I noticed today (2024-09-05) that RAM 0005 was lying down and didn’t seem to want to get up. When I approached he slowly stood up and it was clear that something was wrong with his front left leg. Two of the joints were swollen. Doing a quick internet search and reading some articles it became clear it is arthritis — possibly Chlamydial polyarthritis.
Treatment at this late stage is basically wait and see. Many lambs recover on their own, but some suffer and often farmers just relieve them of their suffering.
The specific symptoms I observed:
- The lamb was unwilling to move, but under pressure would get up and move around, without putting any weight on the left front leg.
- The leg and shoulder were swollen.
- There were wounds on the shoulder, small scrapes possibly due to barbed wire or thorny bush. Could also be a dog scratch or bite?
- When I moved the lamb I noticed that liquid was squirting out of a hole near the knee. After draining a lot of liquid the pressure went down and it seems the lamb got some relief. Liquid continued to drain and drip. It didn’t seem like pus but more watery, like the liquid between joints.
I plan on opening the wound to allow further draining with a scalpel. If the lamb doesn’t heal quickly I might also euthanize the lamb.
The cause of the disease is possibly a wound that got infected. Prevention is just don’t let the lambs get wounded. I don’t know how to do that except to raise better dogs; hope that the thorny brush decreases; replace the barbed wire with high-tensile wire and woven wire.
I don’t think the animal is in much pain, but with lambs it is hard to tell. Their instinct is to hide themselves and lay down quietly when they are suffering.
UPDATE: About a week after initial symptoms, the front right leg started swelling and became sore. I couldn’t identify any puncture wounds or anything like that.
UPDATE: The ram passed away on September 26th. The hole on the leg got infected and I think it was just too much for his little body to fight and win.