Joint ill ...

[Keren]

I dont get it very often, and when I do the vet has always said to treat with Triprim (trimethoprim sulfa) and it seems to clear it up provided I can get to it early

just wanted to ask, is there any worth in giving an anti-inflammatory as well?

just a thought that passed through my mind ...

 

[hillsdown]

I would just to keep the inflammation at bay as best you can while treating the actual cause.

But truth be told I have only had joint ill once and it led to septicemia meningitis and a lost cause..

Good luck with him/her Keren..

 

[milkmaid]

I'd give an anti-inflammatory. If you take a look at my autopsy pics there's a pic of a calf with joint ill that didn't receive anti-inflammatory meds. My vet and I concluded that in the future, it would be extremely important to use anti-inflammatories to prevent fluid accumulation, inhibition of mobility, and eventual scar tissue.

 

[Keren]

funnily enough, when the thought passed through my mind and I posted earlier, I didnt actually have anything with joint ill

bout an hour later, two more poddy lambs arrived, one looks like it might be just starting to develop joint ill, and one of the others I already had looks like it is just starting too. I must be psychic lol

 

[larryshoat]

I agree with hillsdown and milkmaid, I think for the most part antiflammatory drugs are under used not over used.

Larry

 

[Keren]

thanks very much. I agree larry.

MM, I was thinking back to when you had that calf and wondered whether you had used an anti-inflammatory.

I'm pretty convinced these two lambs have joint ill. Not too bad yet though. I was just thinking the anti-inflammatory might be a bit of pain relief and make them more inclined to fight through it, while the anti-biotic takes effect.

 

[milkmaid]

I had used an anti-inflammatory on that calf, but I didn't use much. At the time of the autopsy, she'd been off anti-inflammatory meds for at least 3 days as I was just waiting for a warm, not-rainy day to put her down and do the autopsy.

 

[Keren]

MM ... I spoke to my vet today about the flunixil (anti-inflammatory) for the lambs and both she and the small ruminant specialist said definitely NOT for such young animals (2 to 3 weeks roughly) because their kidneys are undeveloped, and NSAIDS are hard on the kidneys.

Your thoughts on that?

 

[hillsdown]

Not MM but I do agree with that; there are other anti inflammatories available that are not as abrasive on the kidneys though..

It is kind of a d@mmed if you do d@mmed if you don't deal, with treating joint ill I think even a coated aspirin would be better than nothing as far as anti inflammatories go.

 

[Keren]

interesting, thanks hd. we are somewhat limited with the range of anti-inflammatories we can get ... flunixin is standard.

as I said, I dont often get to treat joint ill, the cases I've had previously if I get to them early I can save them, if they are a bit more advanced i havent had good success. this was just random musing. the way it looks I will keep treating just with the a/b ... these lambs are starting to improve ...

interestingly, I have a friend who had a 3 wk old kid with joint ill, brilliant little buck kid, really stunning. the vet (not my vet) put him on flunixil and a/b, he started to really improve and then one morning was dead. wondering if that had anything to do with it

 

[hillsdown]

Keren, my guess would be perforated ulcer for the buck kid. But like I said just a guess, I wish they would have had him posted just to see if flunixin actually was the culprit.

 

[Keren]

yeah, I didnt even think about the pm at the time ...