Lundy went into labor just after feeding tonight. In the minutes it took me to grab my camera and Maggie, she had given birth to a still born, slightly premature ram lamb (his eyes weren’t yet open but he looked otherwise normal.) Shortly thereafter she delivered a tiny lamb, still in his sack, that had clearly died a long time ago. We tried to resuscitate the first born, just in case there was a chance, and tubed him with hot milk as well, but my gut says he was dead before he was born.
This is the third problem lamb we had this year- Victoria’s abortion, Catalina’s second lamb that was really just some organs and feet and now this. All three of the non-viable fetuses had strange looking nodules on them that neither I or nor Dr. Grover has ever seen before. Dr. G seems baffled by the situation- he is a large animal vet only and I trust him completely- and he has his doubts that the state lab will give us any satisfactory answers. This will probably remain a mystery, and I will learn to live with it.
I am very disappointed about losing two lambs, but I’m trying hard not to get down about it. We’ve had a very successful lambing season. Nine ewe lambs and 7 ram lambs, all healthy, is nothing to be down about.
The good news is that lambing is officially over. I’m going to celebrate with a gin and tonic and a long, hot bath.
Lundy is still looking around for her babies, calling loudly for them, and probably will until tomorrow.
{ 42 comments… read them below or add one }
That’s awful, I’m so sorry. I hope you find out what’s causing it (if anything) for the future.
I’m sorry for Lundy..the pain in her poor little heart…
enjoy your Hendricks & tonic…
How sad. But I’m glad that Lundy is ok.
Oh that’s what that sad, sad noise is on the lambcam! I was wondering, and thought it sounded awfully upset… oh Lundy
Have a good rest, and thanks for doing all the insane work of lambing season 
oh… so sad… I am sorry Susie. Poor Lundy and we can hear her sadness. I hope her heart heals soon. hugs
Oh Susie, I am so sorry. Not a good way to end lambing. I hope there may be some answers for all of this. Take a long bath and enjoy your gin & tonic. Hugs.
Oh Lundy……..how heart breaking.
Susie, I’m so sorry for your loss. I hope your vet is incorrect, and that you can get some answers, if only for closure. Congratulations on all 16 beautiful babies and enjoy your well-deserved rest!
Oh, that is a sad ending. Poor Lundy!
Oh my gosh… this just breaks my heart…
I’m so sorry about the badness, but at least there has been much more goodness! Don’t give up on the samples — are you still sending them to the state lab anyway? I don’t know about the animal side, but VA tends to have quite good human public health services, so maybe the animal side is good too.
Also I forgot to say, I’d use your photo skills to get good close-ups and wide shots of the nodules and the fetuses — you never know what amazing info you might get from the web, if you can find the right place to post it. A vet forum, for instance. Sorry this seems gruesome — I feel for you and Lundy! Just trying to maximize your hope of answers, you know?
I second VelvetMarmoset’s thoughts on gettting photos of the nodules to try to figure out what’s wrong to help avoid it in the future.
Hugs to you in the trouble. But congrats on lambing season being done for the year. I’m glad you have so many healthy lambs!
Poor Lundy. Her calls to her babies breaks my heart. I know you must be exhausted..it’s been a very busy lambing season. Take heart in all the joyous romping around that the other lambs so enjoy
I’m so sorry! What sad news to end the season.
Broken heart…I hate it when I read posts like this. makes me so sad. But then I look through your pictures and see how full Juniper Moon is and well….it’s a full moon my dear. Totally envious of the love that pours your way. You’ve got mine. xoxoxovvvvv (many kisseshugsandstitches) cm
How heartbreaking that the mother misses them. Just awful.
I’m so sorry to hear about your losses. I wish there was something I could say or do to make you feel better. I feel even more helpless being a vet and not being able to help in that way either. My heart aches for you. May you find peace and joy in the little lambs that grace your pastures this spring!
I know it never gets easier. Thankfully, the pasture is full of lambs, and the sadness will subside. Hugs to you, friend.
I’m so sorry. Poor Lundy
Sending warm thoughts to you and your flock. May everyone stay healthy and strong. Is there a gin & tonic for ewes?
That Lundy continues to call for her babes just kills me.
Such a sad ending to an otherwise great season. Hope you find answers!
Poor Lundy! Things didn’t go quite as planned. I hope you can get some answers on what happened. Perhaps next year things will work out better for her.
So sorry to hear about the sad news. Poor Lundy. The image of her looking for her babies just breaks my heart
I’m terribly sorry that this had to happen. I think VelvetMarmoset’s suggestion to take pictures and then investigate on the internet, is a good one. You never know what you can find on the net.
Oh my goodness, so, so, so sorry to hear the news.
Poor Lundy. Wish I could do something. Sending big hugs.
Susan, my heart goes out to you and Lundy. These are the saddest things to go thought. Keeping you and all in my thoughts and prayers.
I am tearing up at the thought of Lundy looking for her babies but appreciate that you give us the bad farm news as well as the good. Bless you
So sad. Hugs all around for the humans and snorgles to all the healthy lambs and sad ewes.
Aww. So sad. I’m reminded of your previous comment about how when you work with livestock, you inevitably must also deal with the harsh reality of “deadstock”.
hug Lundy for me…so very sad. Enjoy your bath!
This really is a very sad end. You have my interest very peaked on the nodules and cause though. I hope Lundy recovers from her loss soon.
Oh Lundy…such sadness, for sheep and shepherd alike. Be well.
Oh I am so sorry
sorry to hear about lundy’s babies
big hugs to you and to her please feel them from my heart extending to you both directly.
my guess, about the ‘nodules’ based upon data is that it’s possibly due to certain environ toxins/chemicals that cause a ruccus (sp?) in our systems & animals too.
that’s it in a nutshell~
sorry to hear of the losses
but happy that the season was an overall success
with healthy moms and babies
lotsa love
rona
I’m so sorry. Having just met you, Maggie and your wonderful and much-loved flock, this is sad news.
But…
“But what is happiness except the simple harmony between a man and the life he leads?” Albert Camus
You have that happiness and harmony. Gin and tonics help, too.
oh, poor lundy.
sorry to hear about this loss, but congrats on 16 healthy babies!
How very sad… It breaks my heart to think of her crying for her babies. Nature is cruel & beautiful at the same time.
Hi Susan, I have been raising sheep for more than 25 years and can tell you that a perfect lambing season never happens, no matter how prepared you are or how hard you work. As one of the other comments noted, nature can be cruel and beautiful at the same time. It is just that we are not very good at paying attention to this lesson that life is all too willing to teach us. It sounds to me like you have a gem in Dr. G. Large animal veterinarians are a rare commodity these days and many areas of the country are in severe shortage of them. Causes of abortions are very hard to diagnose so you may have to just live with the knowledge that you may never know what happened. Living with ambiguity is part of being a farmer. Your lambs look great and you did a fine job, especially with all the changes you and your flock have been through.
ahhhh poor Lundy.
Thank you, Jan. Your comment means the world to me.
Oh how sad for her. I am glad the mommies were all ok, but saddened for the lambs. I hope that you find an answer. Thanks for sharing.