


Some lambs are born walking on their knuckles.  This may be caused by contracted tendons.  Overcrowding in the womb may be the culprit.

A treatment that works well for this problem is splinting the lambs legs for a few days.

Keep the lamb in the pen with the mother to ensure the lamb does not miss out on feeding due to the disability.



This lamb in the photo was born in the breech position. His sibling was born with normal feet but this lamb was walking on his knuckles. He seemed uncomfortable and had to be aided in the suckling of his mother and bottle feed for the first few days of life. Once he got his splints on he was much more active and acting like a normal lamb. One leg healed before the other. It took 3 days for the problem to show vast signs of improvement.
I would take of the splints off each day, message the feet and check the progress.




When making the splints ensure that you use enough padding and that the tape is not too tight.
I felt better taking of the splints each day and reapplying them to make sure he was not developing any sores or that the splint was not too tight.

I bought my self adhesive bandages in the pharmacy and used ice cream sticks, cotton wool and some padding from the pharmacy.



Comments

  1. MATINAJune 12, 2021 at 4:17 PM

    I started on COPD Herbal treatment from Ultimate Life Clinic, the treatment worked incredibly for my lungs condition. I used the herbal treatment for almost 4 months, it reversed my COPD. My severe shortness of breath, dry cough, chest tightness gradually disappeared. Reach Ultimate Life Clinic via their website www.ultimatelifeclinic.com . I can breath much better and It feels comfortable!

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Electrolyte For Sick Lambs

Electrolytes are responsible for keeping the body hydrated so that the muscles and nerves can function properly. Electrolyte solutions help restore electrolytes lost by the lamb during sickness due to dehydration. Its best to feed electrolytes 30 minutes before or after feeding as electrolytes slow down the digestion of milk. You can purchase electrolyte tablets and solutions from your vet or you can try home made electrolyte. Commercial electrolyte solutions are preferred over homemade. A well made fluid electrolyte will be able to replace the fluid and electrolytes lost during scouring. It will prevent excessive dehydration which is a leading cause of death in sick lambs. A dehydrated lamb is an almost dead lamb. Home Made Electrolyte Recipe 1 Quart Water 2 Ounces of Dextrose(corn syrup) 1/2 Teaspoon of Salt 1/4 Teaspoon Baking Soda Before you give the lamb the electrolyte ensure that that the lamb is not chilled. Mix the electrolyte with warm w...
44 comments
Read more

Bloat In Lambs

The main cause of bloat is thought to be a bacteria sarcina ventriculi. Warm milk entering the stomach creates perfect substrate for fermentation. From the fermentation of the bacteria excess gas is produced causing the expanding of the stomach. This aggressive bacteria lives on lactose. This bug is everywhere and is easily picked up by the lambs. The bloated stomach of the lamb can rupture killing the lamb. The other organs can also be crushed. Abdominal bloat in young lambs is clinically diagnosed by dissension abdomen especially the right side. Bloat can also be caused due to a lack of colostrum and over feeding.   Prevention You should really try to prevent this terrible loss by good farm management. Most farmers seem to loose their bummer lambs to bloat when they are 4 weeks old. Don't feed the lamb too quickly every 10 seconds you should stop and resume feed. The hole in the teat should not be too big. The strong sucking...
72 comments
Read more

Sheep Lambing Signs

In the hours before the ewe gives birth there are some noticeable signs that she is in labour. The ewe will be uneasy and show signs of sickness. No two ewes show the exact signs but there are many common traits. Its vital that you are aware of the signs so that if there is need for intervention you are on site. Check your ewes every four hours so that if a ewe is having difficulty she is not left to struggle too long on her own. Some ewes can be quite dramatic in the hours up to the birth and some can be quiet relaxed. I have seen a ewe that every year would clear the rest of the ewes out of the shed while she was in the process of lambing.   Signs of Lambing   The ewes udder will be bagged out a few days or a week before she is about to give birth. It becomes bigger and harder the closer to birth. The teats will stand out about a day before lambing. The belly sinks also around the day before birth. The vulva will get pinker and more swelled. ...
2 comments
Read more