Obstructions (bowel, bladder and esophageal)
As with humans, pigs can develop or have many types of obstructions. Some are acute obstructions that need emergency interventions and some are partial obstructions that can be treated with medications and lifestyle changes. As you read about the various types of obstructions, you will be able to see that some are a direct result of a pig being a pig-tasting and swallowing anything that fits in the mouth, however, you will also see that some of these obstructions develop over time before becoming an acute problem.
As an admin in a pig group, we see a lot of various issues with pigs. One example I can remember is a pig who swallowed a river rock from a rooting box. However, there was another pig whose owner also had dogs and over time, from rooting inside the house, dog hair accumulated and caused an acute obstruction that needed immediate surgery. these aren't things most think about everyday and they take for granted all the common things around them that their pig may get into or ingest that could possibly cause serious issues over time. Who would've guessed that the fur the dog shed, skin that people shed or even dust, could all accumulate and all the stars to line up and have that outcome. If you have small children, small plastic toys are something a pig may swallow. In doing so, it could potentially lead to a blockage of some kind. If you are a baker and have a lot of cellophane wrappers, your pig may eat some of those, this could lead to a blockage. There has even been times when a pig has swallowed pellets and not chewed them accumulated in the bowels and has caused intentional blockages.
As an admin in a pig group, we see a lot of various issues with pigs. One example I can remember is a pig who swallowed a river rock from a rooting box. However, there was another pig whose owner also had dogs and over time, from rooting inside the house, dog hair accumulated and caused an acute obstruction that needed immediate surgery. these aren't things most think about everyday and they take for granted all the common things around them that their pig may get into or ingest that could possibly cause serious issues over time. Who would've guessed that the fur the dog shed, skin that people shed or even dust, could all accumulate and all the stars to line up and have that outcome. If you have small children, small plastic toys are something a pig may swallow. In doing so, it could potentially lead to a blockage of some kind. If you are a baker and have a lot of cellophane wrappers, your pig may eat some of those, this could lead to a blockage. There has even been times when a pig has swallowed pellets and not chewed them accumulated in the bowels and has caused intentional blockages.
Urethral obstruction:
Predisposing causes include unregulated concentrate feeding, insufficient water or water supply high in calcium carbonate, neoplasia and urethral polyps. Clinical signs include inappetence, lethargy, dysuria, dribbling, straining and abdominal “pumping”. Some pigs may show no signs relating to urinary obstruction. Diagnosis is made on abdominal ultrasound. The bladder may be severely distended and may contain several liters of urine. Pyelonephritis and hydronephrosis may be complications in chronic cases. Retrograde catheterization is difficult and usually unsuccessful in relieving the urethral obstruction. Radiographs may be helpful in determining the possible cause and prognosis. A tube cystostomy is usually performed under general anesthesia following which a cysto-urethrogram can be done by injecting contrast through the cystostomy tube. However large volumes may be required and it is very difficult to get the contrast to fill the urethra beyond the urethral diverticulum.
Once a seal has formed between the bladder and abdominal walls (3 days post surgery) acidification of the urine is carried out by injecting a 30-50 ml of a commercial acidifying solution (Renacidin) into the bladder through the foley catheter. The tube is then clamped off for 30-60 minutes. This procedure is repeated for several days. Large calcium carbonate stones lodged in the distal urethra are unlikely to be dissolved. Once urethral patency is reestablished the tube is removed. This should not be done before 10 days after surgery. Complications include cystitis, tube obstruction or the tube may become dislodged and fall out. It is often possible to place a new tube through the same tract.
Other treatment options include normograde or retrograde intra-urethral lithotripsy; bladder marsupialization or prepubic urethrostomy for permanent urinary diversion.
~Dr. Van Amstel, DVM, UT
Predisposing causes include unregulated concentrate feeding, insufficient water or water supply high in calcium carbonate, neoplasia and urethral polyps. Clinical signs include inappetence, lethargy, dysuria, dribbling, straining and abdominal “pumping”. Some pigs may show no signs relating to urinary obstruction. Diagnosis is made on abdominal ultrasound. The bladder may be severely distended and may contain several liters of urine. Pyelonephritis and hydronephrosis may be complications in chronic cases. Retrograde catheterization is difficult and usually unsuccessful in relieving the urethral obstruction. Radiographs may be helpful in determining the possible cause and prognosis. A tube cystostomy is usually performed under general anesthesia following which a cysto-urethrogram can be done by injecting contrast through the cystostomy tube. However large volumes may be required and it is very difficult to get the contrast to fill the urethra beyond the urethral diverticulum.
Once a seal has formed between the bladder and abdominal walls (3 days post surgery) acidification of the urine is carried out by injecting a 30-50 ml of a commercial acidifying solution (Renacidin) into the bladder through the foley catheter. The tube is then clamped off for 30-60 minutes. This procedure is repeated for several days. Large calcium carbonate stones lodged in the distal urethra are unlikely to be dissolved. Once urethral patency is reestablished the tube is removed. This should not be done before 10 days after surgery. Complications include cystitis, tube obstruction or the tube may become dislodged and fall out. It is often possible to place a new tube through the same tract.
Other treatment options include normograde or retrograde intra-urethral lithotripsy; bladder marsupialization or prepubic urethrostomy for permanent urinary diversion.
~Dr. Van Amstel, DVM, UT
Bowel Obstruction:
Only a medical professional with diagnostic equipment can definitively tell you whether or not there is an obstruction.
You may or may not know the cause for an obstruction. Some pigs have twisted bowels, some ingest items that cause obstructions, some are more prone than others. You will notice a change in your pigs routine. You will see a change in behavior, squatting perhaps, with no results. If there is a possibility of an obstruction, its best to take your pig to the vet to be seen and possibly X-rayed. No one can tell you that’s the problem without testing. They can give you an idea that an obstruction is likely what’s wrong, and some pigs may have partial obstructions meaning some feces is able to pass, usually this is different from what the poop usually looks like, often times very watery. There have been times when a known foreign object has been swallowed and there are times that the owners had no idea what a pig has ingested. A great example is a pig that rooted on a kitchen rug. Over time, these carpet fibers were swallowed and created a large mass in the intestines that had to be surgically removed. Another incident is a pig who was playing in a rooting box, the pewter noticed that her pig wasn't able to defecate and upon X-ray results, a small river rock from the rooting box was found to be obstructing the bowels. Parasites can cause obstructions as well, so be sure to keep your pig on routine parasite control. There are times when internal issues cause an obstruction like strangulated hernia for example. If your pig has chronic constipation issues, a fecal impaction can lead to an obstruction.
Outcome for animals with GI foreign body obstruction is good if the condition is recognized and treated quickly. Animals with severe clinical signs resulting from systemic factors such as concurrent infection or debilitation, sepsis, tissue death, hypovolemia, and shock are at higher risk of delayed healing and incisional breakdown.
For a prolpase: Keep the prolapsed area moist with KY lube or Vaseline. Keep her in a clean soft area so that she does not rub the prolapse on anything to cause tearing. If you can find some lidocaine spray (at local drug store) you can spray the prolapse ONE time to see if it will help with straining. If you have an ER that will see her, that would be a good idea. They can temporarily suture it and give your pig pain meds to stop the straining (Buprenex works well for this)
Only a medical professional with diagnostic equipment can definitively tell you whether or not there is an obstruction.
You may or may not know the cause for an obstruction. Some pigs have twisted bowels, some ingest items that cause obstructions, some are more prone than others. You will notice a change in your pigs routine. You will see a change in behavior, squatting perhaps, with no results. If there is a possibility of an obstruction, its best to take your pig to the vet to be seen and possibly X-rayed. No one can tell you that’s the problem without testing. They can give you an idea that an obstruction is likely what’s wrong, and some pigs may have partial obstructions meaning some feces is able to pass, usually this is different from what the poop usually looks like, often times very watery. There have been times when a known foreign object has been swallowed and there are times that the owners had no idea what a pig has ingested. A great example is a pig that rooted on a kitchen rug. Over time, these carpet fibers were swallowed and created a large mass in the intestines that had to be surgically removed. Another incident is a pig who was playing in a rooting box, the pewter noticed that her pig wasn't able to defecate and upon X-ray results, a small river rock from the rooting box was found to be obstructing the bowels. Parasites can cause obstructions as well, so be sure to keep your pig on routine parasite control. There are times when internal issues cause an obstruction like strangulated hernia for example. If your pig has chronic constipation issues, a fecal impaction can lead to an obstruction.
Outcome for animals with GI foreign body obstruction is good if the condition is recognized and treated quickly. Animals with severe clinical signs resulting from systemic factors such as concurrent infection or debilitation, sepsis, tissue death, hypovolemia, and shock are at higher risk of delayed healing and incisional breakdown.
For a prolpase: Keep the prolapsed area moist with KY lube or Vaseline. Keep her in a clean soft area so that she does not rub the prolapse on anything to cause tearing. If you can find some lidocaine spray (at local drug store) you can spray the prolapse ONE time to see if it will help with straining. If you have an ER that will see her, that would be a good idea. They can temporarily suture it and give your pig pain meds to stop the straining (Buprenex works well for this)
The pictures above are from a small bowel obstruction surgery where a ribbon that was tied to a balloon from a children's birthday party was swallowed. This caused the obstruction and surgery had to be done in order to remove it from the bowels to regain bowel function.
Esophageal or trachea obstruction:
If your pig is choking, excessively salivating or struggling to breathe, you need to get into action. If there is something visible that is reachable, get it out of your pigs mouth. If you can't easily stick your fingers in your pigs mouth, use a wooden spoon and carefully try and retrieve the item or push it down so its not obstructing air flow.
This should be considered an emergency. Click here for emergency treatment instructions.
If your pig is choking, excessively salivating or struggling to breathe, you need to get into action. If there is something visible that is reachable, get it out of your pigs mouth. If you can't easily stick your fingers in your pigs mouth, use a wooden spoon and carefully try and retrieve the item or push it down so its not obstructing air flow.
This should be considered an emergency. Click here for emergency treatment instructions.