Neonatal lambs

Question 1

How much colostrum does a lamb need?

Answer 1

50ml/kg in first 6 hours

200ml/kg in first 24 hours

Question 2

What is the minimum and ideal levels of plasma protein in a neonate lamb?

Answer 2

45g/L minimum

60g/L ideal

Question 3

Give examples of milk substitutes for lambs

Answer 3

Hand pumped ewe colostrum
Goat colostrum - must be CAE negative
Cow colostrum - must Johne’s/TB negative and vaccinated against Clostridia, less energy so requires 30% more

Question 4

What type of virus causes Border disease/hairy shaker lambs?

Answer 4

Pestivirus

Question 5

Swayback in lambs may present as stillbirth or weak lambs with weak hindlimbs. How is this diagnosed and treated?

Answer 5

Dx: copper assay (liver, blood)
Tx: copper supplementation

Question 6

Drunken Lamb Syndrome has an unknown cause. What age lambs does this affect?

Answer 6

1-3 weeks old

Question 7

Drunken Lamb Syndrome causes acute ataxia, recumbency and death. Biochemistry shows azotaemia, hyperphosphataemia and severe metabolic acidosis due to excess D-lactate. What is the treatment?

Answer 7

Sodium bicarbonate - for acidosis
Amoxicillin
(Rapid recovery within hours)

Question 8

Hypothermia is common in the first 3 days of life. How long does brown fat last for in lambs?

Answer 8

6 hours

Question 9

What is the treatment for moderate hypothermia (<37 degrees)?

Answer 9

Dry lamb
Give warmed colostrum
Check ewe, provide shelter and supervise

Question 10

What is the treatment for severe hyperthermia?

Answer 10

Dry
Warm
Give glucose intraperitoneal
Then warm fluids

Question 11

How is iodine deficiency prevented?

Answer 11

Dose ewes with potassium iodine 4 weeks prelambing +/- 4 weeks pre-tupping

Question 12

What pathogens cause joint ill/infectious arthritis and at what age?

Answer 12

Strep dysgalactiae - <4 weeks old
Erysipelothrix rhusipathiae 6 wks-6 months
Tick pyaemia (Staph aureus)

Question 13

What is the treatment for joint ill caused by Strep dysgalactiae?

Answer 13

Penicillin/amoxicillin for 5 days (repeat once)
NSAIDs
Dexamethasone
Euthanise if not better

Question 14

What is the treatment for joint ill caused by Erysipelothrix rhusiopathiae?

Answer 14

Penicillin for 5 days

NSAIDs

Question 15

Meningitis is caused by opportunistic bacteria and leads to weak, depressed, collapsed or fitting lambs with congestion of the eye blood vessels. How is this treated?

Answer 15

Amoxicillin + clavulonic acid

Poor prognosis

Question 16

How can meningitis and naval ill be prevented in lambs?

Answer 16

Colostrum management
Naval dipping
Good hygiene

Question 17

What is navel ill?

Answer 17

Inflammation of umbilical vein - omphaloblephitis

Question 18

What is the treatment for navel ill?

Answer 18

Amoxicillin + clavulonic acid

Question 19

What pathogen causes lamb dysentery?

Answer 19

Clostridium perfringens type B

Question 20

How is neonatal diarrhoea treated?

Answer 20

Isolation
Warm and give fluids
Systemic ABs

Question 21

What is the treatment for a patent urachus?

Answer 21

Ligation under GA

Antibiotics

Question 22

When does Watery Mouth typically occur?

Answer 22

Within 3 days of life

Question 23

List some risk factors for watery mouth

Answer 23

Lambing later in lambing period
Large litter size, low birthweight
Early castration
Inadequate colostrum
Poor hygiene

Question 24

What is the treatment for watery mouth?

Answer 24

Oral fluids
Flunixin
Broad spectrum ABs: amoxicillin, neomycin, streptomycin

Question 25

How can watery mouth be prevented?

Answer 25

Good nutrition, hygiene, colostrum management
Don’t castrate <24 hours old
Prophylactic ABs - if recent cases of watery mouth, triplets or low birth weight

Question 26

Why must a hypothermic, hypogylcaemic lamb always receive IP glucose BEFORE warming?

Answer 26

Warming when hypoglycaemic can cause seizuring