![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsoIcIwHt9yrfDtAdfUdsrdqTK7fbRcYl3ERzQUfsaV4EvCyeTAi2u1R-fpKc9Gj4MRBpIPTatSpFA1NsahZFNpeP4F2V8wpP_QzeCZHf2FNc8WQspM3EEIMg9SDSjWFRmAvZOgC0bFQM/s400/909Claire+headxx.jpg)
Claire, as a lamb in 2005
We lost a dear friend yesterday, our 6 year old ewe Claire. She had somehow injured her leg. It was swollen, but not broken. The heat has been really getting to her as well. I brought her plenty to eat and drink as she recuperated. I had also been giving her vitamin therapy, and really anything else that I could think of to ease her pain. The leg improved, but then a bad case of summer pneumonia set in. She was having difficulty breathing in the evening. By morning, she looked worse. I talked to my vet, and picked up a dose of Draxxin for her. I have used this in the past, and one shot has done wonders for sheep suffering from respiratory problems. It was too late. She died in my arms that afternoon.
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Claire snuggling with her momma Hazel, 2005
Claire and her sister Charlotte are the oldest sheep born on our farm. Really, it was a bit of a miracle that they lived. This was my 3rd year of lambing, and I was still quite inexperienced. Their dam Hazel was a very poor mother, and had nothing but problems. She experienced ringwomb when trying to deliver Claire & Charlotte. If I hadn't intervened, neither would have been born alive. Hazel was depressed after this whole ordeal, so wasn't will or able to nurse her twin girls on a regular basis. I had to supplement them with bottles. If you've ever had a bottle lamb, you know how they steal your heart.
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We didn't breed Claire the first year. She produced a beautiful set of twins in 2007 and was a wonderful, attentive mother.
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Claire's dam Hazel remained open that year, but enjoyed babysitting her grand-babies. In fact, Hazel never did lamb again, so sadly, was shipped to the butcher.
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4 comments:
What a tragic thing. She was such a beautiful ewe. The daughter I have, Garnet, is a wonderful mother and very sweet. Garnet must have gotten those qualities from her mother.
I am so sorry to hear this. She was sure a beautiful ewe. So sorry. That had to be so tough to be there with her when she passed - i know that helpless feeling. This heat has no mercy.
So sorry to hear about Claire, she was such a beautiful sheep. ((HUGS))
Loss is never easy, I am glad you have other lambs to remember her by and wonderful memories and photographs. Wishing you comfort and peace. Thank you for sharing your story, I am thinking that I would like to raise sheep and it is good to hear all of the trials good and bad, and details of care needed.
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