Diary

Poorly pigRSS feed

Posted: Saturday 14 June, 2008

by Rosemary at 10:05pm in Pigs 1 comment Comments closed

In the five years or so that we've kept pigs, it has been pretty trouble free. Today, I thought we might be in for a downturn. One of our three boars didn't eat this morning. He was slavering a bit, but his breathing was normal, his "digestive transit" seemed to be in order, but you don't like to see pig off its grub. I have to confess, I did check his feet for blisters or lesions, and inside his mouth but there were none. I sat with him for a bit - he'd gone back to bed - and offered scratches and sympathy. We decided to wait and see.

Before I went off to bring Smokey in, I had another look and again sat with the three of them - they really are canny pigs. It was then that I noticed that one of the pigs, not the "sick" one, had no ear tag. I THINK that our sick pig may have swallowed it - I checked the pen and can't find it (the pen's not THAT big and it's pretty bare). They do play and rough and tumble with each other , so it's not impossible that he's worked it loose and swallowed it. Let's just say, I'm not looking for it any more!!

The good news is that he's back to normal now and ate his tea just fine, so things must be working out, so to speak!

Comments

Fiona John

Tuesday 24 June, 2008 at 12:21pm

We have 4 Tamworth Boars and we had exactly the same thing only accompanied by a little diahorrea. I looked it up and it appeared to be Pig Epidemic Diahorrea after 24 hours he was right as rain. Best thing to do is to mix them up with the rest so they all get it and develop the immunity it is a bit like the chicken pox of the big world, invite all the local kids around !!

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