By now, most of you will have scanned your ewes and know what’s on board. We’ve seen some encouraging scanning results across the region, but with more twins and triplets comes a higher risk of sleepy sickness.
This metabolic disorder, also known as pregnancy toxaemia, is most common in multiple-bearing ewes during the last few weeks of pregnancy, when their energy demands are at their highest.
It can affect thinner ewes that aren’t getting enough feed, but it can also occur in well-conditioned ewes if they’re put under stress, such as prolonged bad weather, pre-lamb shearing or crutching, or illness that reduces feed intake.
Early recognition is key. Watch for ewes that have separated from the mob, seem dull or slow, stop eating, stagger, appear blind or don’t react normally to people or dogs. A characteristic feature is ‘wool pull’, where the wool plucks easily.
The sooner treatment starts, the better the outcome. We recommend treating with Glucalphos, Ketol and Metacam, while keeping the ewe with the mob to encourage her to keep eating. If she’s close to lambing, a caesarean may be the best option to give both the ewe and her lambs the greatest chance of survival.
If you’re unsure whether a ewe is showing early signs of sleepy sickness, or you need advice on appropriate treatments, give you KeyVet a call. Acting early can make all the difference in these cases.
