[Jacob-list] Breech birth

[Neal Grose]

My guess is that her pelvis is considerably bruised and the cervix should have already started to close.  I would avoid causing additional bruising by trying to insert the tablets at this point. Mostly, she will need rest and good footing. 

Check with your vet (or neighborhood dairy farmer) on follow-up treatment. I would guess that, if anything, you might want to use systemic antibiotics, with oxytocin and prostaglandin to help expel stuff, since you had to introduce a foreign body (your arm) in the uterus.

Neal Grose

From: shmee1 at mail.com 
Sent: Saturday, March 26, 2011 10:30 PM
To: jacob-list at jacobsheep.com 
Subject: [Jacob-list] Breech birth

We had a ewe yesterday with a breech birth.  This was my first experience with a breech birth and having to pull a lamb.  I scrubbed up as best I could and tried to find some legs to pull but couldn't figure it out.  We called a neighbour and experienced farmer to help out, he came and pulled the first lamb out backwards.  The second lamb was also pulled out backwards, neither lamb was alive but they didn't have seem to have any malformations and both lambs were quite large.  Our neighbour mentioned that he thought he had some Aureomycin tablets at his barn and would check for us.

This morning we found a third lamb, smaller than the first two but fully formed was expelled by the ewe in a very tight sausage shape (legs and head still folded next to the body).  I called to neighbour to see about the tablets and picked them up from him this evening.  Upon reading the directions it mentions to administer immediately before the cervix begins to contract, we of course were too late and this had already happened.  We approached the ewe to attempt inserting the tablet none-the-less and she was obviously quite tender in that area, we decided she had been abused enough and might cause more harm than good at this stage.  I also noticed that she seems a bit weak in the back legs and is walking a bit slower, could this be a sign of infection or just a difficult labour?

My question to the group is did I make the right decision or should I still try to insert the tablet?  What signs should I be looking for that would indicate infection?  Would treating her with a general antibiotic help to ward off any potential infection?

The ewe of course is one of my best producers with a great fleece, strong mothering instincts, and a flock favorite. 

Any advice would be appreciated.
Leigh


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