Sick pig question

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Hi All, I've got three pigs 4 months old, got them at 6 weeks old. They are in a good size pen plenty of fresh water -18% unmedicated pig feed plus greens from the garden and the occasional broken egg from the chickens. Always been healthy and happy pigs until this afternoon, I noticed one was laying down and not running around playing with the other two and kind of panting. I reached over and petted her and she got up kind of dragging her hind legs. Then walked to the other side of the pen and layed down and had a bowl movement. Thought she might be to hot so I sprayed her with the hose and she got up and walked around a little and then layed back down. Any ideas? Thanks guys,sure would hate to lose a pig over something simple- a vet is out of the question only two in town and neither one will make house calls way out here in the boonies. Thanks again, Daryll

-- Daryll in NW FLA (twincrk@hotmail.com), April 16, 2002

Answers

Given your are in Florida, have they got a good spot to get out of the sun and a place to wallow in. That would be my first thoughts.

-- BC (desertdweller44@yahoo.com), April 16, 2002.

hmmmmmmmmm....if that pig's not just hot, it may have a fever! And this time of year, it could be a case of pneumonia.

Is she off her feed? Snotty nose? Coughing?

Sure don't sound good...and if the other two are racing around and behaving differently, I'd separate them.

Sometimes if one pig gets down and is stressed, the others will "pick on them" and even kill them.

Dragging hind limbs? Could be an injury to the spine or neck or a joint problem related to being raised in confinement...are these pigs on dirt or concrete?

Let me know either by email or here and maybe we can narrow the field of possibilities down.

Pig Farmer

-- usedtobeapigfarmer (wind_n_her_hair@yahoo.com), April 16, 2002.


Hi Pig Farmer,Well it is really hot here 89 degrees- no fever, not off her feed, no snotty nose,no coughing and they are on dirt with several inches of hay on top of the dirt. They did knock down their shade roof I had put up for them a couple of days ago and I haven't gotten around to putting it back up. The other pigs aren't agressive towards her,but I'll keep an eye on them. She seems to be a little better now that the sun went down. It has been raining here for the last few days and they do have a wallow by the water trough. Went out to check a few minutes ago and she got up without dragging her rear end,but still not frisky like I'm used to. Well I can't think of anything else. Any suggestions? Thanks,Daryll

-- Daryll in NW FLA (twincrk@hotmail.com), April 16, 2002.

Darryl:

Hogs simply cannot stand full exposure to the sun constantly. They will get overheated and die. Put the shade back up and make sure they have clean water and a wallow. If there is as breeze thru the pen so much the better. Mac

-- Jimmy S (Macrocarpus@gbronline.com), April 16, 2002.


Well, She's fine this morning-put the shade roof back up. I noticed the float valve in the water trough was sideways ,she might have gotten into the water trough and hurt her rear leg getting out. They are all running around playing this morning-what a relief! Thanks for the help! Daryll

-- Daryll in NW FLA (twincrk@hotmail.com), April 17, 2002.


Be on alert for tetnus. Last year my piglet had similar symptoms, seemed hot, weak, etc. I too thought she was over heated but the paralysis got worse. We gave her a shot which may have helped if we had caught it in time...but she died. If sounds and touching it Really bother it and it declines food/liquid and paralysis continous it may be tetnus.....

-- michelle (www.mabanks@irule.net), April 17, 2002.

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