The Accidental Smallholder Forum
Livestock => Pigs => Topic started by: katog on April 17, 2011, 06:41:03 pm
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Our 8 week old weaners are constantly scratching themselves, we've had them 2 days and they are not letting us touch them so we can't have a close look at their skin but they are itchy all over. Do you have any ideas as to what might be wrong?
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If the scratching is constant, then yes it needs treatment. If just occasional, then pigs do this.
Likelihood is mange (mites) or lice. Don't panic, mites and lice are easily treated
If lice you can see then as small black dots typically near the ears or in them.
If mites, you can scrape some skin hear the neck and look at under a microscope or get you vet to look at it. Scraping skin is quite easy, just use the back of a knife (not cutting yourself!), or edge of a piece of ply or similar, scrape some skin into your hand and put into a sealed plastic box (old butter tub etc.) and take to your vet.
If either present, then injection if you are happy to do so or get vet to do it, or vet may prescibe a pour on.
You will then need to clean all their bedding (burn if possible) and disinfect their sleeping quarters (hyperox, Virkon or similar stong disinfectant).
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Katog, can't you have a look whilst they're eating? Put something they can't resist in their trough and they'll ignore your presence ;)
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Thanks for the useful comments - we got closer yesterday (while they were eating - thanks Eve) can't see any sign of eggs behind the ears so maybe it's mites, their skin does look flakey. Would mite powder for the hens be any good?
One (girl) seems to be doing the bum rub (like a dog) a lot ? worms. I'm trying to find out if they were wormed already - it it bad to do it again if they have already had the medication recently?
Could it be due to old straw bedding? They do seem to love their bed so presumably it doesn't itch too much being in the straw.
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Giving them a good dousing of louse powder won't hurt just don't get it in their eyes or up their noses!
Check when they were last wormed and how, if it was with pellets do them again but with an injection from the vet (you can collect and do it yourself Noramectin is what to ask for) this will cure worms, bugs and mange which the bum rubbing suggest they might have. If they were jabbed within the last six months i'd be tempted to do them again too, won't harm them. You could also give them a good bath with dog or baby shampoo but be prepared to get wet! ;D
HTH
Mandy :pig:
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If all else fails a good rub with some emulsifying ointment works wonders (assuming its not mange, fleas etc.) :D
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inject them with panomec, that will sort most things for 6 months ;D