Pulpy kidney in lambs often presents as sudden death, especially in the healthiest lambs, but signs can include staggering, convulsions (twitching, head pressing, paddling), abdominal pain (arched back), depression, dullness, and diarrhea, though death can be so quick that signs are missed. Post-mortem, rapid bloating and kidney autolysis (becoming "pulp-like") are classic, along with excess fluid around the heart.
Overgrowth in the gut of bacterium Clostridium perfringens releases epsilon toxin which causes sudden death. There is no treatment for pulpy kidney. A vaccination program with 2 doses 4–6 weeks apart initially, and then a regular booster provides protection.
Three key early warning signs of kidney problems are changes in urination (more or less frequent, especially at night), foamy or bloody urine, and persistent swelling, particularly around the eyes, feet, or ankles, indicating fluid retention. Other common signs include persistent fatigue, nausea, itching, and loss of appetite, as toxins build up when kidneys aren't filtering effectively.
Pulpy Kidney
Common symptoms include bloody stools and weight loss. However, coccidiosis can pose a diagnostic challenge due to asymptomatic losses, especially of older, apparently healthy lambs. It often looks like the lambs are starving because of the severe intestinal damage caused by coccidia.
Common signs in infected flocks include:
Sulfadimethoxine (Albon) is the only FDA-approved medication for coccidia in the United States. A few other medications, such as ponazuril, are often used off-label to treat coccidia with success. Coinfections with other parasites are common and may require additional medications.
Pulpy kidney occurs in four to ten week-old lambs born to unvaccinated dams, and in weaned lambs from six month-old when passively derived antibody has waned and the lambs themselves have not been vaccinated.
Baking Soda - sheep will eat this if they feel an upset stomach coming on. It is BEST to purchase a “mineral feeder” and keep one side filled with baking soda and loose salt, and the other side filled with the sheep minerals.
Lambs may be affected in both forelimbs, both hind limbs and all four limbs, with no evidence of any swelling. If able to stand, affected lambs have a stiff, stilted gait and an arched back; they exhibit muscle trembles and weakness. Affected lambs lie on their chest then roll onto their side and die within a few days.
Early signs of kidney disease often involve subtle changes like foamy urine, increased nighttime urination, swelling (puffy eyes, ankles), persistent fatigue, loss of appetite, nausea, itching, and shortness of breath, though many symptoms only appear as kidney function declines. High blood pressure can also be both a cause and an early indicator, and some damage may only be detected through lab tests, even with no noticeable symptoms in the earliest stages (Stage 1).
Beets and their juices contain Betaine which increases urine acidity, prevents build-up of struvite and calcium phosphate and reduces the chances of kidney stone formation. Other effective cleansing agents are coconut water, cucumber juice and cherries.
Eye Puffiness
This can make it look like you have bags under your eyes. Edema (fluid buildup) due to kidney disease is often associated with swelling in the hands, feet, and lower legs. However, fluid can also collect around your eyes, making them look puffy and swollen.
Signs that pulpy kidney is occurring in your herd can be hard to observe. Weaners in good condition are often found dead on their side with limbs extended and head thrown back. It can look similar to tetanus or other neurological conditions.
If added to sheep and lamb drinking water apple cider vinegar will assist in keeping waterers free of algae and mosquito larvae. Improves the quality and yield of wool. Reduces the incidence of urinary calculi and kidney stones. It has powerful healing, cleansing, and natural antibiotic and antiseptic qualities.
Producers reported clinical signs including staggering, convulsions, head tilt, circling, recumbency, paddling of the limbs and death in 0.5 to 10 per cent of the flock. Some also reported abortions in clinical normal sheep.
Mix ¾ cup of water with ½ cup of baking soda and syringe some (carefully) into the lambs mouth. This will help neutralise the gas. Massage the lambs stomach area, this helps the gas move. The lamb may belch or pass gas, this is a good thing.
Salt and Lime: Another common practice is mixing salt and lime to create a loose lick. This provides a few basic nutrients, such as calcium and sodium. We also recommend adding Causmag, or Magnesium Oxide, to help with magnesium deficiencies – but only around lambing.
Treating sheep
Traditional treatments include drenching with 50–60 mL of vegetable oil or paraffin oil. An oil or surfactant anti-bloat preparation registered for cattle may be used under written veterinary recommendation, usually at one-fifth of the cattle dose.
The CDT vaccine protects all small ruminants against clostridium perfringens type C and D, as well as clostridium tetani (tetanus). These organisms are commonly found in the environment including soil. should be vaccinated at 6 weeks with a booster 2-4 weeks later at weaning. 1 “300 Multiple Choices.” Sheep 101.
Exposure to adverse weather conditions and insufficient intake of colostrum are important risk factors for neonatal mortality, and hypothermia and starvation were main causes of death in these studies.
You can give a wormer and a flukicide at the same time, but not mixed as you rightly say. Lambs don't really start eating grass until about four weeks old; takes three weeks or so for worms to be a problem, so they shouldn't need wormed before 7 weeks of age.
Most disinfectants do not work well against coccidia; incineration of the feces, and steam cleaning, immersion in boiling water or a 10% ammonia solution are the best methods to kill coccidia. Coccidia can withstand freezing. Coccidia are very species specific.
Common signs in infected flocks include:
You may be surprised to still see live worms in your dog's feces after deworming them, but this is normal. While this can be an unpleasant image, it's actually a good thing — it means the worms are no longer living inside your dog!