Super Pig

I almost took my husbands eyes out with my dirty farmers fingernails yesterday when he said to me there is no way that potbelly pig can survive with all those open wounds.  The skin is coming off in huge clumps now exposing pretty rugged raw areas underneath.  Some as big as a child’s hand. But he will survive – I am sure of it.  He still burrows in and sleeps a lot in the day but it is a good healing sleep. 

John had looked at a picture I had sent to the vet but he does not know the pig at all.  It always looks worse after I have washed it. I know it is still early days but I really do think he will recover to full if scarred health. The risk of infection is great but he is strong and I am determined he will survive.

This is what the vet wrote after receiving the picture of the latest open area.  He named him Super Pig which heartened me greatly.

“Looks like a pretty deep wound but with what looks like healthy granulation tissue underneath…is Super Pig still eating, active, etc?”

And yes Super Pig is still eating, drinking, peeing and pooing regularly and has begun to bash at the doors with his snout during his walks around the inside of the barn, wanting to be out in the fields. But no sun for him for a long time. (Today looks cloudy so far so he might get a long morning out there grazing – the rain will do his skin good).

After he is washed and slathered in antiseptic cream on the open areas and bag balm on the remaining dead skin and the good skin (- more is softening which is good but scary – it will release soon and what is underneath is just awful to see  and has to be cleaned and anointed- I can understand John getting a fright but I was still thin lipped with fury, funny how you can love someone and want to rip their head off at the same time). Anyway, after the ointments I place old thin linen napkins over the open areas. The goop keeps the fabric in place and keeps the flies off for the day. It looks strange but it works. I would tear up old sheets but they need to be hemmed, threads  would get everywhere. Well worn old napkins are perfect.   I need to search ebay for more.

A big thank you to all who have donated to Wai’s care – these creams are shockingly expensive even at cost – and those of you who can, have helped enormously by paying for them. And  all your kind and supportive words are as golden. This is going to be a long haul and I know you are all in it with me.

On to other things. Wai is not the only pig here after all!  Above is Tima waiting patiently for someone to fill the wallow.

And  here are some beautiful pictures of the wild field. I adore this area. 

It is really starting to come into its own, this little field by the ditch, and with today’s rain even more  of the plants will flower.  So I hope you get to see it often.

We are getting lots of visitors this summer. Families too which is lovely.  So I will add the wild field to their tour now that the wild flowers are beginning to bloom.

We have a gentle rain this morning. And a week of rain in the forecast. After that I will start the hay process. The alfalfa John sowed in the big hay field is growing really well and I think I can take the risk of cutting it now. If we get a dry week.

I have been collecting truck loads of turnips and their greens from Jake. They were planted too close together so he wants the lot gone. The cows love them. The steers are getting piles. In NZ we plant fields of turnips and pumpkins and electric fence the cows across the fields in the winter time. I can’t do that here because of the frozen winters but this is the next best thing.

I hope you have a lovely day.

Love celi

Weather today

Monday 07/10 80% / 0.51 in
Scattered thunderstorms in the morning becoming more widespread in the afternoon. A few storms may be severe. High 91F. Winds SW at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 80%.

Monday Night 07/10 50% / 0.12 in
Variable clouds with scattered thunderstorms. A few storms may be severe. Low 71F. Winds WSW at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 50%.

Sun
5:30 am  – 8:26 pm