It is important to start treating your lamb or kid as soon as you notice symptoms of hypothermia. The faster you get help, the better your chances of survival.
First, wrap it in a towel and place it in a warm, dry place. If it is wet, try to dry it and warm it at the same time. There are two ways to warm it: you can hold it on your lap or use a warm box.
If you have access to a warm indoor space near a heat source, either option is suitable. However, if you are working in a barn or cold room, it will be necessary to use a warm box.
Be careful because it is also possible to warm up the lamb or kid too quickly, as well as the risk of overheating. It is important to follow the heating process and make sure that no burns or other injuries occur.
Warming up on the wing
If possible, take the lamb or kid to a warm house or building, near a heat source (such as a wood stove or heater), and hold it on your lap wrapped in a towel. Next, use a hair dryer to heat and dry it, blowing warm air back and forth over the body, moving the dryer constantly. Always keep one hand on the lamb or kid to avoid heat injury.
If the heat you blow is too warm for your hand, it means it is too warm for the lamb or kid. Rub it off with towels and continue to blow dry them. Check your body temperature regularly with a rectal thermometer, every 5 minutes. When the temperature reaches 39.2°C, you can stop heating.
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Hypothermia in lambs and kids – warm box
Take a cardboard box large enough to fit a lamb or kid and cut a hole in each end, approximately 10 cm in diameter. Place the cooled lamb or kid in a box on a towel and cover it.
Place a hairdryer in one of the holes and blow hot air into the box – not directly on the lamb or kid. Put your hand in the other hole and place your hand on the newborn animal, to make sure you don’t burn or overheat it. If your hand is uncomfortably hot, so is the lamb.
Sometimes it’s best to turn the blower on and off as needed to keep the box warm, but not too hot. Check his body temperature with a rectal thermometer every 5 minutes. When she reaches a rectal temperature of 39.2°C, stop warming her.
First feeding
Once the lamb or kid has reached normal body temperature, it is recommended that you offer them warm milk to warm their insides.
Do not feed lambs or kids while they are still hypothermic, as they may be too weak and unable to receive milk. Also, they may have difficulty breathing and there is a risk of aspiration.
Wait until their body temperature reaches normal before feeding them. After that, you can offer them warm milk from a bottle or syringe, or allow them to nurse for an extra boost of warmth.
If hypothermia is the only problem a lamb or kid has, when you raise its body temperature and give it a warm meal, it will revive significantly and be active. When it is completely dry, reaches normal body temperature, becomes active and behaves normally, it is ready to return to its mother.
Hypothermia is fatal for lambs and kids. But if you can spot it early enough and treat it properly, you can save their lives.
Source: Mother Earth News
Source: www.agromedia.rs
