Weekend Worries
Tuesday, February 17th, 2009On Saturday night, I walked out the barns to start evening chores. I turned the lights on and checked critters like I do most nights. In the shed where the rams are being housed, I hears a peculiar wheezing sound. I couldn’t figure out what it was. It was very dark (as it normally is after the sun goes down) and I couldn’t see what was make the noise.
I went into the shed. In the corner, beside the water tank Wolfie was laying their wheezing and very bloated. I was very concerned and did not expect him to live through the night.
I propped his rather limp head on to my lap and started to look him over. The bloat was easy enough to treat. Slowly, we were able to get some liquid into his mouth and he was swallowing. I noticed a big knot or knob on the top of his head. It looked like our rams were being rams and Wolfie got the worse part of it. He had a severe concussion.
We decided to take him in the house for the evening. This would allow a few things to happen. First and foremost, he would not have to fight the cold of the night and try to get better at the same time. At least we can take one problem away from him. Secondly, we can keep the other rams away from him and keep him from getting bashed worse. And, lastly if not most importantly, we would be able to care for him quickly and on a regular basis without traipsing all the way out to the barns. It meant cleaning up a mess and the kitchen smelling a little like a barn for a day or so.
It was hit-or-miss the first night. The drugs helped with whatever pain he was feeling and brought down any inflammation that was obviously causing him discomfort. The next morning we would find out if he makes it or if we need to call the vet for a different reason.
I woke rather early and did not sleep very well thinking of Wolfing downstairs. I reluctantly went down to check on him truly not looking forward what I thought would be an unenviable site. Instead, Wolfing was standing at the baby gate between the kitchen and the laundry room looking rather spry.
Quickly, I dashed upstairs to let everyone know. I was very happy to see him up and about.
A few minutes went by before we brought in some grass hay and filled the water bucket full of electrolytes. Wolfie was hungry and it was very apparent that all the bodily functions were working properly. This was a good sign that we had turned a corner in his recovery.
Throughout the day, Wolfie went back and forth between somewhat healthy to definitely not healthy. He never really rested but did tend to sway back and forth on occasion. During the day, we let him outdoors in the fenced backyard and he stood under a picnic table most of the times I monitored him. We noticed that cud was coming out his nose. This wasn’t necessarily a good sign. His breath smelled like manure not like cud or rotten grass smell that you would expect. To prevent any infection, we gave Wolfie and antibiotic. Sunday came and went with no tremendous improvement and Wolfie spent another night ni the house.
Monday was a holiday (President’s Day) and Wolfie had much, much more energy. In the morning, we took him into the backyard and he saw the other sheep across the farm. He started head-butting the fence. Wolfie was bound to go home today. A quick trip back inside for me to get a leash and into the ewe’s area he went.
We were reluctant to put Wolfie back into the same pen with the rest of the rams. It was clear that he was not 100% yet. The ewes sniffed and snorted a bit and Wolfie seemed right at home. We checked in on him in the afternoon and into the evening. He was laying by himself in the sunshine and appeared to be fine.
This morning, Wolfie was out and about and doing his sheep thing among the rest of the flock. It is amazing how hardy this breed is.