Lamb with legs bending at the elbow.

[Casper417]

Three days ago a ewe give birth to lamb. the lamb came out with one leg backwards. when the lamb started to walk the leg kept giving in on the knee joint. then a day later she was walking around on her knees. i guess the other leg has took all the pressure and is hurting too. weve been told to splint both legs. any ideas on the best items to use to splint the legs and the best positioning for the splint on the leg. - Both front legs that need spliting and its around the knee joint where the legs weakest and bent.
thank you

 

[H Diamond]

Depends on how stiffly you want them splinted. The least amount would just be some support with vet wrap wrapped around the area. You can increase from there to adding some bulky dressing/gauze under it first, then popsicle sticks or something similar to full on pvc pipe cut in half with gauze/bulky dressing underneath and vet wrap around the outside to secure.

If it's giving at the knee (assuming you mean the knee is buckling, not hyper extending?) you will need your "stiff" item behind the knee to keep it from doing that. Now, you just want to leave it long enough to strengthen. Check it frequently to see if it can support the weight of the kid.

Are you selenium deficient in your area? I don't know if it affects sheep the same as goats, but in goats I would give selenium. It can also just be a positioning issue, and most kids with leg problems will correct themselves within a week. (Not all.. but alot of them.)