What is Scours in lambs?

Scours in lambs is a digestive condition causing abdominal pain and loose, watery manure, most often triggered by bacterial or viral infections, poor colostrum intake, or a sudden change in diet. Scouring is not a disease itself but a sign that something is wrong in the lamb’s gut and wants prompt treatment.

Many factors can cause scours in lambs at any age for various reasons. Bacteria, viruses, parasites, sudden diet changes, or other underlying health problems can all cause scours in lambs. Common triggers include sudden changes in milk feeding, dirty feeding equipment, cold and wet weather, and infections from pathogens like E. coli, rotavirus, or cryptosporidium.

The most obvious symptom of scours is loose, watery, or very soft manure instead of normal small, firm pellets. Manure color can also indicate scours in lambs, such as green, black, or yellow scour in lamb. It looks like diarrhea in lambs. The area around the lamb’s tail may become stained or dirty. A lamb with scours may also look weak, tired, or stop drinking milk properly. You might notice it standing hunched, with a drooping head, or lying down more than normal.

Causes of Scours in Lambs

Dieting is the main cause of lambs scouring. However, bacteria, viruses, E. coli, Clostridium perfringens, rotavirus, coronavirus, and several other factors can also cause scours in lambs and sheep.

Microbes (Bacteria & Viruses)

• Lambs’ guts contain good bacteria/protozoa/fungi that normally crowd out harmful microbes — scours happens when immunity is weak, gut balance is disturbed, or exposure to pathogens is high.

E. coli

• Enterotoxigenic: attaches to gut lining, releases toxins that pull water in → severe watery diarrhea and rapid dehydration, but no gut damage or inflammation.
• Enteropathogenic: attaches and destroys gut cells → poor nutrient absorption, weight loss, low blood sugar, inflammation, and in severe cases ulcers/bleeding (black manure if damage is high in the gut, fresh red blood if lower down); can also lead to sepsis.

Clostridium perfringens

• Type C releases a toxin causing intestinal bleeding — often fatal with no warning signs; survivors may show belly pain, bloody diarrhea, weakness. Other Clostridium types also cause scours, especially in bottle-fed lambs. Regular CDT vaccination prevents this.

Rotavirus & Coronavirus

• Damage gut lining cells, reducing nutrient absorption → watery diarrhea (sometimes bloody/mucus-streaked), weight loss, low blood sugar, and fever.

Other pathogens

• Salmonella, Campylobacter, Yersinia, and other viruses can also damage the gut lining similarly to E. coli.

Risk factors

• Young lambs (birth–2 weeks): most vulnerable; often co-infected with multiple pathogens; risk rises with poor colostrum intake, dirty bedding, contaminated udders, or bacteria-friendly milk/replacer.
• Older sheep: scours is usually milder but linked to mineral imbalances, recent antibiotics, stress (weaning, transport, parasites, poor nutrition), or heavy pathogen exposure from dirty water/feed or overcrowding.

Scour Treatment for Lambs

Treating scours in lambs requires correcting dehydration and protecting the gut lining, not just stopping the diarrhea. This means giving oral electrolyte solutions at least two hours apart from milk feeds, soothing the gut with protective anti-diarrheal products, and using antibiotics only when a bacterial infection or fever above 103.5°F is confirmed. However, severely affected lambs need a lot of attention and supportive care (TLC) and may still die despite your best efforts. If several lambs are showing signs of illness, it’s important to get your veterinarian involved as early as possible. A severe outbreak can result in major losses if not managed promptly.

Start with these basic steps for treating lamb scours

Rehydrate lamb immediately

Dehydration is the most serious and immediate threat to lambs with scours, as it can become fatal within a short period. In mild cases, administer oral electrolyte solutions containing glucose every few hours to help restore fluid balance and prevent hypoglycemia. However, if the lamb is too weak to drink or cannot stay hydrated, it will require intravenous or subcutaneous fluids, which must be administered by a veterinarian. To support recovery, always use warm fluids and provide them in small, frequent amounts rather than large volumes at once, as this is easier on the lamb’s digestive system.

Feeding Management

Feeding plays a vital role in lamb scour treatment. Avoid giving large quantities of milk or milk replacers in one sitting. Instead, provide small, frequent meals throughout the day. If you’re administering electrolyte solutions that contain glucose, it’s safe to skip a milk feeding temporarily. This helps reduce the digestive load and supports better absorption.

Keep Lambs Warm

Sick lambs struggle to regulate their body temperature, especially when dehydrated or weak. Keep them warm and dry to help conserve energy and support recovery. Cold stress can further suppress the immune system and slow down healing.

Boost Immunity with Serum

Administering a serum antibody product like Bovi-Sera can help stimulate the immune response in sick lambs. This can be especially helpful in lambs that may not have received sufficient colostrum or are dealing with multiple infections.

Antibiotic Use: Caution and Consideration

Antibiotics should be used with care. They are not effective against viruses and can destroy beneficial gut bacteria. Overuse also raises the risk of antibiotic resistance and may result in lambs becoming long-term carriers of harmful bacteria. That said, if the intestinal barrier is compromised and bacteria have entered the bloodstream, antibiotics become necessary to prevent or treat sepsis.

Severely ill lambs showing signs of systemic illness need antibiotic treatment. Mildly affected lambs that are eating well, behaving normally, and have a stable body temperature may not need antibiotics immediately—but monitor them closely. If they deteriorate, start treatment promptly. Work with your vet to choose an appropriate injectable antibiotic that targets gram-negative bacteria, achieves therapeutic blood levels, and is excreted into the bile to also reach the GI tract. Oral antibiotics may not be absorbed reliably in scouring lambs due to intestinal damage.

Use of Anti-Inflammatories

Anti-inflammatory medications can help reduce gut inflammation and improve comfort, but only use them after rehydration. Administering NSAIDs to a dehydrated lamb increases the risk of kidney damage. Use these medications cautiously, as they can also cause gastrointestinal ulcers if given too frequently. Always prioritize fluid therapy before considering anti-inflammatory drugs.

Prevention of Scouring in Lamb

Treating scours can be challenging, often requiring time and effort, and in some cases, it may lead to death if not handled quickly. That’s why prevention is always better than cure. By following a few simple steps ahead of time, you can greatly reduce the risk and keep your lambs healthy and thriving.

Keep Lambing Areas Spotlessly Clean and Dry

Why it matters: Pathogens that cause scours thrive in damp, dirty spaces.

What to do: Regularly remove soiled bedding, clean feeding bins, and disinfect water troughs. If possible, lamb outdoors in well-ventilated pens to reduce moisture and waste buildup. Keeping barns dry and tidy cuts the chance of infection early on.

Ensure Fast and Full Colostrum Intake

Why it matters: Colostrum delivers crucial antibodies during the first 12–24 hours.

What to do: Help each lamb drink its fill soon after birth. For smaller lambs or those with difficult teats, feed frozen colostrum, commercial substitutes, or use Bovi‑Sera/OVIShield for immunity support. Lack of early colostrum sharply raises scours risk.

Feed Ewes Well Pre-Lambing

Why it matters: A healthy mother means nutritious milk—and fewer pathogens.

What to do: Keep pregnant ewes in a balanced body condition. In late pregnancy, supply quality protein, minerals, and vitamins—products like DuraFerm® tubs can help. Well-fed ewes are less likely to shed bacteria in their waste.

Vaccinate Ewes to Protect Newborns

Why it matters: Vaccinations boost antibody levels in colostrum.

What to do: Administer CDT vaccines 2–4 weeks before lambing to prevent common bacterial scour pathogens. In high-risk flocks, vets may advise cattle scour vaccines off-label for extra protection.

Keep Lambs Grouped by Age

Why it matters: Older lambs can carry diseases without symptoms but infect younger ones.

What to do: House lambs in pens where age differences don’t exceed about 30 days. This lowers the risk of disease jumping from older, tolerant lambs to fragile newborns.

Immediately Isolate and Sanitize After a Case

Why it matters: Scouring lambs spread up to 48 hours after symptoms ease.

What to do: Separate sick lambs until they pass solid stool for 2–3 days. Bathe before returning them, then disinfect their pen to break the infection cycle.

Control Parasites Proactively

Why it matters: Parasites like coccidia and cryptosporidium are key scour causes.

What to do: Work with your vet to schedule deworming and anticoccidial treatments. Sanitation—clean bedding, fresh feed, and clean pens—helps prevent parasite buildup.

Support Lamb Gut Health

Why it matters: A healthy gut resists infections better.

What to do: Use supplements like Vita Charge® Clench Gel or probiotics to maintain gut flora and support digestion during stress.

Seek Veterinary Help for Ongoing Issues

Why it matters: Repeated scours suggest deeper health concerns.

What to do: If scour returns regularly—even with good hygiene and care—consult your vet. You may need diagnostic tests, customized vaccines, or targeted interventions.

Conclusion

Scours in lambs is a serious and potentially life-threatening condition, especially in the early weeks of life. While it is not a disease itself, it signals underlying health problems—ranging from dietary issues to infections caused by bacteria, viruses, or parasites. Early detection, proper treatment, and prompt veterinary support can improve outcomes, but prevention remains the most effective strategy.

Maintaining clean lambing environments, ensuring timely and adequate colostrum intake, vaccinating ewes, managing feeding practices, and supporting lamb immunity are all crucial steps in reducing the risk of scours. By staying proactive and vigilant, you can protect your lambs from unnecessary suffering, promote healthy growth, and reduce mortality rates in your flock.