[hogies]

Hi Guys

Disappointing weekend for us we found our pig dead with blood and white foam coming from snout and mouth.

This was Lucy's maiden litter she was a 2 year old saddle back. Due date was Friday and Friday evening her milk came on so I was keeping an eye on her as I knew she must not be too far away. Saturday morning she was up and around eating her breakfast seemed her usual self. Just after lunch when I checked on her she was sitting and breathing faster than normal so I thought she was now in labour.

Took my kids across to the neighbours gone all of 10 minutes came back to a dead sow with blood out her snout and mouth and a white foam out her mouth. We are now left confused as to whats gone wrong. We would think something like a stuck pig would have not been so sudden and dont think this would cause the blood.

We are left pretty disappointed loosing such a well natured pig and left trying to understand whats gone wrong.

We will be getting another sow soon this time she is a 2 year old that has farrowed once before hoping to have no complications next time.

Would love to know if anyone has any clues on whats gone on.

[Berkshire Boy]

so sorry to hear your terrible news. Have never had a sow die so quickly but would guess a heart attack or brain hemorrhage or the like.
Maybe someone will come on that has more idea.

[hogies]

Yes was a terrible shock we purchased her 7 months ago as an in Pig sow with only 4 weeks until farrowing however turns out she wasn't in pig. Ended up getting a boar in which got her in pig and on the day of farrowing she died. Was a long wait (6 months) for piglets and such a disappointment.

We have purchased another in pig sow on Sunday which is from a reputable breeder and we are told she is due mid January but I must say I am going to be a tad nervous fir the next run with farrowing after this experience.

 

[Tudful Tamworths]

Sorry you had such a bad experience. Did you call a vet? I would have had some pm tests done, as it's impossible to guess what happened based on the info you provided. Good luck with the next sow.

[hogies]

Did not call a vet due to the cost. Adding up all the piglets lost sales revenue accounting for other expenses such as boar service additional feed while we had the boar etc the original purchase price of our sow we lost $1575 on that sow. Not to mention I lost my buddy as she was a very friendly well natured girl.

[cleopatra]

that is unlucky as all my sows have managed themselves. maybe she had a blockage overnight, who knows without a pm. i have sat up allnight with my sows just incase, but then iv also had one catch me out and farrow in the woods..
try again. it would be very unlikely to happen again.
 

[Fowgill Farm]

Hogies you mention she cost so many dollars which suggests you're in the US or Canada??
There are lots of reasons this happened to your sow, were there any signs of her labouring to expel the piglets? piglets can also die in the womb and cause blood poisoning? also did she have access to anything she might have eaten that was poisonous as the classic symptoms of poisoning are as you describe.
A post mortem would have been your best option as it might stop it happeneing to your new sow if its something thats caused it is in your current environment.
I hope you have better success with your girl in January and i'm sure this happening will make you more vigilant for the signs of farrowing.
try this link which will give you some tips
http://oldspots.org.uk/getting_started4.asp
best of luck
Mandy

[Marches Farmer]

I'd suspect a pneumonia-type infection -  laboured breathing, blood and foam - virulent forms can overwhelm an animal very quickly and the immune system of an animal near to giving birth is generally suppressed anyway.

[cleopatra]

phew - it was dollars not pounds, i thought it was expensive!
usa or oz?

[hogies]

NZ dollars. Dont think it was poisoning as they have been in the same location for over 12months now with no foreign plants/materials being added to there area.

No signs of labour apart from the milk coming on and a swollen back end. I would have thought a stuck piglet would have been more obvious she never got to the point where she was laying down trying to push. Apparently they tend to make alot of noise when they have a stuck pig (well thats what I have read).

My thoughts are heart attack, perhaps some form of internal bleeding complication of farrowing or some other illness that was amplified due to the stress of going into farrowing.

[cleopatra]

at least she went quickly and didnt suffer too much.
is it hot there now? maybe salt poisoning due to dehydration,can kill them quickly.
fingers crossed for next time x

[hogies]

not overly hot was about 24 Celsius on the day but she has access to loads of water and shade

[Tiva Diva]

In a human (I'm an anaesthetist/intensive care doctor in my "day job"!) those symptoms would make me suspect a blood clot on the lungs (pulmonary embolus) or fluid from inside the womb getting into the circulation (amniotic fluid embolus). In either case there's nothing you can do about it. Sorry you've had such a sad (and expensive) loss, hope everything goes smoothly with future farrowings!

[hogies]

Thanks Tiva very interesting reply