Question: What Is Twin Lamb Disease In Sheep?

How is twin lamb disease treated?

Ewes suffering from twin lamb disease should be treated twice a day with a product containing propylene glycol (Glycerin), vitamins and trace elements that stimulate appetite and liver function, such as Ewe-Keto. In severe cases, your vet may need to administer an injection of glucose and corticosteroids into the vein.

What is the cause of twin lamb disease?

Twin Lamb Disease (TLD) can occur in thin or over fat ewes and is triggered by a stressful event such as a change in weather, change in diet or foot problems which results in a critical shortage of blood glucose causing a demand on the ewe using her backfat for energy.

When does twin lamb disease start?

Twin lamb disease is an energy deficiency and can occur around lambing, when getting sufficient energy into ewes during the last few weeks before lambing can be a challenge. This is an increased problem if ewes are thin, too fat or carrying multiple lambs.

How do you prevent twin lamb disease?

Prevention

1. Introduce concentrates six-to-eight weeks pre-lambing (depending on litter size) and increase the level of feeding gradually based on forage quality;
2. House sheep three-to-four weeks in advance of lambing to avoid sudden dietary changes;

How common are twin lambs?

Twin births (two babies) is most common in well-managed flocks and with many breeds of sheep. First-time moms, especially yearlings, are more likely to have single births, though twins are not uncommon in some breeds. Ewes produce their largest litters of lambs when they are between the ages of 3 and 6.

How do you treat acidosis in sheep?

Treatments include intravenous fluids, drenching with bicarbonate solution or milk of magnesia, intraruminal antibiotic injections, thiamine or steroid injections, and surgery for very valuable animals.

What is ketosis in sheep?

Pregnancy toxemia, also known as ketosis, is a metabolic disease that occurs in late pregnancy. It is most prevalent in ewes carrying two or more lambs or in very fat ewes. Ketosis can also occur when a ewe is too fat since fat also takes up room inside of the sheep resulting a less space for the rumen to hold feed.

What causes calcium deficiency in sheep?

What causes hypocalcaemia? Hypocalcaemia is caused by the animal being unable to mobilise calcium from the bone quickly enough to meet demand. Cases of hypocalcaemia can be associated with grazing cereal regrowth (low in calcium) and pastures with a high oxalate content.

What is milk fever in sheep?

Milk fever may also occur around lambing, as the ewe’s hormones may inhibit her ability to sufficiently mobilize calcium reserves. The symptoms of milk fever and ketosis are similar, though milk fever seems to develop more suddenly. The differential diagnosis is the ewe’s response to calcium therapy.

What is pregnant cow toxemia?

Pregnancy toxemia in cows is similar to the condition in small ruminants and is the result of fetal carbohydrate or energy demand exceeding maternal supply during the last trimester of pregnancy.

How do you use twin lamb drench?

To treat twin lamb disease administer 50 to 100ml of 40% glucose under the skin and drench with 50ml propylene glycol (e.g. Ceto Phyton) by mouth. Separate affected sheep and put them on the best feed you have available. Not all sheep will respond to treatment.

What is lambing sickness?

Lambing sickness (pregnancy toxaemia or twin lamb disease) and milk fever (hypocalcaemia) are 2 metabolic diseases affecting ewes in the late stages of pregnancy. Lambing sickness is the most common of the 2 diseases. In severe cases, it can cause a high loss of ewes and lambs.

What causes pregnancy toxaemia in sheep?

Ketosis, or pregnancy toxaemia, occurs in cattle, sheep and goats. It is caused by the abnormal metabolism of carbohydrates and volatile fatty acids. Ketosis usually occurs in animals in good condition that suffer a sudden deterioration in their nutritional status.

What is listeria in sheep?

Listeriosis is a bacterial disease seen in many species, including humans, and is caused by the bacterial organism Listeria Monocytogenes. Generally associated with spoilt silage, the disease in sheep is often seen over winter or lambing, when sheep are housed and fed silage.