Big Udder, No Milk

[Honey Tree]

I had a ewe deliver twins yesterday.  Nice big udder and a great mother.  Problem?  Absolutely no milk down into the nipples.  The udder feels normal and the ewe doesn't mind me handling the udder or nipples.  I can't get any milk to flow into the nipples.    The lambs suck away but still no milk.  They are both vigorous lambs and can empty a bottle lickety-split.

I've given them colostrum that I had frozen and will start them on milk replacer but I'd still prefer the old fashion method of feeding.  Anyone else ever had this issue?  Any suggestions?

[EmsoffLambs]

If she had milk but isn't letting it down, a shot of oxytocin should help her let it down. Just be sure her teats aren't plugged.

[Honey Tree]

Her teats are definitely open.  What dosage on the oxytocin?  IM or SQ?

[WestSDSheep]

We had a ewe lamb few days ago with triplets, nice, full appearing udder no milk at all on one side. She had normal udder last year, raised triplets. But when sheared in Jan., the shearers had marked her as a bad udder so she had a problem which became more apparent at lambing. We have not had any luck with this type of ewe coming into milk so have been supplementing the lambs, will pull two and try leaving one on her, she will be culled.

[EmsoffLambs]

Not sure on dosage. I would ask your vet.

[Honey Tree]

Thank you!

[EmsoffLambs]

Any milk yet?

[Honey Tree]

Unfortunately not.  Her udder has gone from firm soft to knotty.  I expect that her milking days are done.  So I'll provide the milk and she'll provide warmth and protection.  It's too bad, she's a great mom and has nice lambs and is a really sweet ewe. 

[Don Drewry]

Our vet has hand written on our bottle .5 cc for milk let down.  Been many years since we've given a shot for that.

[Honey Tree]

I was talking to my sheep vet about the problem.  She recommends drawing blood and testing the ewe for OPP.  She said that a big, beautiful udder with no milk is a classic sign.