Lambs and related problems Dr Abu Siam Mazen DVM March 2008

lambing

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.

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.

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

Different presentation

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.

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

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.

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

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.

Uterine prolapse

Uterine injury

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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Tetanus in newborn

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.

Main causes of lamb mortality Hypothermia Arthritis Diarrhea Pneumonia Contagios Ecthyma

Hypothermia in lambs

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

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

Arthritis in lambs

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Pneumonia in lambs

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

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

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

Contagious Ecthyma

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

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 40.000 iu\ton Vit E as constant supplementation of pregnant ewes with 200 iu of Vit E at birth 125.000 iu\ton in creep feed 80.000 iu\ton in the growing ration 40/000 iu\ton in finishing rations

THANK YOU FOR ATTENTION