1. Lambs and related problems
Dr Abu Siam Mazen
DVM
March 2008

2. lambing

3. Dystocia
Difficult lambing with a prolonged delivery that requires assistance.
CAUSES
- Dystocia related to the parturient ewe.
- Dystocia related to the fetus.
- Dystocia related to the farmer.

4. Dystocia related to the ewe
- Mymetrial defects. (non common).
- Metabolic abnormalities, (hypocalcemia).
- Inadequate pelvic diameter.
- Insufficient dilation of birth canal due to hormonal disorders.
- Uterine torsion.

5. Dystocia related to the fetus
- Fetal oversize.
- Fetal death.
- Abnormal fetus presentation and posture.
- Fetal malformation.
- twins.

6. Different presentation

7. Treatment - Clean, dry area for lambing.
- Hands, instruments should be scrubbed in disinfectants.
- Area around the vulva should be cleaned.
- vaginal, birth canal and cervix exam.
- Use a lubricant if the canal is not wet to avoid laceration.
- Drugs (oxitocin, cortisone).
- Manipulate the fetus to the correct position.
- Cesarean section.

8. Drogs post dystocia -intrauterine boluses. - Oxytocin intrauterine.
- Antibiotics.
- analgesics.

9. Vaginitis, vulvitis Clinical signs: Trauma post-partum.
- Edema, depression, fever, loss of appetite, fetid exudate.
- May developed to vaginal prolapse.
- May cause retained placenta.
- May developed to metritis.

10. Vaginal prolapse Predisposed factors: With or without cervix prolapse
- Relaxation of the birth canal tissue.
- Prolific ewes.
- Intra abdominal pressure.
- Vaginitis
- Genetics
- Closed animals

11. Uterine prolapse Treatment: Occur a few hours after parturition
- Removing the placenta.
- Cleaning and disinfecting.
- Replacing with beginning at the cervical portion.
- Insert the hand in the horns.
- oxitocin, Ca, antibiotics, analgesics, exercise.

12. Uterine prolapse

13. Uterine injury

14. Retained placenta
Fetal membranes expulsion occurs max 12 hours after parturition retained placenta
Cotyledones not detach from the caruncular crypts
Uterine involution and decline in uterine blood contribute to the retention.
Causes: abortion, membranes hydrope, prolonged gestation, twines, placentitis, genetics, nutrition, hormones.

15. Retained placenta Treatment: - Manual removal
- Intra uterine antibiotics
- Systemic antibiotics
- oxytocin

16. Lambing time Critical time due to lambs losses
Strategic lambing plan before lambing season
Medicine kit should be supplied
Ewes should not be placed into individual lambing pens before lambing

17. Lambing equipment Gloves, soap and warm water
Lubricant for assisting ewe to lamb
Antibiotic, uterine boluses, mastitis treatment
7% iodine
Vitamin E and Selenium, WMD
Heat lamps

18. Lambing equipment
Colostrum from sheep or cows (frozen) for orphan or weak lambs
Bottle, nipples and stomach tube for orphans or weak lambs
Thermometer
Ear tags for identification
Lambing record book
Docking equipment

19. Lambing practices
Separate ewes that are nearest lambing – direct attention
Observe and give assistance when necessary
Clean membranes from around the nose – breathing
Treat umbilical cords with iodine
Make sure that ewe has milk and the teat canals is open

20. Lambing practices Make sure that ewe nurse his lamb before leaving
Assist weak lambs to insure colostrum consumption
If weather is cold provide external heat source
Identify the lambs using ear tags and record them in time
Routine checks daily for new lambs and their dams

21. Colostrum High levels of nutrients High concentration of antibodies
High energy to help lambs stay warm
Act as a laxative to ensure excretion of meconium
- colostrum must be consumed in the first 24 hours
- antibodies can cross the intestinal wall only during the first 24 hours
- colostrum needed is about 10 % of the lamb weight

22. Adoption and artificial rearing
In case of triplet lamb or bad udder
methods of grafting
Use fetal fluids
Saturated salt solution
Place the ewe’s head in a set of stocks (3 days)
use milk replacer when grafting is fail

24. Lamb docking Reasons of docking
Long tail interfere with breeding and lambing
Docked lambs present uniform appearance
The tail is a non marketable product
ATTENTION !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
-- in warm weather use fly repellant
-- vaccinate the lambs against tetanus

25. Tetanus in newborn

26. Creep feeding
Providing supplemental feed for lambs during the nursing period
Increase lambs gain
Early rumen development
Weaning without big stress
Lambs can be marketed at a younger age
Creep feeders should be located in areas frequented by lambs. A light over the creep feed area helps attract lambs.

27. Main causes of lamb mortality
Hypothermia
Arthritis
Diarrhea
Pneumonia
Contagios Ecthyma

28. Hypothermia in lambs

29. Hypothermia in lambs Lambs at risk
Cause of lambs death in the first 3 days of life
Early detection can increase the chances of survival
Lambs at risk
- lambs from ewes in poor condition
- lambs from old or very young ewes
- twins or triplets and premature lambs
- lambs which are weak at birth

30. Hypothermia in lambs Detection of Hypothermia – rectal thermometer
39 – 40 C normal lamb
37 – 39 C at risk
less than 37 C detected hypothermia
Assisting lambs with hypothermia
- dry with hay, paper or towels
- warm the lambs slowly to avoid shock
- use dextrose by iv or intraperitoneal
- 150 – 200 ml of colostrum using a stomach tube

31. Arthritis in lambs

32. Arthritis in lambs
inflammation of joints caused by environmental, faecal and soil bacteria.
Streptococcus, Staphylococcus, Actinomyces pyogenes, Fusobacterium nocrophorum, E coli, Erysiopelothrix, Chlamydofila, Mycoplasma.
Symptoms of arthritis
- hot, swollen and painful joints
- the lambs become reluctant to move
- fever, lose of appetite, depression

33. Arthritis in lambs Arthritis pathogenesis
- 2 – 7 days after lambing
- umbilicus or marking wounds bloodstream
joints (inflammatory reaction)
- chronic forms evolve with liver and lung abscesses

34. Arthritis in lambs Treatment - chronic forms are difficult to treat
- antibiotics are successful only in early stage
- chronic forms are difficult to treat
- prevention is important by disinfections

35. Diarrhea in lambs
Multi-factorial disease involving the animal, environment, nutrition and infectious agents causing increased frequency, fluidity or volume of fecal excretion.
Causes of diarrhea
bacterial, viral, parasites and diet.
Economical impact
costly disease with high mortality
Most common agents
E. coli, rotavirus, cryptosporidium, salmonella, coccidiosis

36. Diarrhea in lambs E. coli - opportunistic disease - 1 to 4 days of age
- affected lambs salivate and have cold mouth (watery mouth)
- antibiotics are used for treatment and prevention
- ewes vaccination increase the passive immunity
- hygiene is important
- adequate ingestion of colostrum decrease the incidence of the disease

37. Diarrhea in lambs Rotavirus - caused diarrhea from 2 to 14 days of age
- caused by B rotavirus
- caused diarrhea from 2 to 14 days of age
- depression and dehydration of lambs
- low mortality – secondary disease is dangerous
- ewes vaccination increase lamb passive immunity

38. Diarrhea in lambs Cryptosporidium
- protozoa that cause diarrhea similar to that of rotavirus
- 5 to 10 days of age
- lambs are more resistant than kids
- liquid and yellow diarrhea
- there is no effective treatment of cryptosporidium
- fluid therapy, hygiene and good colostrum intake

39. Diarrhea in lambs Coccidiosis Economical disease caused by protozoa
Subclinical production loses
1 to 4 month of age
Clinical disease appear after weaning stress, feed changes or shipping
Bloody, mucous and watery diarrhea
Coccidiostats as prevention and treatment

40. Pneumonia in lambs

41. Pneumonia in lambs
Caused by Pasteurella hemolytica opportunistic bacteria of the respiratory tract
predisposed factors
- poor colostrum antibodies
- viral agent like parainfluenza
- bacteria infection (mycoplasma)
- reduction of the respiratory defensive mechanisms
- heat stress
- lack of ventilation

42. Pneumonia in lambs Symptoms
- fever, breathing difficulties, failure to nurse, death in untreated cases
- weight lose
Diagnosis
- physical examination
- post mortem examination
Treatment
- early treatment with antibiotics
- prevention

43. Contagious Ecthyma Acute infection caused by poxvirus
Young animals are more susceptible
Vesicles, pustules on the lips, nostrils, teats, udder, feet and inside the mouth
CE cause mortality and reducing gain
Diagnosis based on the appearance of lesions
Treatment with topical antibiotics, feeding tube
Vaccinate at 2-3 days of age

44. Contagious Ecthyma

45. White Muscle Disease
Degeneration of skeletal and cardiac muscles of lambs due to lack of Selenium, Vitamin E or both
Areas with good feed and fast lamb growing. Stress caused after exercise, weaning, vaccination
3 – 8 weeks of age
Symptoms
- leg muscles are affected first. Chronic forms with lung edema
- lambs are bright, alert, continue to eat
- muscles become flaccid

46. White Muscle Disease Treatment Vitamin E+ SE Dexamethasone
Supplement pregnant ewes 4 weeks prior to lambing with Vit E
Vit E don’t across the placenta, colostrum is important
iu\ton Vit E as constant supplementation of pregnant ewes with
200 iu of Vit E at birth
iu\ton in creep feed
iu\ton in the growing ration
40/000 iu\ton in finishing rations

47. THANK YOU FOR ATTENTION