boar heavy breathing distress

[simplynaturalfarm]

We borrowed a boar - of course. We have had him for 2 months. He came to us with neurological issues - head tilt, freaks out if you try to work in the dark and he can't figure out where he is going, eyes shakey etc. We noticed it when they had him loaded for us - when we mentioned it, the husband said he did not load well and then ran him into a few walls and that was why. He is a gentleman otherwise and his head tilt disappeared while he was in the trailer for quarantine. Dh wondered if he had strep suis at a youngster that caused problems in which case we've watched him. DH talked to the owner at length about how we could not guarantee things for them and she said he might be a dud (he is 4 years old and she hasn't seen him breed anything this winter). We had no other options for local small pigs so said we'd try him if she was okay with it.

Well, we were supposed to take him back last week, but the lady said it was a bad weekend. So we set it up to take him back tomorrow.
My family comes, I stop doing chores 4 days ago, and DH does them(and I am so upset at myself because he doesn't notice things). Last night he comes in and tells me something is off with the boar - head tilt, eyes shaking and labored breathing. He just shrugged like it wasn't bad. I go out this morning and I can hear him breathing from 40 feet away and his stomach is in and out with labored exhale and inhale, sounds raspy etc.

He gave him nuflor, which I am to repeat over the next 2 days and he got dex and hubby just went to get ivomec thinking it might b elungworms migrating as we don't know if this guy has been dewormed and the owner is refusing to call us . . irritating like nothing else!

Do you guys have any thoughts or suggestions for me? I have never had a sick pig EVER. He looks absolutely awful, no interest in food or anything although he did poop this afternoon so he's eaten something. He just lays or stands and breathes extremely rattly and labored.

He did not respond to the nuflor which we gave to him about 2PM.

[charlesh]

Ugh, what a pain. Sounds like a problem boar to me. I would not suggest keeping his offspring as breeding stock, but you already know that.   Hope he is ok.

[simplynaturalfarm]

yes, we simply wanted piglets to eat. . . and he was already loaded and we quarantined him and he has been an excellent pig otherwise. . .

One of those learning experiences

[briarrose]

Heavy labored breathing I would think Pneumonia and we have treated with large doses of penicillin. the old school kind not the long lasting. If a pig has an injury it can go into the nerve and cause an infection there also. Have had a couple of little ones get stepped on and such and we also treat that with penn. Takes a few doses but that clears up also. If he hit his head and ran into a few walls then it will bruise internally and could have gone into the nerve. Regardless, I would treat with penicillin. We just did a butcher gilt with a gimpy leg, about 125lbs, 6 cc's for 5 days and she is right as rain and gaining weight like crazy!

[suzorse]

I gave Draxin for weazing , cleared up both pigs , that was under a vets orders
wish I knew what to tell you on him , it is suspicious that they are not getting back to you
Suzanne

[simplynaturalfarm]

We thought Draxxin initially, but Nuflor is recommended more for the side effects of Strep suis - he's definitely got neurological stuff going on. It involves injections daily but he is a good boar and already trained to walk into the small area and then I just give it to him and he doesn't fuss. He has more energy today (or more willing to jump away when he sees me ), but breathing is same and he is not eating at all:(. He is sleeping in the hoop house and not moving around much. WE also wormed him in case it was ascarids migrating (we are being very careful ourselves), but I am NOT seeing improvement like I would expect if it was pneumonia and he's had 2 shots of Nuflor.

What kind of improvement time would I see if it is pneumonia? They can get pneumonia with ascarid issues also.

[briarrose]

When my boar had pneumonia, we gave penicillin in the evening and saw marked improvement by the next morning. My vet felt that the penicillin would work better and faster than the nuflor.

[jerseylovinliz]

Does he have a temp? Pigs can spike ridiculous temps so then they don't eat & or drink & get worse & the vicious cycle goes round & round.

Electrolytes in the water sometimes help. If he's real dehydrated subQ or iv fluids can make a huge diff.

How's his capillary refill, gum coloring, etc?

ETA: Vicks, Mentholatum, etc seem to help them breath a little easier so they can get some rest & or eat/drink more comfortably.