Please Help!!!

[dkt0718]

So I posted under pigs on this site and have had quite a few people look at my post but nobody is willing to give any ideas on what to do with this little pig that I have after two separate posts.....
Nod4eight is my husband and you all have been sooooo helpful here with our goats!! I am so thankful for everyone of you!!!

I have a piglet that has been unable to stand for any length of time for the last week. His temp is between 101 and 102. I have given him some BOSE as our ground is very selenium deficient and he is showing signs of white muscle. I also gave him some Nuflor via recommendation of a small time pig farmer I know. I have read and read and some people say 102 is a temp for a pig and others say that is normal. He is eating and drinking (powerade and baby food). He is 6 weeks old and has some separation of the hocks which was one of the major signs of selenium deficiency.. Is there anything else that anyone can think of to help him? He has been grinding his teeth and in goats that means pain so I have given him some banamine for the pain as well...

I know this is really the wrong place to post this but I can't get any help from anywhere else and you all ROCK!!!! So I thought I would give this a shot....

Thanks so so much in advance for any ideas

[Backfourty,MI.]

Gosh, I don't know anything about caring for a baby pig but your right these folks here are great & I know some of them have pigs so hopefully they will jump in & help.

I sure hope you get the little piglet figured out & he's better soon.

[Ford Zoo]

I'm sorry I don't know enough to give any advice. But good luck and hopefully someone will have some ideas for you. I'll e-mail a freind who has raised pigs for years. MAybe she can help.

[dkt0718]

You all are sooo awesome!!! That would rock.. I just don't know what to do with him poor guy

[Alice In TX/MO]

Do you think he's anemic? I seem to remember from reading something that piglets get anemic easily.

[Backfourty,MI.]

Maybe start another thread & copy & paste the link to this one in it so you don't have to go through the whole story again but maybe in the thread title say Urgent Baby pig Help needed or something to that affect.
I know Mesa Goat Man & I"m sure a few others that regularly post here also have pigs, I just can't remember who they all are. But with Piglet or Baby Pig in the title might catch those specif people's eye.

[nod4eight]

Alice, I've thought about the iron deficiency (anemia) as well. We did not give iron shots when they were young as some do. Instead we gave them rich soil to eat. I've read where iron shots leave them susceptible to arthritis. All the rest in his litter are doing fine, growing, running, causing much mischief. From what I have read giving iron shots at this stage do nothing for them. I can try more soil.

Thanks for the responses. In a few hours on the goat forum we have several responses, none after almost a week on the pig forum. This is why I like goat folks!

[Minelson]

When Pony was having trouble with her doeling not standing I believe they ended up giving a shot of Dex. I wonder if that would help? You would have to get it from a vet though.

[Backfourty,MI.]

I was wondering if maybe he has a pinched nerve or hurt his spine in some way?

[CJBegins]

Nod4eight, is this piglet pooping and peeing? I haven't had this kind of issue with my piglets but there are a couple of deficiencies that are common with them. I know you said they have dirt available to them but they still might need an iron supplement. You can give them an oral iron supplement.

Could you give a little more detail on what you mean by "separation of the hocks"? Is it possible this little piglet is developing rickets?

Is this piglet breathing normally?

Just trying to get some ideas....hope he comes around for you.

Carla

[Sherry in Iowa]

hey nod4eight,

Is it female or male? If male, has it been castrated yet? Was it in with other pigs/animals before it stopped walking? Does it eat and drink okay? Did you see it eat dirt, in other words are you sure it got iron in some form or another? Does it cough, snotty nose, or breath heavy? Where has it lived, and where is it living now?

Thanks

Oh, I should have asked if this piglet is still nursing momma.

[Minelson]

Originally Posted by Backfourty,MI.

I was wondering if maybe he has a pinched nerve or hurt his spine in some way?

THat is what made me think of the Dex

[Pony]

How is your piggie doing today?

Minelson is right. When we had a lame doeling, we gave her dex and banamine. Got her up and walking when we thought we'd have to put her down.

Please keep us posted.

[Ford Zoo]

My pig friend said that over the years they have had a few do this. They treated with penicillin and dex and the babe was up in no time. They also fed bread soaked with 2% milk to these piglets, along with whey when they had it.

[Minelson]

Originally Posted by Ford Zoo

My pig friend said that over the years they have had a few do this. They treated with penicillin and dex and the babe was up in no time. They also fed bread soaked with 2% milk to these piglets, along with whey when they had it.

Did your friend say what the dosage of Dex is for a baby pig and how many doses??
Good job!

[dkt0718]

I have Dex on hand and can give him some. I have heard especially in goats that it can do some harm to their immune systems. He could be anemic, again I have been told that giving them iron is only helpful for the first 5 days. I have iron and can give him an iron shot as well.
He is living in my kitchen right now in a tote getting baby food and electrolytes to avoid diarrhea as much as possible. I gave him milk the first day he was inside and he had an upset belly in a matter of hours. He is eating and drinking well. He is urinating and pooping regularly as well. He is sleeping a whole lot but I think that is because he doesn't feel good. I was told to give him LA200 4 cc for 3 days although he doesn't seem to be having any issues breathing or anything of that sort. The separation of his little hocks doesn't seem to actually be separation. On Monday, he had a couple of cuts on his feet but he was in a laundry basket and was wiggling out of the basket so I don't know if he got the cuts because he was wiggling out. He doesn't have any more cuts or anything but he is weak on his feet. I put him out with his momma today for a little bit and she really wasn't interested in him a whole lot. She allowed him to eat but didn't care whether he was there or not.
Thanks again for all of your help so so so much!!!
By the way he was born on 10/1 and is 19 lbs. his current temp is 101.8

[dkt0718]

Sorry I forgot to answer a few other questions,

It is a boy and he has not been castrated. He lives in the barn with his momma and 5 other babies. He was out in the barn and I went out and the other little escape artists were in the goat pen hangin in the sun and he was in with his momma which is VERY unlike him or any of them for that matter. They have learned that they can hang with the goats and torture the turkeys and root in the garden very easily so they do of course just during the day and when anyone comes out they scurry like little birds right back into their pen with momma. It is the cutest thing I have ever seen!!! Baby Pigs and Goats are the cutest animals in the whole world!!!

[springvalley]

Originally Posted by dkt0718

Sorry I forgot to answer a few other questions,

It is a boy and he has not been castrated. He lives in the barn with his momma and 5 other babies. He was out in the barn and I went out and the other little escape artists were in the goat pen hangin in the sun and he was in with his momma which is VERY unlike him or any of them for that matter. They have learned that they can hang with the goats and torture the turkeys and root in the garden very easily so they do of course just during the day and when anyone comes out they scurry like little birds right back into their pen with momma. It is the cutest thing I have ever seen!!! Baby Pigs and Goats are the cutest animals in the whole world!!!

Yep they are cute and fun to watch, until they get in the garden and root up your plants or the front yard, or your flower patch. Then they are little monsters. > Thanks Marc

[CaliannG]

What I *don't* know about pigs will fill volumes and volumes. But I really hope your little one gets better!

Did nod4eight get the Replamin Plus Gel that I suggested? If so, it is labelled for use in swine and dosage should be on the label. It should fix any deficiency he might have if that is the problem.

[Minelson]

Dex does compromise the immune system while they are on it...I know with dogs a lot of times we give antibiotics along with steroids for that reason. But I think think the risk is outweighing that now if he can't function. Just my opinion.