The use of a thermometer during the fire campaign is mandatory

Why is a thermometer important?

In our country there is no practice for measuring the temperature of sheep and lambs. An ordinary mercury medical thermometer is used, but it is slow and inconvenient. A digital electronic thermometer is preferred. Special thermometers are also produced to determine hypothermia in lambs. They emit different light and are convenient for working in a dark or poorly lit place. The green light indicates that the temperature is above 39C (normal), the light is yellow-brown at 37-39C (slight hypothermia) and red at a temperature below 37C (severe hypothermia). Regardless of the type of thermometer, the end, after a light lubrication, is inserted into the anus and bent to the sides to rest on the intestinal wall and not stand in the feces. Wait for the readings to stabilize and take the reading. After each use, the thermometer is cleaned with an antiseptic.

After removing the lambs from the warm box, they are fed by tube and if they are alive and able to suckle, they are returned to the mother. Those who are still weak are placed in special boxes for extra care and fed by tube until they are strong and able to suckle.

How to shape the boxes for additional care?

As boxes for extra care, it is convenient to use cardboard boxes (such as are thrown away in large quantities by grocers and supermarkets), which are placed side by side and surrounded with straw bales to prevent drafts. Above the boxes (cartons) at a height of at least 1.2 m from the back of the upright lambs, an infrared heating lamp is placed. Great attention and frequent monitoring of the lambs is necessary to avoid "toasting" them. Lambs that do not turn themselves must be turned by the shepherd to the other side to avoid overheating. The cartons are used once and are burned after each lamb, which prevents the transmission of infection. Another possibility is to place infrared lamps above the pen for soon-to-be-weaned sheep. How to protect the lambs from overheating?

Overheating lambs is dangerous and should be avoided. A sure sign of overheating is when lambs start breathing heavily and puffing. The temperature of these lambs should be measured immediately and if it is above 40C they should be doused with lukewarm water until their temperature drops to around 40C. After the tray, they are dried and placed in a warm place. To avoid overheating, it is advisable to use an alarm clock or laboratory clock that is set to ring every 20 minutes and reminds to measure the temperature of the lambs placed in the warm box and observe the lambs under infrared lamps.