Author Topic: HELP! Potential sow drying up (Read 2171 times)

danconfessed · « **on:** April 16, 2014, 11:00:11 am »

Hi all,

The 11 piglets are 4 days old at the moment, and I having a horrible feeling the sow is drying up!! would her milk bar be as low and pronounced as it was when she gave birth? Also should I be able to squeeze milk out as easy as when they were born? The milk bar seems to have raised quite a bit and I don't seem to be able to get any milk out from any teats?!

Im really not looking forward to bottle feeding 11 piglets

Tudful Tamworths · « **Reply #1 on:** April 16, 2014, 11:49:12 am »

You should be able to squeeze milk out as before. Is she otherwise well and eating normally?
Are the piglets trying to feed constantly? Are they squealing and looking "hollow"?

Can you get hold of some oxytocin to help let down the milk? You only need about 0.5ml to 1ml, depending on her size.

If it does look like she's drying up, get some milk replacer NOW and a big saucer to try and get the piglets lapping.

Good luck.

danconfessed · « **Reply #2 on:** April 16, 2014, 12:53:03 pm »

Thank you, im off to get some replacer now. I found a recipe for using cows milk and have topped the smallest ones up. They are feeding but only for a few seconds at a time and then she is getting up and walking off. one teat feels hard so it could be mastitis. Do i need to call the vet for oxytocin?