Hi everyone. This is my first question that I have posted. I have been lurking and have answered a few posts. Here goes: We have a yearling ewe who was pregnant. She was bloating up and wouldn't eat. The vet thought she had pregnancy disease so we gave her propylene glycol orally and dextrose under the skin. She got worse. The vet came out and induced labor and delivered twins, one dead and the other was alive but its intestines were on the outside. The vet made an incision and stuffed the insides back in. But after two days the littel lamb died. Now, the mother had fluid literally bagging underneath her. We got her milk bag dried up but this other fluid does not dry up . The vet thought it may be mastitis but it is not her bag that is swollen, it is the area off to the side of the bag. The area is not warm and is not tender to her. She eats well and is healthy otherwise. Any ideas what this is or how to get rid of the fluid? It somehow is moving toward her leg and gets in the way when she walks. Thanks for your help!

-- JoAnn Nehls (jonehls@excite.com), April 04, 2001

Answers

If it is a big pocket of fluid you should be able to use a hypodermic syringe and needle and drain it off.

-- Deborah (bearwaoman@Yahoo.com), April 04, 2001.

We had a yearling doe rupture her milk vein. Probably alot less pronounced in sheep, but in dairy goats they are veins running from her umbilical area through her foreudder. One got clogged. Once it ruptured it was unfixable and since her udder was ruined we put her down. You could tell very quickly what the fluid is in the doe with a double end needle. It really amazes me that folks have vets that leave them with more answers than questions. My vet is very sharp, even up against the unknown tests are ran, her mentors from vet school are called in and we find the answer! Vicki

-- Vicki McGaugh TX (vickilonesomedoe@hotmail.com), April 04, 2001.

Thanks for your help. We are not experienced in drawing fluid with a needle and a bit unsure so hubby is taking her to vet in the morning. Thanks again.

-- JoAnn (jonehls@excite.com), April 08, 2001.

Just a quick note to let anyone interested know that the fluid turned out to be a Hernia caused by birth. Thanks for your help.

-- JoAnn in SD (jonehls@excite.com), April 15, 2001.