🐑🌼 Lambing season is one of our favourite times of the year! 🌼🐑
There is nothing quite like driving onto a lifestyle block and being greeted by bouncy new lambs. ❤️ Spring is full of excitement, but it also brings a few common newborn challenges, including a condition called entropion.
Entropion is when a lamb’s eyelid rolls inwards, causing the eyelashes to rub against the surface of the eye. At first, you might only notice a watery eye, discharge or a little squinting, but if left untreated it can quickly lead to painful corneal ulcers.
We’ve recently treated two newborn lambs with this condition. After a light sedation, we placed a few temporary tacking sutures to gently roll the eyelids back into their normal position. As the lamb continues to grow, the eyelids naturally reshape into the correct position, meaning the problem often resolves permanently.
The best part? 🙌 We revisited these little cuties just over a week later and they were doing brilliantly! Their eyelids are sitting beautifully in the correct position, the ulcers are healing well with ongoing eye ointment, and they were back to doing what lambs do best… bouncing around the paddock! 🐑💨
📸 Swipe through the photos to see the amazing difference!
⚠️ While entropion is one of the most common eye conditions we see in lambs during their first 1–4 weeks of life, it’s important not to assume every sore eye is entropion. Infectious conditions such as pink eye (infectious keratoconjunctivitis) can look very similar in the early stages and are highly contagious, spreading rapidly through a flock if left untreated. That’s why it’s always worth having affected lambs examined so we can determine the underlying cause and start the appropriate treatment as early as possible.
💡 It’s also a great idea to check your lambs every day during lambing season. Early detection makes all the difference.
Keep an eye out for:
👁️ Excessive tearing or watery eyes
👁️ Squinting or holding an eye closed
👁️ Eye discharge
👁️ A cloudy or blue-looking eye
🐑 Lambs that seem quiet or lethargic
🥛 Reduced milk intake or reluctance to suckle
💩 Diarrhoea (scours)
🦵 Limping or difficulty getting around
🌡️ Any lamb that just doesn’t seem quite right
If you notice any of these signs, don’t leave it to “see how it goes.” Early treatment is often straightforward, highly effective, and can prevent much more serious health problems.
At The Lifestyle Vet, we’re passionate about supporting our local lifestyle block community and helping give newborn lambs the very best start in life. Whether it’s a sore eye, a sick lamb, or you’re simply unsure if something is normal, we’re always happy to help.
🐑❤️ Happy lambing, everyone! We hope you’re enjoying all the new arrivals as much as we are.
📞 Worried about your lambs? Give The Lifestyle Vet team a call and we’ll help get to the bottom of the problem.
☎️ 027 838 5433
📧 info@thelifestylevet.co.nz
