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Barnyard Buddies:  Oh please someone with pig knowlege help me.  |
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farmeratlast
Farmgirl in Training
35 Posts
Jana
OR
USA
35 Posts |
 Posted - Aug 03 2009 : 09:36:35 AM
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We bought two weiner pigs from a farmer locally. One is a hereford pig and the other a poland china pig. We have had them just two weeks and this morning pork chop couldn't get up. He acts like he has no balance and is super dizzy and falls down sometimes running trying to catch himself. He won't eat or drink.
We called the farmer and he said he had no idea but that pigs can be prone to ear infections and to give him a dose of penicillan today and tomorrow too.
We have never had pigs or given shots. This is a meat animal for us and I want to treat him as natural as possible and I certainly do not want the little guy suffering.
We can see no injury to his hind quarters. The other pig knows he is sick and lays with him.
We have them on mash pig food that we mix with a little water. They were put up in a leanto that has had cattle on it but we covered the entire area with clean straw. They have a spigot for water which my husband says he has seen them use. I personally haven't but the chickens are more my thing.
My husband is leaving for a couple weeks though so I will be the caregiver and grave digger is we can't figure it out. I do not want to pay expensive vet bills. He is for dinner not a pet. But like I said I sure don't want the little guy in pain and I hate to lose my investment.
Thank you for any and all advice shared with me.
Jana |
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DaisyFarm
True Blue Farmgirl
1646 Posts
Diane
Victoria
BC
Canada
1646 Posts |
Posted - Aug 03 2009 : 10:09:20 AM
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Penicillin would be well out of his system by the time he's ready to butcher. While natural/organic was my choice, a cut eye did require a course of injected antibiotics when ours was about the same age. Don't be intimidated by giving him a shot, although get a vet to show you the right place. It's quite simple, but he screamed loud enough to wake the dead - from being held, not from the shot. Oh, and DON'T stand behind him! :)
Di
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4HMom
True Blue Farmgirl
720 Posts
Kelly
Montana
720 Posts |
Posted - Aug 03 2009 : 10:49:29 AM
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Were your pigs indoors before you got them? Has it been really hot and sunny where you are? Does the pig look a little extra pink (or sunburned?) Occassionally we'll get cases of "dippity pig" (no, I'm not making that up) and it sort of sounds like what you're describing. It happens when the pigs come from an indoor facility and are moved into sun right away...sometimes moving them can case the symptoms. Generally, they come out of it (our always have) without meds. Our pen is completely covered with shade cloth and they have a mud pit and "swimming" hole to stay cool in. Is the other pig eating and drinking alright? Good luck.
"Be the change you want to see in the world" -Gandhi |
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Alee
True Blue Farmgirl
22941 Posts
Alee
Worland
Wy
USA
22941 Posts |
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farmeratlast
Farmgirl in Training
35 Posts
Jana
OR
USA
35 Posts |
Posted - Aug 03 2009 : 11:52:40 AM
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THANKS ladies. I did call a vet who told me that she wanted to know if he had a temperature. So after digging around and finding a digital thermometer I used to use on the boys I went out there to see if I could do it myself.
Onery little thing. Pork chop was running around giving me kisses and eating and drinking water (though not from the spigot...?).
I did look up the dipity pig and it sort of sounds like that minus any scabs or sores.
I am just relieved that he appears to be feeling better and maybe it was the drop of 15 degrees in such a short time.
Thank you all. |
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4HMom
True Blue Farmgirl
720 Posts
Kelly
Montana
720 Posts |
Posted - Aug 03 2009 : 12:43:03 PM
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Glad to hear he's doing better and eating and drinking. Keep us informed!
"Be the change you want to see in the world" -Gandhi |
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kristin sherrill
True Blue Farmgirl
11303 Posts
kristin
chickamauga
ga
USA
11303 Posts |
Posted - Aug 03 2009 : 4:05:59 PM
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Jana, that sounds a little like what happened to one of my pigs last year. He did have a fever and didn't eat or drink. I caled the vet and went and got some type of antibiotic to give him for a few days. Giving a pig a shot is NOT fun at all! And very hard to do also. Just trying to catch a pig is not easy. But since he was not up to running I just sat on him and poked the needle in his ham. And he got over it soon. They usually do.
I hope your little guy pulls through and is back to normal soon.
Kris
Happiness is simple. |
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windypines
True Blue Farmgirl
4260 Posts
Michele
Bruce
Wisconsin
USA
4260 Posts |
Posted - Aug 04 2009 : 04:12:43 AM
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This is my first year raising pigs also. I am no help, as to what is wrong though. I did have one pig seem a little tippy, he would go down on his front legs every so often. It was a warm day, and the boys had not gone out to water them down. (I was at work) We give them a shower a couple times a day, and make a nice puddle for them to lay in. The next day he was fine. Good luck with your piggys
Michele |
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Bellepepper
True Blue Farmgirl
1207 Posts
Belle
Coffeyville
KS
USA
1207 Posts |
Posted - Aug 04 2009 : 09:19:57 AM
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Pigs can't stand heat. Our boys bought 2 pigs for a FFA project many years ago. It wasn't 5 minutes and they were out of their pen. We chased and chased them. It was hot weather. Finally one of them dropped dead. Shortly after we were able to catch the other one. Got him cooled down but he went crazy. Yes, I mean CRAZY. He would run backwards and do really dumb stuff. Since he was not fit to be a project anymore, the guys didn't bother to castrate him. Then he turned into a sex meneack (sp). He was a well bread pit so our neighbor took him for breeding his sows. The neighbor was real particular when his sows were bread so the babies would be born on his schedule. Well, Crazy busted through all the fences and bread all the sows. This happened to several neighbors before someone finally had to shoot him. All this because the boys had not checked the fence and because Crazy got too hot.
Belle |
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Celticheart
True Blue Farmgirl
811 Posts
Marcia
WA
USA
811 Posts |
Posted - Aug 04 2009 : 8:05:44 PM
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Sometimes it's a selenium deficiency too. Happened to one of our kid's FFA pigs a few years ago. It caused neurological-like symptoms. One shot cured her.
It's not about being perfect, but enjoying what you do. Set aside time to be creative.
Robyn Pandolph
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Barnyard Buddies: Oh please someone with pig knowlege help me. |
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Oh please someone with pig knowlege help me.
