[Marches Farmer]

Thought I'd post on this one in case anyone else ever sees this in their pigs.  Wednesday - 10 week old gilt with a 10cm red welt behind her ear.  Rubbing ear against post but ears clean inside so not mites, etc.  Next morning walking steadily in an anti-clockwise circle.  MED - infection is on side she's circling.  Infection most likely to be strep, staph or mycoplasma, all of which are everywhere in the environment. Antibiotic + vet prescribed Advocin to prevent infection tracking into the meninges + Metacam for pain.  Penned her separately on thick straw, regularly dosed her with diluted Piglet Kick Start to keep her going long enough for the meds to work.  Low temperature - put on heat lamp.  High temperature - put on oscillating fan.  Still walking (12 hours!).  Keep adding to bedding - she'll wear her claws down!  More a/b, alternating between Advocin and Metacam each day.  Nose becoming sore as she circles with it close to the ground.  Now a shadow of her former self.  Friday evening - go to drench her with warm water and .... she struggles!  Soak a little pig feed in water, top with 3 raspberries from the veg garden and ... she's eating.  First time we've seen this and we've kept hundreds of pigs.

[Fowgill Farm]

Hi Gill
have only read about this before but sounds like you doing all right things hope she's improved over weekend.
My pigs bit off colour too, have had to wean twinkles piglets at 51/2wks as they've split one teat into two and ripped 3 others to pieces, she's raging becoz we've taken them off her but the 11 of them have took everything our of her she is pencil thin and I just can't get enuff food into her and an now worried about infection thro the damaged teats so have given her some Abs. meanwhile two of my older gilts haven't/won't come out for their breakfast this morning and seem very warm but otherwise just sleepy!
i'm blaming this awful wet hot weather, fog and gloom here today but so humid.
  for your girl and hope this humidity breaks soon.
bestest mandy

[Marches Farmer]

I think humidity is worse than just straight heat.  One of our gilts lost a litter very late when the humidity went through the roof - and our vet, who's tip top on pigs, said it was almost certainly due to the humidity.  The gilt's sister farrowed three weeks later with no problems at all so stage of pregnancy might be a factor.  The gilt with MED is much better today but a bit of a pincushion - she has alternate Advocin and Metacam each day through to next Saturday too.  Pity, as she was one of the best of the litter and destined for breeding, but not any longer!