Mini Pig Health
To learn about specific illnesses or diseases that commonly affect pigs, please click here to go to the common disease section of the website. Each disease has its own page to discuss the illness/disease in detail along with treatment recommendations.
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To learn about diseases or illnesses that affect the skin, please click here.
For first aid tips and pigs, click here. |
What do you do when your pig is sick?
How to deal with a sick mini pig
Do you have an emergency plan for your pig? Do you have an emergency vet or one that will come to your house if there's no way to transport your pig? If not, this is something you need to do BEFORE you have a situation that is considered urgent. Often times people turn to FB for emergency advice and to be honest, I absolutely hate that. People waste time that may literally be the difference in life or death, posting and responding to comments regarding their emergency situation. Once you've contacted a vet or you are at an animal hospital with your pig, sure post about your situation then, but if it's a true emergency, please don't waste time on FB trying to figure out what may be wrong with your pig. There is a lot of information posted here on the website so that you can quickly identify an emergency situation and take appropriate actions. Read through the diseases and common problems people have had with their pigs so these things can be easily recognized and promptly treated.
Ask yourself some basic questions. Is my pig acting or behaving abnormal? Is my pig eating and drinking? Is my pig eliminating normally? (peeing and pooping ok) Has my pig been exposed to any toxins? Does my pig look normal? (no distended belly, no signs or symptoms of bleeding, no lesions anywhere, etc) Does my pig have a fever? Normal temperatures for "mini pigs" are typically lower than farm pigs. Normal rectal temperature for a mini pig is between 99-101. You should take your pigs temperature when the pig is NOT sick to get a baseline. Take the rectal temperature several times a day for a week to get an average, before, during and after play time, when waking up, after eating, etc. This will give you what YOUR pigs average temperature is. Each one will be different, but a fever > 102? I'm checking it every couple of hours to see if it's creeping up and I'm treating the fever at 103 and calling the vet at 104. Please read our blog about preventing a health and safety crisis in pigs by clicking here.
I recently was a panicked pig mama when my pig, Buttercup became ill...called my vet to come over (twice within 12 hours) and eventually Buttercup got the medical intervention to make a full recovery.
1. If your pig isn't eating or drinking...something is wrong.
2. If your pig is running a fever and lethargic...something is wrong (you should have a baseline temp when your pig is not sick, this would be the temperature that you would use as a comparison to determine if your pig is febrile or not)
3. If your pig is doing all of the above, especially if there is a quick onset...something is wrong
4. A sudden change in behavior, perhaps acting reclusive or easily agitated.
Behavioral changes are usually discovered early on and the quicker you seek treatment, the quicker treatment can be started and intervening early can save your pigs life. This is a quick guide to illnesses below. Please read further down to learn more in depth about specific pig diseases and illnesses.
Click here to learn how to determine if your pig is sick.
Click here to be directed to the pig disease/illness section where more detailed information is posted.
If your pig isn't eating or drinking, lethargic and has a fever...your pig needs to be seen by a vet ASAP. The 3 most common illnesses are erysipelas, pneumonia and leptospirosis and with prompt medical intervention, all 3 are treatable/curable.
Take advantage of the pig health forms we have available for you to download by clicking here.
Congenital diseases of pigs: A morbid look at pathology of anatomy go diseases in pigs below:
Ask yourself some basic questions. Is my pig acting or behaving abnormal? Is my pig eating and drinking? Is my pig eliminating normally? (peeing and pooping ok) Has my pig been exposed to any toxins? Does my pig look normal? (no distended belly, no signs or symptoms of bleeding, no lesions anywhere, etc) Does my pig have a fever? Normal temperatures for "mini pigs" are typically lower than farm pigs. Normal rectal temperature for a mini pig is between 99-101. You should take your pigs temperature when the pig is NOT sick to get a baseline. Take the rectal temperature several times a day for a week to get an average, before, during and after play time, when waking up, after eating, etc. This will give you what YOUR pigs average temperature is. Each one will be different, but a fever > 102? I'm checking it every couple of hours to see if it's creeping up and I'm treating the fever at 103 and calling the vet at 104. Please read our blog about preventing a health and safety crisis in pigs by clicking here.
I recently was a panicked pig mama when my pig, Buttercup became ill...called my vet to come over (twice within 12 hours) and eventually Buttercup got the medical intervention to make a full recovery.
1. If your pig isn't eating or drinking...something is wrong.
2. If your pig is running a fever and lethargic...something is wrong (you should have a baseline temp when your pig is not sick, this would be the temperature that you would use as a comparison to determine if your pig is febrile or not)
3. If your pig is doing all of the above, especially if there is a quick onset...something is wrong
4. A sudden change in behavior, perhaps acting reclusive or easily agitated.
Behavioral changes are usually discovered early on and the quicker you seek treatment, the quicker treatment can be started and intervening early can save your pigs life. This is a quick guide to illnesses below. Please read further down to learn more in depth about specific pig diseases and illnesses.
Click here to learn how to determine if your pig is sick.
Click here to be directed to the pig disease/illness section where more detailed information is posted.
If your pig isn't eating or drinking, lethargic and has a fever...your pig needs to be seen by a vet ASAP. The 3 most common illnesses are erysipelas, pneumonia and leptospirosis and with prompt medical intervention, all 3 are treatable/curable.
Take advantage of the pig health forms we have available for you to download by clicking here.
Congenital diseases of pigs: A morbid look at pathology of anatomy go diseases in pigs below:
gross_morbid_anatomy_of_pig_diseases.pdf |
Another useful tool I have used in the past, AFTER calling my vet, is The Pig Site's disease problem solver. This "tool" is NOT intended to take the place of a veterinarian, but more so as a screening tool that can be used to let you know the possibilities. http://www.thepigsite.com/diseaseinfo/problemsolver.php
What's "normal" for a mini pig?
Normal Mini Pig Lab Values
Blood sampling:
The cranial vena cava, jugular vein and ear vein are usually used. The milk vein (lateral thoracic), palmar venous arch (see anesthesia), accessory carpal vein (runs medially over the dorsal surface of the carpus) and tail vein can also be used. The cranial vena cava is used in pigs weighing 20kg or less. The animal is restrained in dorsal recumbency. The needle is inserted between the point of the shoulder and the manubrium of the sternum. The needle is directed towards the heart. The jugular vein is used in larger pigs. It cannot be visualized. The needle is inserted in a dorsal direction between the shoulder and manubrium.
Temp 99.5-101.0 F
Heart rate 60-90
Respiratory rate 10-20
Most common issues seen in pet pigs via physical examination:
~Dr. Van Amstel
The cranial vena cava, jugular vein and ear vein are usually used. The milk vein (lateral thoracic), palmar venous arch (see anesthesia), accessory carpal vein (runs medially over the dorsal surface of the carpus) and tail vein can also be used. The cranial vena cava is used in pigs weighing 20kg or less. The animal is restrained in dorsal recumbency. The needle is inserted between the point of the shoulder and the manubrium of the sternum. The needle is directed towards the heart. The jugular vein is used in larger pigs. It cannot be visualized. The needle is inserted in a dorsal direction between the shoulder and manubrium.
Temp 99.5-101.0 F
Heart rate 60-90
Respiratory rate 10-20
Most common issues seen in pet pigs via physical examination:
- Weight issues (Obesity)
- Condition score: palpation of ribs – should be palpable but not seen (Malnourished)
- Eyes and eyelids: fat blindness; entropion; accumulation of dirt in eyelids
- Ear: dark brown wax- sarcoptes –take swab to check for presence
- Feet: overgrowth; horn lesions; misshapen claws common in pet pigs, abnormal gait
- Joint enlargement and crepitation – arthritis
- Teeth: tusk trimming; tooth root abscesses indicated by bone enlargement of mandible/maxilla
- Skin: Pyoderma and skin fold dermatitis common in obese pigs. Skin abscesses are fairly common.
~Dr. Van Amstel
How to take a mini pig's temperature
A pigs temperature is taken rectally, preferably with a digital thermometer. You can typically have your pig lay down for a belly rub and use Vaseline (or something that is equivalent) to lubricate the thermometer so it easily glides into the rectum. You only need to put the tip of the thermometer in about 1-2 inches. If you feel resistance, stop. Normal temp for a mini pig older than 3 months old is 98-100 normally, but you should take a baseline temp for your pig when your pig is NOT sick so you know what is normal for your particular pig. Each pig may have a slightly different baseline core body temp.
When a pig has a temperature it is called a fever. The hypothalamus, which sits at the base of the brain, acts as the body's thermostat. It is triggered by floating biochemical substances called pyrogens, which flow from sites where the immune system has identified potential trouble to the hypothalamus via the bloodstream. Some pyrogens are produced by body tissue; many pathogens also produce pyrogens. When the hypothalamus detects them, it tells the body to generate and retain more heat, thus producing a fever. The presence of a fever is usually related to stimulation of the body's immune response. Fever can support the immune system's attempt to gain advantage over infectious agents, such as viruses and bacteria, and it makes the body less favorable as a host for replicating viruses and bacteria, which are temperature sensitive. Infectious agents are not the only causes of fever, however. Fever's can also occur due to stress or external factors like heat stroke. Our advice about how you should handle a fever can be read by clicking here.
When a pig has a temperature it is called a fever. The hypothalamus, which sits at the base of the brain, acts as the body's thermostat. It is triggered by floating biochemical substances called pyrogens, which flow from sites where the immune system has identified potential trouble to the hypothalamus via the bloodstream. Some pyrogens are produced by body tissue; many pathogens also produce pyrogens. When the hypothalamus detects them, it tells the body to generate and retain more heat, thus producing a fever. The presence of a fever is usually related to stimulation of the body's immune response. Fever can support the immune system's attempt to gain advantage over infectious agents, such as viruses and bacteria, and it makes the body less favorable as a host for replicating viruses and bacteria, which are temperature sensitive. Infectious agents are not the only causes of fever, however. Fever's can also occur due to stress or external factors like heat stroke. Our advice about how you should handle a fever can be read by clicking here.
How to give a mini pig an injection
You will not give your pig an injection unless directed to do so by your veterinarian, but if you are directed to inject your pig with a medication, this picture should help you identify the most appropriate area to give that injection. Some areas are used for piglets as described on the picture, while other areas follow specific parts of the circulatory system. Note that the most common area is behind and slightly under the ear area.
How to angle a needle in order to give a specific injection. Example: IM (Intramuscular) SQ (Subcutaneous)