Lambing - Ewes

Question 1

What are potential abortion pathogens

Answer 1

Toxoplasma
Enzootic abortion (chlamydophila abortus)
Camplyobacter
Salmonella
Q-fever (coxiella burnetti)

Question 2

What are some PEE and handling necessities after abortions

Answer 2

Wear gloves
Isolate ewe
Burn foetus/placenta/contaminated bedding

Question 3

What are other zoonotic risks

Answer 3

Enteric pathogens - Ecoli, salmonella, cryptosporidium
Skin pathogens - orf, ringworm

Question 4

How can we reduce zoonotic risk

Answer 4

Good personal hygiene - hand wash, cover cuts, wear gloves
PPE - wellies, waterproofs, coveralls
Done eat drink or smoke in the shed
Don’t go near if pregnant or immunosuppressed

Question 5

What are some differential diagnoses for neurological signs

Answer 5

CCN - any stage
Hypocalcaemia - late pregnancy
Pregnancy toxaemia - late pregnancy
Hypomagneseamia - lactating
Listeriosis - silage
Louping ill - tick area

Question 6

What are some differential diagnosis of recumbency

Answer 6

Septicaemia
Toxaemia
Metritis
Mastitis
Peritonitis
Salmonellosis
Trauma lameness
Exhaustion starvation

Question 7

How can we treat vaginal prolapse

Answer 7

NSAIDS + Antibiotics
Clean and lubricate
Replace
Retain
Suture
Truss / harness
Cull

Question 8

What occurs in parturition stage 1

Answer 8

6-12 hours
Vulva relaxation
Uterine contractions
Cervix dilatation
Allantoic fluid
Restless
Separation from group

Question 9

What happens in stage 2 of labour

Answer 9

Half hour to an hour if twins
Abdominal straining
Foetus through vagina
Amnion breaks
Lies down
Grunts
Strains

Question 10

What happens in stage 3 of labour

Answer 10

3-4 hours
Expulsion of foetal membranes

Question 11

When do we intervene when lambing

Answer 11

Farm protocol
Head or tail only
Over 60 mins after water bag with no progress
Lamb not advanced for 15 mins
Over 30 mins between lambs
Abnormal discharge

Question 12

What do we do when assisting

Answer 12

Clean - gloves, water and antiseptic, clean peritoneum
Gentle - lubricant, cupped hands, good restraint
Patient - vagina / cervix may not be sufficiently dilated. Intervening too soon can be detrimental to

Question 13

What do we assess when looking at a ewe

Answer 13

Vulva - relaxed, tight, swollen and damaged
Foetal fluids - fresh, malodour, meconium
Vagina - dry? Lamb visible, palpable work out presentation
Cervix - open, closed, ring womb

Question 14

What are some reasons for dystocia

Answer 14

Foetal maldisposition - 50%
Obstruction in birth canal - 35%
Feto-pelvic disproportion - 5%
Foetal monsters - 3%

Question 15

How do we treat a uterine prolapse

Answer 15

First aid
Epidural
Raise hindquarters
Clean and remove foetal membranes
Replace
Antibiotics and NSAIDS
Oxytocin and calcium

Question 16

What can happen with trauma during lambing

Answer 16

Vaginal rupture
Laceration
Uterine rupture

Question 17

What are clinical signs and treatment of metritis

Answer 17

Clinical signs - septicaemia, toxaemia, vaginal discharge
Treatment - aggressive, antibiotics, NSAIDS, fluid therapy, propylene glycol/oral electrolytes