Bowel Blockage in Poddy Lamb

by Patti
(Texas)

We have been raising an orphaned lamb for approximately 4 weeks now. She has finally started nibbling at grass and has been doing well.

However, today she has started crying out when she tries to have a bowel movement and I noticed a clear liquid coming out of her anus during this moment of trying to have the bowel movement, but no stool, and her rear end appeared to protrude with her tail raised as though she were going to have a bowel movement.

Is this the sign of a bowel blockage or something else? Thanks for your help!

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Hi Patti,

Yes, it sounds as if your poddy lamb is constipated.

You can do 2 things to relieve this. You can first treat the problem with a soapy enema and you can administer an oral treatment.

For the oral treatment for constipation you can give your lamb some olive oil, castor oil or milk of magnesia. The milk of magnesia is at a rate of 1/2 teaspoon per 10 pounds of lamb. The olive oil or castor oil can be given at a rate of 1/4 cup.

The easiest way of giving the lamb the oil or milk of magnesia is with it's bottled milk. That way you don't have to worry about the problems you can get with drenching.

If your lamb is still in stress after this, you will need to call out the vet.

Hope that things turn out well.

Regards
Kathryn
Countryfarm Lifestyles