Pre-pubic tendon rupture

Magicact

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I recently adopted a 7 year old ewe and was looking for a companion for her. There is a local baby doll who ruptured her pre-pubic tendon while carrying triplets this winter so will be retired from breeding. Currently, since one side of her abdomen hangs down more than the other and also until she dries up, she has to be treated for urine irritation to the skin.
I was wondering if anyone had experience with this injury and could let me know if she there are going to be on-going complications or not?
She will only be a companion at my house with the one other ewe.
But there are a few other older ewes in the area who are retiring from breeding that I also think would be good choices for my ewe, and so I would like to make sure to get one that won't have ongoing complications. Physical imperfections are otherwise fine.
 

Latestarter

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Greetings and welcome to BYH! So glad you joined us. There's a wealth of info, knowledge and experience shared in the multitude of threads. Browse around and see what interesting stuff you can find. By all means post away when the desire strikes you, especially if you have questions (provide as much detail/info as possible and pictures truly help)... With all the great folks here, generally someone will respond in no time at all. Please make yourself at home! Please consider taking a minute to visit the new member's thread and introduce yourself so folks can welcome you properly. https://www.backyardherds.com/forums/new-member-introductions.17/

I know @Baymule had this happen to one of her ewes last year and she ended up putting it down. I would suggest that you NOT buy someone else's damaged animals and instead buy a healthy animal that is not going to stick you with ongoing medical needs/issues/expenses.

PLEASE put at least your general location in your profile. It could be very important if/when you ask for or offer help or advice. You know, climate issues and such. I recommend at least your state as most folks won't be able to figure out where if you put anything more specific (county, town, street, etc) by itself. Old folks like me will never remember & look there first. To add it, mouse hover over Account top right and a drop down will appear. Click on Personal Details and scan down. You'll see the spot for Location. Then go to the bottom and save changes. Thanks! Hope you enjoy the site!
 

Baymule

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Losing my ewe was awful. Naturally she was my favorite. Her pre-pubic tendon ruptured and it put her lungs in a downward position. She struggled for breath, was miserable and dying. The decision was made to put her down.

https://www.backyardherds.com/threads/baymules-lambs-2nd-lambing.34888/page-8

On page 10 is a picture of a ewe with a ruptured pre-pubic tendon and she is doing ok. She cannot ever be bred again, but she is doing ok.

If the ewe you are getting has had this condition for awhile and is dealing with it, it might be ok. But are you prepared to keep an ongoing treatment for the urine burn? What if that doesn't correct itself? You mention several other ewes that are being retired. In my opinion, one of them would be the better companion animal for your current ewe.
 

Baymule

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Thank you for letting me know. I would never have guessed how much I could like sheep. I can only imagine how hard it was to lose your favorite ewe :(.

She is buried under my garden gate. When we have animals, we are going to have losses. Some are easier than others. Some I just suck it up, do what needs to be done and get going again. Losing her was a hard blow. I still think about her and none of my other sheep are anything near what she was to me.

I do love and enjoy my sheep. They are funny, inquisitive and a whole lot smarter than people give them credit for. My advice to you is to spoil and love them, but go easy on the treats and feed-it doesn't take much. They make great lawn mowers, but will also eat your flowers, snack on your trees and anything else you really like and would rather not they consume. LOL Halter break them if possible and stake them out on choice grass. They will quickly learn that when the halter goes on, they get yummies. Mine are not halter broke, I just move them from pasture to pasture by calling them and they run to me.
 

Sheepshape

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She is buried under my garden gate
It makes me feel 'normal' when I hear this kind of thing.....some of these beasties really do become family members. I totally agree about their intellect.....many examples of this from my own flock, but what I experienced a few years back confirmed this. A lot of sheep roam the nearby Brecon Beacons and they are hefted there. Whilst walking around the grounds of a hotel in the Beacons I witnessed sheep, one after the other, negotiate a metal bar at the side of cattle grid to enter the grounds of the hotel. The bar was only an inch or two wide, but they were able to get across it in a matter of seconds. It seems that another group had learnt to roll themselves across the grid, too. Well, I suppose it was a cattle grid and not a sheep grid.

I agree that it's better to have a healthy sheep or one who has become damaged whilst in your care.
 

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