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How to Treat a Young Lamb with a Cold

28 14:11:27

How to Treat a Young Lamb with a Cold

How to Treat a Young Lamb with a Cold. Young lambs and sheep can develop symptoms that mimic the human cold. Lambs can develop a cough, snotty nose, fever and diarrhea. Treatment will depend on the exact condition and whether the infection is bacterial or viral. If your lamb has a cold that lasts more than a couple of days or involves a high fever, contact your veterinarian. Your lamb may need antibiotics to treat its cold. There are a few things you can do to help treat its cold at home too.

Lambs can get infections that manifest as cold symptoms.

Step 1

Schedule an appointment with your veterinarian if you notice any unusual behavior in your young lamb. Pneumonia is the number one lamb disease and can be easily treated with antibiotics if caught early enough.

Step 2

Provide adequate selenium and vitamin E to your young lamb. This will help fight off the cold or any other infection. You can get these supplements from your vet or online.

Step 3

Give plenty of water to your sick lamb, especially if it has diarrhea. It's important to keep it well-hydrated to help it recover from its cold.

Step 4

Allow your lamb ample shade so it can stay cool. This is even more critical If your lamb has a fever.

Step 5

Clean your young lamb’s nose if it is congested or snotty. Keep its nasal passages as clear as possible so it is able to breathe freely.

Step 6

Provide your lamb with one aspirin twice a day. This will help alleviate any muscle stiffness or aches that can be associated with a cold and will help reduce its fever.

References

  • Sheep 201: A Beginner's Guide to Raising Sheep: Listing of sheep diseases A-Z
  • Treasure Valley Sheep Producers: Snotty Nose and Blue Tongue
  • Michigan State University College of Veterinary Medicine: Vitamin E & Selenium Concentration in Ewes and Lambs