orphan piglet getting wobbly & malcoordinated

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We got 3 orphaned pigs about 6 wks. ago - they're finally starting to put a little weight on. We noticed some cysts/tumors(?) on the front leg of one of them a few days ago - didn't seem to affect her at all. The cysts are squishy but not mushy. Today she's staggering around a little and is twisting her neck strangely. Any ideas/advice?

She's about 12 lbs. We're feeding hog starter made into mush using goat milk with an egg & some karo syrup in it.

av

-- al vermeer (revajv@msn.com), May 04, 2002

Answers

I don't know much about pigs but is it running a fever? Sorry to ask I wouldn't want to take it's temp either, still I'd guess it is and needs antibiotic and maybe a steriod. I'd also hope someone better versed in pigs answers or you've a vet you can call to suggest better and specific medications. Could be a mineal imbalance too, I know pigs need iron and copper in higher than cattle/sheep amounts. Guessing can be deadly, so I won't. If it has a fever though you've narrowed the guess down a lot.

-- Ross (amulet@istar.ca), May 04, 2002.

Al, try this site. Hope it will be OK. http://panis.spc.int/RefStuff/Manual/Disease%20Lists/DISEASES%20OF% 20PIGS.HTM

Good luck, LQ

-- Little Quacker in OR (carouselxing@juno.com), May 04, 2002.


A shot of b vitamins and iron would not hurt .The main thing is the things on the leg , kinda sounds like an abcess .Antibiotics are in order and probally a vet tip as your not sure what they ae .How about calling the person you got them from ?

-- Patty {NY State} (fodfarms@hotmail.com), May 05, 2002.

Hubby(who has raised pigs for 20 yrs.) says you need to drain the abcesses, take a sharp clean knife or razor blade, make a cut across the bottom of the abcess to allow it to drain and give a shot of penicillen asap. If no fluid comes out when you make the incision, then it's probally a tumor instead of an abcess. Oh, and he also says get some earplugs, cause she's gonna scream real loud.

-- Judy Corwin (corwinsusa@netscape.net), May 05, 2002.

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