Heather--help with baby pigs!

[Shelley (whistlingtrain)]

Heather, I hate to bother you, and your hubby. I would never want to take advantage, but I won't be able to get a hold of a vet here, and none of them know about pigs anyway. I have never had a health issue with my herd in all these years, but it's been very cold and rainy, and the mud is awful outside my barn. This litter will be 3 weeks old tomorrow. They have been going out, but have been fine. Night before last I noticed one not doing well--weak, lethargic, and wheezing. He felt cold, but I gave him a penicillin shot, because it was all I had. He was dead in the morning. Last night I found another like him, although not cold, and another not quite as bad, still well enough to fight me. I gave them both penicillin shots. I'm afraid to go out there this morning, but I'm prepared to inject them all with something now. I haven't had any new pigs brought in, or any pig visitors in months. I don't believe it's a contagious thing, but something brought on by our conditions right now, and the fact that they're coming on 3 weeks old and their own immune systems are in transition.

My question is, is penicillin the best thing to use or should I get something else? The feed store is open today, so I could pick up tetracycline, but not much else. It would be heartbreaking to lose the litter, but at this point, I would sacrifice this litter to save the rest of the herd. I have 20 growing pigs that will be slaughtered next month, and all my sows are bred back and due in 1-4 months. I don't want to lose those litters or sows.

Any help you can give would be great. I have them under lockdown, inside the barn where they can't get chilled, and I'll be changing the bedding today. I put in extra heat lamps last night. I don't know what else I can do.

Thank you!
Shelley

[mazurzoo]

Shelley, I hope your pigs are doing well. I have no advice to offer just well wishes!

[Mitra]

Yes, me too! I signed on this morning hoping to see that Heather had checked in. Drats. Sending you positive piggie vibes from Maine.

[simplynaturalfarm]

Shelley, I am really sorry - we were gone yesterday and did not have internet access where we were. I hope you didn't lose any more overnight, and hopefully you will check in here and let us know the latest on the piglets.
Naxcel can be used on the pigs - my in laws had one pig get very very sick about 4 weeks ago - fever of 105 for 4 days, couldn't get up or eat etc.
Have you taken their temps? Any discharge from eyes or nose, swollen joints, swollen umbilical areas, are they nursing or eating still, have you listened to their lungs, what is the temperature outside? (these are all questions my husband usually asks of the owners, so any info would be great)
Let me phone DH and get back to you as soon as I get through to him - he is working at the clinic today.
Please come online and let us know how they are doing!!
Heather

[Shelley (whistlingtrain)]

Lost another one yesterday morning, and another was not doing well last night--the one I gave penicillin the night before. I got some tetracycline at the feed store, gave that to the sick one. The other five seem ok. I wonder if they aren't anemic too, it's so muddy and cold I bet they haven't wanted to go outside. I haven't given iron shots in years, and mine is very expired. I think I can pick something up this morning at the vet supply--hopefully. Something oral is probably better, no?

I cleaned everything yesterday, fresh bedding, extra lamps, closed them up in the barn so they would be warm. Brought them a couple shovelfuls of fresh dirt which they dove into and scarfed down--iron deficiency is definitely a problem. Like I said the other five looked ok last night, but this thing runs its course so quickly, they could all be sick this morning and die tonight.

I have not taken temps, but they are definitely not well. I don't notice swollen joints or umbilici, but they are very weak and lethargic at night-time, with some thin discharge from the nose and wheezing. Their eyes are closed and they feel cold, which is bad I know. When I give them the shots they feel like they have lost a lot of muscle mass--baby pigs don't have a lot to lose in the first place, but when I look at them while they are well they look fine. Also, the needle is very hard to get through their skin, and I don't remember having that problem with healthy pigs--is that a sign of dehydration? I don't believe they are nursing by the time they are sick because they are so weak, but it only takes a day for them to be really sick! They are not eating yet, although starting to be interested in food. They have calf manna available to them if they want it. Another thing--I noticed bright yellow droppings, not runny, just yellow and creamy. More yellow than milk-fed baby pig poop usually is.

My guess now is that they are anemic, and that has weakened them so that the cold could weaken them more, and they became susceptible to this bug. I don't believe it's contagious, except that these babies are already weak. My understanding is that at three weeks old their immune systems transition from the mothers' immunity to their independent immunity, and I usually see a little bout of scouring at 3 weeks too. Is this true?

Thank you both for all your help! Hopefully the vet supply is open this morning.

Shelley

[Shelley (whistlingtrain)]

Yes, the vet is open until noon--three hours from now. I just need to know what to ask for. And no, not certified. I will use antibiotics or whatever if needed.

Thank you!

[simplynaturalfarm]

I pm'ed you, so just to let you know to check for that
Heather