WE HAVE A SPIDER LAMB!!! 🕷️🕷️ #sheep #lambing #cachevalley

[breccamerie]

My mom raised a goat like that once. It ended up being a mineral deficiency. She was able to build a stand for the goat to exercise her legs until she was able to recoup. She was born unable to walk and giving her the correct minerals and helping her strengthen her legs she was able to go on and live a normal life. She gave birth to two sets of twins and none of the babies had issues.

[daftirishmarej]

At least he enjoyed time with his friends for a while. Big decisions aren't easy. Keep going Sandi, whatever angle you decide to go in x

[StillWatersASMR]

Oh gosh. As a fellow sheep farmer you have my greatest sympathy. A couple years ago we got 2 deformed lambs that we had to euthanize and it was HORRIBLE. One was barely alive so it was a kindness but the other wouldn't have survived longterm but was so full of life it was really really tough. Thankfully it was just 2 isolated and unrelated incidents and we had no repeats the following year so to be faced with the prospect of something that could affect multiple ewes and lambs would be so heartbreaking. Sending you so much well wishes and I really hope the rest of your lambing went better. Any losses are tough but when you have a rough year it really hits hard. Look after your mental health. Farming is HARD.

[ladada-wect]

I will admit im not equipped to make those decisions, so I admire and respect rhose rhat do

[RexPersonthing]

We had REALLY bad Cash Valley come through our farm last winter. We lost 60% of our lambs as stillborns. We couldn't get any of them to guelph for testing because the storms were so bad, too. It was rough. Almost made me quit farming.

[rin-eri]

For anyone who doesn’t know, Spider Lamb was allowed to grow up for a few weeks but was ultimately euthanized

[angelfishoftexas]

Makes it so much more of a hard decisions when their so full of life, bless its little heart 😭

[miafoley]

My area had an outbreak of cache valley a couple years ago. I didn't have any kids with deformed legs, but there were several born with parrot mouth. Another was about a month old and lost the ability to regulate her body temp and wound up dying. Her necropsy revealed that she did have encephalitis that the vet attributed to CV.

[bcgrote]

He had a grand life for the few weeks he lived. He romped best he could, had plenty of food and cuddles. He was warm and lived, and had a peaceful end. Not freezing, starving, or eaten by a predator. You did very right by this boi.

[strayiggytv]

When the joint is deformed theres not much that can be done. Tendon problems can be resolved with braceing and stretching but joint deformities lead to arthritis and poor quality of life overall. Correct decision was made imo.

[mistysidorov]

That would have broken my heart. Not just because I would've known they had to be put down, but because I hate the idea of how that would have effected the baby's life. Usually deformities in the legs can be fixed, but not when its in the joints like that. Bless the little one's heart and yours, too, ma'am.

[susanhamill]

At least he had some time that was happy.

[Dagrdottir]

Admire you ability to take responsibility for those difficult decisions and following through...not asking anyone else to do it. I'm sorry you have to do that Sandi

[janicehammond]

Find a rescue, just someone who’ll want them just to love on..💙💙💙

[kathybrandt]

Sandi, you are a excellent Shepherd. Please do not let the Monday morning quarterback. Try to tell you that you’ve done something wrong. There are more people in this world that love you.

[Frostth]

On the upside mommas got some fantastic instincts

[KRISkeuler]

So sorry Sandy that those nasty mosquitoes can cause this issue. We have not had this at our small sheep farm. I have learned so very much from you ❤❤❤
God bless you and sharing the good and sad news😢

[iris]

Sadly, Sandi said in a video that she will have to euthanize the lamb. She will not have a good quality of life as she gets older and will be in constant pain 😢

[ellenjankowski]

Thats so sad. Such a cute little lamb.

[helenpatterson]

My daughter took a baby goat whose mother rejected her out of 4 she birthed. She started with simple braces made of toilet paper rolls, cotton, and lath. It took a while, but it actually worked. She modified the braces regularly. Young bones seemed to respond, and now, at 6 years old, she is striking in conformation.
I've never heard of this mosquito borne thing and wonder if it could affect goats as well.