Nibbles had Quads again! Help needed re: LETHARGY...

I agree! Sounds like calcium issues.
What’s her temp?


It is not too late to at least try. I’ve pulled goats back from the brink of death. Goats that “shouldn’t” have survived. I’ve lost some over the years but saved many. I know it is an uphill battle, but for me, I have to try.

Sorry to hear of the problems, but it may yet be solvable. Get the vet....first and foremost.

As others have said, subcutaneous calcium (about 60mls, warm and in 3 or more sites) can save the day if her serum calcium is low. small doses of propylene glycol, then food, food , food ....high carbohydrate and then protein.

The strain on the body of a ewe who has produced quads is enormous....they cannot physically cope with feeding quads after the birth.

Here's hoping that you can turn this around, but as our vet delights in saying 'Sheep are white things which lie around in fields trying to think of a way to die'. Though not TOTALLY correct, sheep care is difficult and hard work. As a prey species, they only show illness when it is advanced and severe.

Good Luck.....and don't be too hard on yourself about the lambing figures. I have been keeping sheep for years, and my first 5 lambs this season were all dead. The fact that the ewes are still alive from two of the 'dead' births is a minor miracle and required a vet visit. One of these two ewes is still touch-and-go and hasn't even stood for a fortnight......she's now getting 'physio' ....standing between two of us after we have lifted her to her feet......I'm not thinking things will go well. However, as with your ewe, if you do something she may well die, if you do nothing, she definitely will.

So we thought Nibbles was a gonner last night. After pumping her with penicillin, propylene glycol and water via syringe, it seemed too little too late. She spent most of the day unable to move, not eating or drinking, etc. Being in intermittent labour for 4.5 days, along with carrying quads and being thin to start with appeared to have taken its toll.

Everything came to a head last evening, when she was laying down with her head completely outstretched, glazed over eyes, barely breathing, legs sticking out, etc. I expected a dead sheep this morning, and we’ve been bottling the quads since their first day. Then I find out that propylene glycol in extreme quantities can be toxic. Oh dear, the perfect storm.

Well, this morning I find Nibbles up and bleating, and she drinks a lot of water when I pour it. I doped her up with molasses and Aunt Jemima (I didn’t have any corn syrup) and we headed out to H2O for the day. When we arrived home, she was up and nibbling (no pun intended) hay, and so I thought I’d put the lambs in with her. At first she seemed to be rejecting them all, head butting them and shoving against the walls. However, after about 30 minutes she had re-adopted them, and they were all taking turns nursing – she has a huge udder but basically no milk, so I think it’s just for comfort on their part.

Anyhoo, I separated them again to give her some peace, but she wouldn’t have it, racing around trying to get to them, so I gave them back and she’s not nibbling alfalfa, etc. I’m still going to bottlefeed them as she regains her strength and possibly gets some milk back. But the family is rejoined and I’m pleasantly shocked and hoping for the best.

What a roller coaster...

Are you testing her urine with ketone sticks?

I would still give her some calcium. If you don't have the liquid I would give her some tums. Ketosis and happen, but more common before lambing. The calcium issues are more common after lambing.

I give my ewes dolomite lime, free choice. During pregnancy and lactation, they inhale it. Dolomite lime is usually found in the garden section. The lambs eat it too.

I got some calcium from the vet. Took forever to inject. I'm assuming (hopefully) I should see an increase in milk production? I also gave penicillin, some more PropGlycol and corn syrup, and syringed in some water as she's not drinking now.

Basically, she's recovered and taken back all her lambs, but has no milk in her huge, hard udder. Nice. Well, technically her right side has nothing, and her left side has a bit. I'm leaving her lambs on her to increase the demand, but if/when her milk comes in I'll be leaving her with the two tiny lambs (2 and 3 lambs) and finding another way to fed the two 'big' 5 pounders

I think I'm going to give one more calcium injection today, along with penicillin and hope I see something happening...

I hope she continues to improve.

Seems she's well on her way to recovery. She even nibbled a bit of grain yesterday (something she's been avoiding). I put her with the other sheep yesterday b/c I think psychologically she needed to get away from the jug she's been in since lambing/labour. I still keep the quads in at night, although they're my healthiest most vigorous lambs!

She's producing a very consistent dribble of milk in one side, and though I am supplementing all the lambs, the constant suckling of 4 lambs on one teat should keep up the 'demand' part of the supply-demand equation!

Glad to hear she's better. Praying it continues to improve! Hey, 4 healthy lambs for you. Give her a hug!