The Accidental Smallholder Forum
Livestock => Pigs => Topic started by: NoraBanda on August 18, 2018, 08:26:10 pm
-
Hi,
One of our piglets has caught Tetanus (after getting castrated).
We live on a small island in Uganda, access to medication / a vet is very difficult.
Fluffy, the piglet, has trouble breathing, his whole body is stiff and his jaw is locked.
We managed to get some penicillin in the local Pharmacy and injected it, as our vet advised. There is no muscle relaxant on the island. Also the tetanus vaccine is not available for piglets in Uganda at all, meaning that proper treatment other than broad-spectrum antibiotics does not exist.
Are we fighting a losing battle? Or is there any chance that our boy can make it? We are willing to do a lot for him, since we love him just as much as we love our dogs and cat.
Tomorrow we might be able to go to a better stocked pharmacy and hopefully find something to relax his muscles a bit.
We would appreciate any kind of information about how we can help our little Fluffy.
Should we try to give him little bits of water through a syringe? Keep him wrapped up warm or cool him down with water? Does massaging his do any good? What about weeing and pooping?
Or is it best to just end his life quickly, so that he doesn't suffer too much?
Thank you so much for your help in advance!
(I have already read the thread about tetanus in piglets, but thought I would start a new one specifically for these questions)
Nora and Fluffy
-
Yes you need to give him small amounts of water if you can get them down him without him choking.
Apparently magnesium has been used as a muscle relaxant in humans. You should be able to get this from your vet in the form of magnesium borogluconate. It is used as an injection in sheep and cattle for Staggers.
Hope Fluffy's still hanging on there. xx