The Accidental Smallholder Forum

Community => Introduce yourself => Topic started by: melinajj on April 05, 2012, 08:18:08 pm

Title: hello just joined need some help pig related
Post by: melinajj on April 05, 2012, 08:18:08 pm
hiya,

i have been recommended to come on here as i have a bit of a problem with 2 of my pigs - she said you were really helpful and knowledgable and would probably be able to offer advice

I have noticed that one of the pigs - 5months old had a strange gait a few days ago, but the other one has started as well now.

they are unsteady on their back legs and wobble, their legs look stiff and they goose step when they walk.



Title: Re: hello just joined need some help pig related
Post by: robert waddell on April 05, 2012, 08:40:24 pm
where in the world are you
what breed are they
what are they feed on and do they have water ad lib :farmer:
Title: Re: hello just joined need some help pig related
Post by: melinajj on April 05, 2012, 08:43:17 pm
sorry

north wales uk
fed on sow and weaner mix
water available all the time  from a trough in their field.

they are oxford sandy black pigs

thanks


Title: Re: hello just joined need some help pig related
Post by: robert waddell on April 05, 2012, 09:06:30 pm
if you put pig site in your search engine it will come up click on pig diseases and go to leg weakness or ocd  this i think is what you describe  in your pigs  and welcome to the site :farmer:
Title: Re: hello just joined need some help pig related
Post by: Mel on April 05, 2012, 09:28:06 pm
Sorry to hear this :'( ,wishing you very good luck and welcome to the forum! :farmer:
Title: Re: hello just joined need some help pig related
Post by: Lesley Silvester on April 05, 2012, 11:55:00 pm
 :wave:  Hi and welcome from sunny Shropshire.  I'm sure here will know what the problem is.
Title: Re: hello just joined need some help pig related
Post by: in the hills on April 06, 2012, 07:04:54 am
Hope your question gets answered.

Welcome from Powys.
Title: Re: hello just joined need some help pig related
Post by: Bert on April 06, 2012, 07:15:09 am
Hi from the Isle of Mull :wave: Hope you pigs get better soon :pig:
Title: Re: hello just joined need some help pig related
Post by: sabrina on April 06, 2012, 09:08:33 am
Hi and welcome from the North of Scotland  :wave:
Title: Re: hello just joined need some help pig related
Post by: Sylvia on April 06, 2012, 02:46:29 pm
Good luck with your pigs, I hope all is O.K. :)
Title: Re: hello just joined need some help pig related
Post by: HappyHippy on April 06, 2012, 03:37:54 pm
Hello and welcome to TAS  :wave:

Is it female pigs showing the problem ? Are they running with uncastrated boars ? It might be that they're having season's and the boars are 'having a go' which might be giving them a bit of pain and stiffness  :-\

BUT there are 100 and one things it could be (and without any of us actually seeing the pigs first hand it's all but speculation  ;)) - so best to think about the following...
Are they off their food ?
Do they have a temperature ?
Have they definately been drinking ? (I only ask this as I've recently lost weaners due to salt poisoning from lack of water - they start off staggery and progress to wandering around looking disorientated)
Have they recently moved paddock ? Could have sprained or pulled a muscle in over enthusiasm while exploring.
How many pigs do you have and are they all together ? You say two are showing signs - are there others who are okay ? I'm trying to gauge if maybe it's something environmental (problem in the paddock for instance) or if it's illness that is spreading.
Come back to us with an update  :thumbsup:
Karen x
Title: Re: hello just joined need some help pig related
Post by: melinajj on April 07, 2012, 02:24:22 pm
hiya,

answers to your questions.

there are only 2 in that paddock the other 2 died suddenly one aged 1 month and the other 3 1/2 months ago.
these 2 had penicillin when we lost the last one thinking it might be an infection.
no they haven't changed paddocks recently,
yes they are drinking,
no temperture and their eyes are bright, they just look wobbly behind. 
yes they are eating
no they are both boars
they paddock has been used for pigs before - their mum was in there with her sister.

i am going to get the vet out, but fear a trip to cluttons is on the cards (cluttons -dead stock)
OCD is possible if i could compare videos that would help, but i could find nothing on the net, just post mortem pictures of pig joints.

Thanks to all of you for your welcomes.

Title: Re: hello just joined need some help pig related
Post by: HappyHippy on April 07, 2012, 04:08:30 pm
I wouldn't get the fallen stock guys out just yet  ;)
At 5 months they're bound to be getting on to slaughter size, providing you've met all the medicine withdrawal times, why not consider slaughtering sooner (before they go off their feet) that way it's not a complete loss of your time and money ?  But let us know what the vet says - fingers crossed it's good news  :thumbsup:
Karen
Title: Re: hello just joined need some help pig related
Post by: melinajj on April 07, 2012, 05:10:31 pm
hiya,

that is the problem they are not near killing weight.  probably 35kgs at most. 
none of the piglets grew well this year - we put it down to the hrrible wet winter we had.  the ones i have just sent were 7 months old.  they are OSB's so you expect them to grow better.  they have been on sow and weaner with additional veg and bread.
Anyway vet is coming out on Tuesday to have a look at them.  he is very good and will advise me on the best course of action

Title: Re: hello just joined need some help pig related
Post by: robert waddell on April 07, 2012, 09:05:24 pm
some times you get good growthy pigs next time they are fraught with problems what were the symptoms with the dead ones another one is pwms but as the list shows there are quite a few    did you get a pm done on the dead ones :farmer:
Title: Re: hello just joined need some help pig related
Post by: melinajj on April 07, 2012, 09:49:33 pm
no symptoms at all.
they were just dead in the morning.
no outward signs of problems, eating, drinking ok.

didn't have a PM done.