[MiriMaran]

On Tuesday one of our pigs was looking a bit unsteady on her feet and we thought she had strained a hock, but by Wednesday it looked more like a neurological problem - she was staggering, disoriented and her head was tilting, so we called the vet out.  He said he thought it was Meningitis.  She was given a painkiller injection and Penicillin.  The last 2 days we have also givien her 1 Penicillin injection a day.  There has been some improvement, but not as much as the vet implied there would be.

Has anyone reading this had a similar experience?

[jameslindsay]

A few years ago 1 of my Pygmy goats took well with symptoms like you describe and the vet thought it was a form of meningitis but unfortunately my wee man didn't make it. So, fingers crossed that your pig gets well soon.

[MiriMaran]

Thanks James - we are going to keep a close eye on her over the weekend and if there is not enough improvement then we will call the vet out again on Monday. 

[MiriMaran]

Anyone else experienced this problem?

[Hilarysmum]

No, thankfully, and am so sorry for you. 

[little blue]

fingers crossed for the piggies.
always a worry....
x

[MiriMaran]

Spotty is looking better, but her head is still tilted to one side and she is still staggering slightly.  The good news is that she is now eating again.  The recovery is going alot slower than the vet intimated it would.  BTW Ruth it was Owen that come out to us.  Have you had any dealings with him?  He seemed friendly, but in a rush!

[little blue]

from Mcmurtry &  Harding?
yes, I have. nice enough.  I like the Irish chap (?Simon?) he's very calm and was great with Sheba - so thats makes him okay!  (some of the women vets are abit intimidating!)
they are often in a rush... I find its often helpful to phone them, and let the most knowledgeable vet ring you back. And thats free!

Glad to hear she's getting a bit better

[MiriMaran]

Owen is Irish too.  Lovely accent.

[little blue]

perhaps thats who I mean?  hopeless with names!!
I love the accent too, mmmm..... !!

[MiriMaran]

 

[Rhodie]

Strep suus is more common than realised in smallholders herds. The pigs respond quickly to penicillin and always recover if treated early, at later stages, the piglet needs to be given plenty of fluids, as dehydration causes most of the damage due to "salt poisoning"
Later stage pigs are often unsteady for several months but always seem to be normal by 6 months old. The herd develops an immunity once the strep infects them, the antibodies pess through the colostrum to the new piglets, the danger in an established herd, is to introduced pigs which are not immune, and cannot pass immunity to their piglets which then contract the disease.
I had a 650 sow commercial herd go down with strep meningitis, it stableised in about 2 monthsand I only lost 6 weaners through the whole transition to immune herd.

[MiriMaran]

These two pigs are due to go to slaughter soon and will be replaced by two more a couple of weeks later.  What are the chances that the second lot of pigs can catch it from the ground?  Thank you for your info it confirms what the vet has been saying.  This is only our 2nd year raising weaners and are hoping that this is a one off and we have been unlucky.

[Rhodie]

Strep suus is contracted by direct contact and will not persist in the ground or structures, there is a possibility that rats harbour it on infected farms, so a check that your pest controll is up to date will be a good precaution. Good luck with the new weaners.

[MiriMaran]

We are on top of rat problems at the moment.  Mr Fox is our problem at the moment.  Thanks for the advice.