Mostly I try to keep posts light and cheerful but lest anyone think this life doesn’t hit you hard sometimes, this post will not be that. At chore time on Saturday I noticed a ewe in labor. When she did not progress, I decided to examine her. Over the years I’ve sorted out many malpresentations but when I reached into this ewe, I could not find a lamb - nor could I insert my hand very far at all. Hoping something would change, I left her be but continued watching her on the barn camera. Next morning dawned and it was clear she needed help. I tried again to examine her and this time, with an OB sleeve, went in as far as I could but the result was no different. With the help of a good friend, I was able to get in touch with my wonderful vet (why do emergencies always happen outside of office hours?) who agreed to meet me at her clinic.
The vet's exam went pretty much the same as mine and she guessed the uterus was twisted. If that was the case, there was no way the lamb could be delivered other than by c-section. My husband and I assisted in the surgery so weren’t able to photographically document everything that happened over the next hour but snapped a few pics when we could. The incision was placed high on the ewe’s flank so that when she lays down, it won’t be in contact with the ground - harder for the vet to deliver lambs, but better for healing - so smart! She found a single lamb and was able to deliver him but unfortunately he had already passed. He was a large 11-pound lamb - strange because our other birthweights this year have been lower than usual. Once the lamb and placenta were out, multiple incisions needed to be closed and then we were on our way home.
On arrival home I milked the colostrum out of her to freeze in case it is needed in the future and then we unloaded her. She was so happy to be home that she ran from the car to the barn. Surgery? What surgery???
Her future is unknown. As of this writing she is depressed. We are doing what we can for her with antibiotics and pain relief and hope she will recover well from her surgery. However her ability to carry lambs in the future won’t be known for another year. We’ll give her every chance we can but know there are no guarantees.
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