[holz306]

does anyone use Verm X for their pigs? is it effective?

[Daisys Mum]

I have used it but only as a preventative measure when I was sure the pigs were worm free, either by doing a worm count or by giving a wormer.

[Liquidator]

I use Panacur 1.5% pellets, which seems to be effective. The downside of pellets is having to watch so that you know they are all getting their share and that not one piggy is taking the lot!!

I guess Verm-X must be roughly the same. 

[HappyHippy]

If you want an instant and effective worm treatment I'm afraid you're going to have to jab them 
Oral and herbal treatments seldom treat external parasites (except maybe Panacur but I'm not 100% sure on that) and if I'm remembering rightly (from your other post ) your wee one's are in definate need of worming, given that - it's probably worth making sure they're covered for lice and mange too 
For young weaners you'll be able to get one person holding them (across your chest, nose tucked under one arm to expose the back of the ear) while the other person injects into the soft tissue just behind the ear. As long as you're using a short (three quarter inch) needle you'll not hurt them - promise  But honestly, the vet will raw you up exactly the amount you need and tell them it's for 8 week old weaners and they'll give you the right size of needle (normally around 21G thickness, for young pigs) It's not difficult and without sounding 'preachy', if you're going to keep pigs you're going to have to learn to inject - better to learn on wee ones 
HTH
Karen 

[hughesy]

VermX is not a prescription medicine therefore it doesn't have to be tested to prove it works. Read their adverts you'll find they're very vague about what it's actually supposed to do. I once read an article in a trade publication admittedly it was about poultry but the principles are the same, where vermex was tested against a proper prescription wormer and a control where no treatment was given. The prescription wormer got rid of the worms and the vermex gave the same results as no treatment at all.

[holz306]

hmm, interesting about the vermX as i was considering it for my poultry....

With regards to worming them via injection - i've not problem with doing this, having injected horses, and sheep before, its a bit of a pain thats all - my vet is 60miles away!! i was just thinking it'd be easier to pick up some pellets from the feedstore instead of trying to persuade the vet to post it!

I shall get on it straight away, yeah, my wee guys are in need and i certainly don't shy away from these things, even if the wee ones will squeal a bit     

[HappyHippy]

Sorry, didn't mean to teach you to suck eggs 
They actually squeal more from being picked up than when you do anything to them - a good firm grip and holding them tight in against you seems to settle them though 
You might be easier to order a bottle of wormer (at around £17 pounds for the bottle it probably would cost the same in petrol to get to the vet to pick it up  ) I'm happy to post you some assorted sized disposable needles to save you having to buy a box of 100 (as I did  ) just pm me your address if you want them 
Karen