PIGS tails drying up and falling off! (Hogs - Health/Treatment)

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Hey we had piggies born 2 weeks ago and some of them were born with blackish tails, now those tails are drying up and falling off. Can't find anything in the books so please help!

-- Megan (millikenfarm@hotmail.com), April 20, 2001

Answers

I could understand this if their tails had gotten frostbit after they were born. But if they were black before then I'm as stumped as you! Good luck in finding out!!

-- michelle (tsjheath@ainop.com), April 22, 2001.

Some breeds naturally have a black tail. Two things come to mind ~ pigs of that age that are crowded will bite off each others tails; a vitamin deficiency.

-- ~Rogo (rogo2020@yahoo.com), April 23, 2001.

More often than not, when pig tails become black, dry, and then fall off they have received some sort of injury to the tail area. I didn't realize that vitamin deficiencies cause this problem, but I do know that when young pigs are stressed for some reason (ie - cold, hunger, lack of good water, or whatever disagrees with them) they bite at each others tails. This causes infection that is displayed as a swollen, red, tail base and a dry, black, dead tail. If this is not addressed with medication, the infection moves into the spine, and the pigs usually die or are so sick they must be destroyed. Try docking the tails at birth, to about 1/2 - 3/4 inch. It only hurts them for a little bit, and it scabs over quickly. Just a set of sharp side cutter pliers work ok, or you can buy a set of tail dockers from a company like Nasco. Keep the living environment suitable, and your problem will probably not surface again.

-- neal m (nmays@bobcats1.oursc.k12.ar.us), April 27, 2001.

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