This information is early for Icelandics' gestations, but many breeds could be entering the 'danger zone. The neighboring flock that I'm helping a new shepherdess lamb had a sad series of events. I feel it may have been averted if the symptoms had been seen earlier & interpreted more quickly.
Another Cotswold mix ewe with her healthy lamb.
She was a 3 year old Cotswold mix. Due to never being bred, she was a BCS of 5. Many ewes can become too fat when they're not bred, or lactating, & it can exacerbate issues.
These slides were compiled to give a quick 5-10 minute read on the ailment, causes, symptoms & treatments for Pregnancy Toxemia with the hope that it helps you catch it early.
(click on right corner to expand these for easier reading)
I arrived late at night because she'd been having 'light contractions' all day & was not standing. She was the first ewe to lamb. My friend's first ever.
If there are 2 things I always want to avoid it's: a ewe that is down & a ewe that is not eating. Both of these mean that earlier subtler signs were missed. In this case, the ewe wasn't in labor. The 'soft contractions' were instead discomfort & tremors from late stage ketosis.
The owner made the decision by morning to have her vet perform a c-section. This is a first for me & I learned a lot for which I'm grateful, but the results were tough. The ewe was pregnant with good sized triplets. 3 lambs, coupled with her weight, had put too much pressure on her rumen, shrinking its capacity. Put plainly, her body couldn't keep up with the demands of the growing lambs so it began burning its own reserves.
In the end, this little guy was delivered safely. His siblings did not survive & the saddest part is that his beautiful mother didn't either. Then when it couldn't get any sadder for my friend, this little guy didn't wake up after days of care.
Focusing forward, learning.
Be aware of body score. A thin ewe is always at risk, but if a ewe is obese make sure she has easy access to hay as well. She has to keep taking in ample calories. Make sure she isn't being pushed away.
If a ewe isn't coming to eat, pay attention. It can be isolating for lambing, but also ketosis. If she has trouble walking then treat with propylene glycol ASAP- or electrolytes, corn syrup or molasses until you can get it.Not being able to stand at all is seldom a sign of healthy early labor.
Thankfully this event has been followed by many easy, happy deliveries & my friend, in her first lambing season, is falling in love with sweet lambs daily.
The magic of lambing season, with all its highs & lows, gets a hold of you. The wonder, the anguish, the calling… never stops feeling miraculous to me.
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