I planned to post an “Ask the Shepherd” tonight but some actual shepherding will have to come first. Salina, my sweetest ewe, has broken a leg. We thought she might be being beaten up a bit because she has been covered in mud for the last couple of days, as if she’d been pushed over. Since we put FDR into the ewe pen for breeding on Sunday he is the most likely culprit.
We isolated Salina and called Dr. Hammond, the Hudson Valley’s own James Harriott. He said she’d be fine till morning when he can put a cast on. He also said the prognosis is pretty good since it’s a hind leg, it’s broken below the hock and the bone isn’t poking through the skin. I am still worried though.
Salina is the same ewe who was attacked by a dog last fall. After the attack, she had a series of seizures and I was certain we were going to lose her. She hung in there, though, and became quite affectionate with us during while we were nursing her back to health. Erin and I both adore her and would be bereft to lose her.
FDR will be coming our of the ewe pen tomorrow. Of course, we don’t know for sure that he is responsible for Salina’s broken leg, but it would be irresponsible to leave him in with all the bred nanny goats and ewes. I’ve never known him to be aggressive though, so I’m withholding judgement on what to do about him.
I’ll update you tomorrow when we get home from the vet’s office.
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Poor Salina, she’s really having a rough time of it. Hope she’s on the mend soon. Sending good vibes her way.
poor baby girl! i hope she’s all right.
Oh, how I love that sheep. I feel so bad for her.
Do you do anything for her in the meantime? Is she in the house?
Poor baby. I’m thinking good thoughts for her and hope she heals up ok and gets back to her old self again. Sweet thing!!
Oh gosh…I’m sending good vibes to her and you.
(FYI–I nominated your blog for a Kreativ Blogger award.)
Hang in there–
Unfortunately, bringing her in would do more harm than good. Because sheep are flock animals it really stresses them out to be away from other sheep. We isolated her in a small pen with fresh hay and a small shelter. Tomorrow’s trip to the vet will be plenty stressful, so I wanted her to be where she could at least see the rest of the flock.
Good luck tomorrow – hopefully the Doc can set the leg without stressing her (or you) too much!!
Poor Salina, sweet girl. One thing after another. She’s a tough dame!