Lamb will not nurse

[blessedfarmgirl]

We had a ram lamb born in the wee hours this morning. He seems lethargic and weak, though he is standing and walking, but he won't nurse. I've been keeping a close eye on him all day, and I haven't seen him really latch on and nurse at all. He'll get up close to her and nudge around for a nipple, sometimes even butting her udder feebly, but then he'll lie back down and sleep. He's been sleeping a lot compared to our other lamb, who was up and running and nursing very quickly. I gave him a little nutridrench this morning, and when I saw he wasn't nursing, I milked his mom and managed to syringe fed him about an ounce of colostrum since he had no sucking reflex and wouldn't take a bottle. He has put his mouth around a teat several times, but he won't latch on and suck. Is there anything else we can try to get him nursing? I'll try to get some pics in a little while.

 

[secuono]

Tube feed colostrum.
Just had this happen with a twin yesterday. Tube fed him 30cc and he was up & nursing on his own after some hours.

 

[blessedfarmgirl]

I would do that except I don't have a tube... He seems better after two (very messy) feedings, and he's running around but not nursing.

 

[Ridgetop]

If you don't know how to tube feed, be careful. If you get thetube in the lungs instead of the stomach, you will kill the lamb.

 

[Baymule]

How is he this morning? You may have to pull him and bottle feed him, even if you have to syringe a little at a time in his mouth, giving him time to swallow.