The Accidental Smallholder Forum
Livestock => Pigs => Topic started by: ppd on July 11, 2012, 12:36:52 pm
-
:wave: One of my pigs has a very large swollen ear and it is getting no better a week on, in fact is getting bigger.
I have been reading older posts regarding this and some say lance it and some say leave alone. I can't see any obvious wound so have not sprayed with purple spray. It is not bothering the pig unless I thouch it and he shakes his head. Will it eventually clear up?
Thanks in advance
-
How old is the pig we had a weaner with a similar problem and the advice was to leave it alone if it is swollen with blood, most of these type are caused by trauma and the blood will naturally disipate of its own accord which it did in a few weeks.
is the swelling liquid or solid? Is it hot and red? Could it be a sting?
If the ear is causing considerable discomfort then you must call the vet for advice. Only you can decide that.
Mandy :pig:
-
A sting would have been my first thought too.
Do you have tea tree oil ? It's a really good natural antiseptic, so if you could spray some (mixed with water) over the ear it might help.
I'd be wary of lancing and letting extra infection in (if indeed it is an infection)
Keep an eye on it for a couple of days and see what happens.
Karen :wave:
-
Hi Mandy and Karen
The swelling feels like a bag of liquid and a bit warmer than the other ear. He is almost 5 months and seems cheery and eating well. I am tending towards not lancing because of infection risk. Just read an interesting article online about a trial done at a pig farm, with some being lanced and some drained and the rest left alone. The ones that were left had little or no recurrance, while the others had infections and reappeared a few times before clearing up.
Obviously if he seems in discomfort I will call the vet. I am actually taking dogs for vacs tonight so will ask about pig too (just never sure how much they deal with pigs and know I will get good advice on here!)
Have also sprayed liberally with purple spray incase there is a wound that I can't see. I don't think he was impressed ;D
-
Some of my pigs get a swelling now and then which seems to be watery and doesn't bother them. I asked the vet about it and he said leave it alone and don't lance it as it will get infected. It usually lasts for a few weeks and goes as suddenly as it came. :thumbsup:
-
Agree with the others, would tend not to lance due to infection risk unless you are experienced at this and can get him onto something like concrete to prevent infection.
If it's blood trauma (a "bash" for instance) then as others say it should go down soon, and the fact that it is still growing after a week might indicate against this as a cause.
If still growing, more possible would be a puncture that has got infected - a thorn can be sufficient.
If it persists and continues to grow would consider getting the the vet out - antibiotics would be indicated with possibly the vet lancing - if he does can you get the pig onto/into something where he won't be lying with it against mud? - a shed etc.?
If it stays the same size, and is causing no problems, then as BB says might leave it and see what nature does.
As Mandy sensibly says only you can be the judge in the end - us soothsayers haven't seen it :)
-
Thanks to all who replied - and after a few weeks the ear is looking good and really going down, without intervention. Don't think it will ever go back to 'normal', but off to the big pig ark soon, so will never know!
Thank you all again for fab advice :)
-
You're welcome, you'll probably find your weaner ends up with a cauliflower ear, ie slightly wrinkled or folded but it doesn't make any difference to it.
Enjoy your piggies
mandy :pig: