Piglet Problem

friedcircuits · 23-10-2022 12:39pm #1

Hi all,

Need some advice. I have a piglet ~8 weeks old, got caught in electric net for 20 mins or so 3 days ago - has been given various antibiotics,short and long term painkillers and b vitamins. However she's up but walks around in circle and I havent seen her eat or drink, now I am giving her water every couple of hours. Anyone have this issue or know what else I can do?

Thanks.

_Brian · 23-10-2022 2:54pm

I’m not sure there’s allot you can do really. Probably a wait and see situation.

friedcircuits · 23-10-2022 3:22pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119783054#Comment_119783054

Pretty much what the vet said. Just wanting to know if similar has happened anyone and the outcome.

funkey_monkey · 23-10-2022 3:23pm

Wouldn't know much about pigs but is there any liquid feed you can give it until it recovers?

The longer it goes without energy the less likely it is to recover. Water is not going to suffice.

Can your vet give it anything as a food/energy source?

friedcircuits · 23-10-2022 3:30pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119783156#Comment_119783156

Not sure. Going back to vet tomorrow to give update and see whats next.

funkey_monkey · 23-10-2022 3:55pm

3 days without any food intake will not be good for it. Best option is to go to vet and get their input, so you are doing the right thing.

Can you put some glucose into the water as an energy source?

friedcircuits · 23-10-2022 4:05pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119783287#Comment_119783287

Vet said yesterday he wouldn't worry about food in the short term just try and give her water. I've been giving her water with sugar and animals apple cider vinegar in it.

Base price · 23-10-2022 5:11pm

I'd mix some calf or lamb milk replacer into the water to increase her energy levels. If she is walking around in circles them it sounds like a neurological issue from the constant electric shocks from the poultry netting. Is her swallow response ok or is she choking when you give her water.

friedcircuits · 23-10-2022 5:20pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119783540#Comment_119783540

Nope no choking seems to swallow ok.

Base price · 23-10-2022 5:26pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119783577#Comment_119783577

Keep with her so and hopefully she pulls through although I doubt it. Why did you give her antibiotics - I would have thought that something like Dexameth would have been more appropriate?

patsy_mccabe · 23-10-2022 5:52pm

Very different scenario but I had a newborn calf a few years back that stopped breathing during calving. I managed to resuscitate it but it kept going in circles for maybe 3 weeks.

It eventually came right, so maybe there's hope for your piglet. I'd try to get glucose into it.

Base price · 23-10-2022 5:58pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119783686#Comment_119783686

Once there is life there is hope - have pulled many a animal back from the brink by nursing/persisting with them but unfortunately I didn't always win the battle.

friedcircuits · 23-10-2022 6:04pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119783600#Comment_119783600

Vet gave her all that stuff yesterday. I'd say if she was cut or something in case of infection.

friedcircuits · 23-10-2022 6:05pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119783686#Comment_119783686

Got the glucose a few mins ago.

friedcircuits · 23-10-2022 6:06pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119783712#Comment_119783712

I said that to myself yesterday - at least she's up, breathing and walking.

Base price · 23-10-2022 8:33pm

My advise on fencing pigs for what it's worth and with respect other people keeping outdoor pigs may have a different opinion. Set up your boundaries with ordinary heavy duty sheep wire and run an internal set of at least two electric fence wires/white tape at about 8" and a foot but about 2' inside the sheep wire. Most pigs when they get their first shock of an electric fence will automatically bolt forward through the electric fence - the sheep wire fence will hold them until you turn off the electric wire/tape and get them back into their area/paddock. Pigs are very clever and will probably only get the one shock from the fence.

Unfortunately in your case when the piglet got the first shock she kept going forward thereby ensnaring herself in the electric netting. IMO electric netting is only suitable as a preventative against some predators from gaining access to poultry.

wrangler · 24-10-2022 10:09am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119784331#Comment_119784331

He Probably got 5000+ volts every ten seconds for twenty minutes,, he'd be a great piglet to ever recover.

We've had sheep killed in that wire but only ones that were ran into it by dogs

funkey_monkey · 25-10-2022 1:26pm

@friedcircuits - any update on the piglet?

friedcircuits · 26-10-2022 4:25pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119791022#Comment_119791022

Much the same really if not smaller circles. Keeping near her sister but still no interest in food. I'm giving her water when I can and the last day or so she's more fighty about me grabbing her and doing that. Its a week tomorrow evening, I haven't seen her eating - so I'm guessing her last meal was last Thursday morning when I fed them before work. Vet here today a shot of vits and steroid - alluded to what I am doing isn't sustainable.

funkey_monkey · 26-10-2022 7:21pm

If she's not getting any energy intake then it is unfortunately going to be an inevitable outcome. However, if she is fighting you she must be getting food from somewhere, otherwise she'd by lying in a corner somewhere.

Did they give you a date for when to make a decision?

friedcircuits · 26-10-2022 7:42pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119796840#Comment_119796840

I got two doses of antibiotic for Friday and Sunday, he said he'd be surprised if she'd make it to then. I've setup an ICU bed for her with food, water and heat lamp in an enclosed space near her sister so she wont exhaust herself in big circles. I'm off work Friday evening for 9 days doing nothing only stuff around the house, so I'll be on it! Last year I spent a week getting a near dead hen back to life and she's still here.

whelan2 · 27-10-2022 6:18am

Best of luck with it

patsy_mccabe · 27-10-2022 7:28pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119794177#Comment_119794177

...

amacca · 27-10-2022 8:54pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119801626#Comment_119801626

That'll do pig!

That one must have been a reincarnated relative....although if it was some of mine they would probably have pushed me into to light socket 😅

amacca · 27-10-2022 9:54pm

The pigs or the relatives? I'll tell you, I know whose company I think I'd prefer most of the time.

Base price · 05-11-2022 8:21pm

@friedcircuits how is the piglet doing.

friedcircuits · 06-11-2022 8:01pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119838389#Comment_119838389

Hey all, she sadly died this morning (~3AM), I was out with her multiple times Saturday night/Sunday morning. I could see Saturday morning she was not at all good - no fighting or grunting at me.

Piglet Problem

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