Joint ill in Lambs

 

What is it?

Joint ill is when bacteria infect the joints in young lambs, leading to progressively worsening lameness in one or more legs.

What does it look like?

Lamb with joint ill

  • Joint ill often presents as a lameness in one or more legs that slowly worsens.

  • Lambs spend more time sitting or lying down than usual, or slower to come in to feed than the others.

  • The joint may or may not be swollen, hot or sore.

  • Lambs are usually still happy, bright and wanting to drink.

How does it happen?

  • Joint ill often follows navel ill, which is an infection of the exposed umbilicus (or navel) by bacteria. These bacteria spread into the bloodstream and circulate throughout the body. One of the main sites that bacteria like to settle are the joints.

  • The biggest risk factor for joint ill is lack of colostrum in the first six hours of life. Colostrum contains lots of good antibodies that help lambs fight off any infection that afflicts them in early life.

How can we treat it?

  • As the cause is a bacterial infection, treatment is with antibiotics. The anatomy of joints, however, makes it hard for antibiotics to penetrate them, hence a long course (2-4 weeks) of antibiotics is necessary.

  • Anti-inflammatory/painkiller drugs (NSAIDS) will also be prescribed. This is to decrease inflammation around the joints and to provide pain relief.

  • The prognosis of recovery depends on the severity of the joint ill and how long it has been going on for.

How to avoid it?

COLOSTRUM!! Lambs need 5% of their bodyweight of colostrum within the first six hours. Within the first 24 hours colostrum volume should total to 10 – 20% of bodyweight.

Lambing kit suggestions

  • Iodine spray  

  • Gloves  

  • Clean towel or two  

  • Colotsrum powder  

  • Lamb tubing set  

  • Milk replacement powder  

  • Bottle + lamb feeding teat (and a spare)