Sunday, November 16, 2008

FLORIDA PIGS NEED OUR HELP

Edited : to be updated

8 comments:

Anonymous said...

Janet, Ellie Bellie will not eat today and I have never had this problem before. I took her out some pumpkin but she wont eat that too. What could possibly be wrong? I KNOW something is. She will get up and walked around just a little, drank just a little water and snorts softly. No other symtoms. What do I look for? Thank you, Gayle PS I will send a check to Lana asap I admire her work in FL, where I used to live. Gayle Bax

Gayle said...

Janet, Something is wrong with Ellie Bellie. She won't eat. I can't find any other symptoms except she is softly snorting and won't wag her tail. I put out breakfast this AM and she took a while getting up and coming out. I also offered her a bowl of pumpkin but she only took a tiny bite. She did drink a tiny bit of water but I cant find anything wrong. What do I do next? Thank you, Gayle Bax

Janice Gillett said...

Hopefully she jsut has an uspet tummy but if she is no better tomorrow morning then ACTION!! Did you worm her yet? I am home now so send me an email and i will give you my number to call!!

Janice Gillett said...

oops heartsonnoses@shaw.ca

Janice Gillett said...

Power just went down , lost all telephone messages , so if any one called or is trying to call it may go down again.

Gayle said...

i tried the email address (heartsonnoses@shaw.ca) and it was returned. Ellie still will not eat and I have offered her ALL of her favorite foods. Now I am wondering if she is constipated. Cant get her to eat pumpkin and she took one little leaf of lettuce from my hand and a couple of tomatoes. No she has not been wormed. Now I am going to offer her some fruit juice. Gayle

Janice Gillett said...

Gayle I would get her on some penicillin ( injection) or amoxicillin ( oral) to rule out any infections or erysipelas. Some vets do not need to come out to call in a script to the drug store.



Constipation symptoms for the most part is continuous straining to go, same as a bladder infection but with an increase feeling to have to go all the time

Janice Gillett said...

Swine erysipelas is caused by a bacterium, Erysipelothrix rhusiopathiae that is found in most if not all pig farms. Up to 50% of animals may carry it in their tonsils. It is always present in either the pig or in the environment because it is excreted via saliva, faeces or urine. It is also found in many other species, including birds and sheep and can survive outside the pig for a few weeks and longer in light soils. Thus it is impossible to eliminate it from a herd. Infected faeces is probably the main source of infection, particularly in growing and finishing pens.
The bacterium alone can cause the disease but concurrent virus infections, such as PRRS or influenza, may trigger off outbreaks.

Disease is relatively uncommon in pigs under 8-12 weeks of age due to protection provided by maternal antibodies from the sow via the colostrum. The most susceptible animals are growing pigs, non vaccinated gilts and up to 4th parity sows.

The organism multiplies in the body, and invades the bloodstream to produce a septicaemia. The rapidity of multiplication and the level of immunity in the pig then determines the clinical symptoms.

Symptoms
Inappetence.
Infertility.
Characteristic skin lesions and ulceration.
The temperature ranges from 39-40?C (102-104?F) - Fever.
The disease can be so mild as to be undetected.
Skin lesions may appear but the pigs may not appear to be ill in spite of a high temperature 42?C (107?F). Characteristic skin lesions may also be evident as large 10 to 50mm raised diamond shaped areas over the body that may turn from red to black. They may be easier to feel than to see in the early stages and often resolve over 7 - 10 days.

Difficult to see skin symptons on a black hide. This desease is BRUTAL on pot bellied pigs, they can loose snouts ears feet hunks of skin. the sooner your on meds the better they are ..
This bacteria can live in soil for years and on a pig with no symptons. I keep this palce clean, and tidy and separte new pigs still two of mine got it. One of the pots lost some skin on his back..