We got Tess into the pole barn, she got up and moved a bit, but then seemed to decline. We tubed her for bloat, gave her medicine for gas, and penicillin in case her wheezing breath signaled infection or pneumonia, we sat with her, got her up on her feet a few times. I’ve had sheep for 15 years, and there is a small and up-to-date pharmacy in our pantry. I’ve seen all of this before, and more than once.

Sick sheep usually die suddenly, and if they don’t, they are up and moving if they are treated for the right thing in time. We’ll see. We’ve decided against a vet in this case, we will see how she is in the morning. It is tough on Maria, Tess is the ewe she is closest to, our sweetest and most gentle ewe. She is in the pole barn alone – the other sheep are out grazing, she has fresh water, hay if she wants, and she will get another needle in her butt in the morning. She is lying down, but with her eyes clear and her head up, a good sign for sheep. I don’t like the wheezing breath, but perhaps the penicillin will take care of it.