SICK PIG
This winter has been up and down and up and down in temperatures. And the varuation is so vast that the animals no sooner get used to hunkering down than it is warm again then cold again. Well, one of the three little pigs went down yesterday.
Over 24 hours she went from vibrant to lethargic, alone and not eating. Lying in dark corners. After taking advice and getting medication I wormed her and gave her a shot of antibiotics for suspected pneumonia. Pigs go down from pneumonia very quickly. (Though this is not common in pigs this size). Even catching her and sticking her with needles is dangerous for her health due to the stress. Pigs are in a way, very sturdy and quite delicate. The other two I will worm today as well. (that will be a scene – I seldom worm at this age usually only as littlies – these girls are big).
I put in a heat lamp again. If it is bronchial she needs to be warm.
I will see how she is this morning. If she is better today then we are OK. If things were not caught in time we may have lost her.
By yesterday evening she ate a little, was drinking and they were all sleeping together. So I am feeling hopeful.
I chose to close the big barn right up so it was warmer in there for the pigs. This meant letting the two milking cows and the Twins cross the field and occupy the Rat House. This is not as convenient for milking but once they were in there I could see that it was a warmer option. Their area in the home barn faces West and the rat house faces East. They do not need a creep for the babies so these Winter Quarters work well. Also the floor in the Rat House is dirt while means drainage and drier. 
The big cows remember this from last winter and the babies settled right in – creeping into Sheila’s other tin house. Out of the wind.
The other advantage is that I can get the tractor in here in the spring for a clean up.
And just in case you were wondering why I can’t use the whole of the Rat House for the cows (or pigs, as the case may be) – have a look at what I have fenced off.
It has taken years for me to get John to tow away the car carcasses that take up the room that cows could use. More to go too!!
The chickens are right next door.
I caught one peering through the crack in the connecting door to see what the hell was going on in there.
The three little pigs have a car art installation too. Here they were last night. The poorly one in the middle. Her sleeping with her sisters is a very good sign. A sick pig is left completely alone which is natures way of decreasing the risk of contamination.
OK, I will go out and start the chores and update you as to the pig’s condition in the comments. Let’s hope she made it through the night.
Have a good one.
Love celi
WEATHER: Looks like the wind has dropped. That is a bonus. And not too cold which is good for the small pigs.
Wednesday 01/24 20% / 0 in
A few flurries possible early. Cloudy skies early, then partly cloudy this afternoon. High 34F/1C. Winds WNW at 5 to 10 mph.
Wednesday Night 01/24 10% / 0 in
Partly cloudy skies. Low 24F/-4C. Winds SSW at 5 to 10 mph.
Sun
7:10 am 5:00 pm
Moon
Waxing Crescent, 46% visible 11:18 am Not Available
c
44 Comments on “SICK PIG”
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I hope the pig’s OK – fingers crossed.
That cow looks hilarious in the pig shelter! I saw a story today about a cow that has run away (in Poland) to live with the buffalo and has survived the winter.
I wonder what her calf will look like. c
She’s not old enough yet, but that could be a problem, since she might die diving birth to a bison sized calf. There are also issues about keeping the protected wild herd pure. The cow is a French Limousin. Genetic problems aside, it reminded me of your animals and their relationships with each other.
Love the calf in the tin hut….. so very cozy looking. I hope the pig did well overnight. It’s amazing how STURDY and STRONG something can look but so frail also.
Yes – she was up and looking for her morning milk when we went out. I think the crisis is over – thank goodness. i will worm the other two just in case that was the problem. Parasites can cause pneumonia as well. I think we saw the signs in time.
Excellent to read. I had to hurry to comments to know!
Ooohhh I do hope she is alright. I’ve heard of a twisted gut in piggies but hopefully not at this age : )
Twisted guts in cows is pretty nasty too but we have never had that either – she is much better this morning
Due to the time difference l hope to read that poorly pig is ok..l shall be sad if its not. Trying to be delicate and not to temp fate..but if poorly pig dies. Sshhh?… Could you eat it? Tell John to clear his junk out…your animals need their space. I loved the shot of chicken eye…nosey creatures chooks
I would never eat a sick animal. But she is looking better this morning. c
Oh no, holding thumbs for a quick recovery for the little girl. Txiki looks quite the fashionista with her matching accessories and highlights 🙂 Laura
That is Inky – but she really does look like Txiki doesn’t she. Txiki is in with the big herd for the moment
It’s quite freaky how quickly pigs can get sick. I don’t envy you giving her shots. That is a very tricky operation! Hoping to hear positive news….
I have a big panel that I curled into a circle. John traps the pig in this (popping it over her) right by the gate, he holds it down and I climb in. Sounds bonkers but it works. I really could do with a shute for pigs.
Sending healing thoughts for the little pig. I am hoping for the beat, especially after knowing they were all sleeping together!
best, not beat!!! I don’t like my phone’s spell checker at all!
Yes – she is so much better this morning – hopefully she continues to recover. c
I send my high hopes too for the little piggy to be much better this morning. The car art installations have got to go. Not a good use of precious space. I spy with my little eye, said Miss Curiosity Chicken.
Nothing I can do about the car art really – we can only ask. Wasn’t that chicken funny!!
I don’t know if this will work with a pig, but recently I heard of someone with a very bad chest infection +pneumonia, who cut each end off an onion and sat it in an open-topped jar next to her bed and the next day her chest was on the mend and the onion had turned black. Apparently, onions (especially cut ones) absorb bacteria and viruses into themselves, which is why you should always use an onion in one go and not chop it in half and put it into the refrigerator for using later. I believe that hanging garlic around the home, as well as disporting whole onions around the place, helps ward off colds and flu. A hairdresser did this one year in her workplace, after most of her staff went off sick the previous winter, and nobody got ill.
Obviously pigs are reputed to eat any vegetable matter in sight, and I’m not sure if they share dogs’ problem with onions being poisonous to them, but if you could find a way to put onions near to your sick pig but out of reach, anything is worth a try.
The only animal I know who will voluntarily eat an onion (unless it is chopped up and added to food) is a cow. I don’t think they are poisonous to dogs though – mine eat cooked onions all the time? Though they would not want to eat a raw one. But I do mix salad into their meat and I am sure there would be bits of onion in there. Odd. Thinking out loud here. My mother always said use an onion in one go. I love them – they are my superfood and go in everything raw and cooked. They are not cheap! c
Do you not grow your own onions C?
Oh no! Bless little piggy’s heart. I’m hoping you got to it in time. I see that little piggy was feeling better this morning. I’m sending my hogs and snout kisses your way. XOXO – Bacon
Sending get well wishes for the little one. Seems wrong to click the “Like” button but you know what I mean when I do.
awww the sweet little pig- glad to hear how much better she is! and that chicken shot is hilarious!
Sorry to disagree Cecilia, but onions are poisonous to dogs and cats. So happy your dogs have been okay with them. http://www.petpoisonhelpline.com/poison/onion/
No need to be sorry – I don’t mind a gentle disagreement.
I laughed out loud when I scrolled into that pic of the chicken’s evil eye spying! So funny. Poor little pig, I sure hope she recovers quickly.
Yes she is better – that chicken eye made me laugh too..
Positive thoughts. Positive thoughts. Positive thoughts…
My first thought was “No! Tell me it’s not Sheila!” and then you did. Still not at all good, but at least it’s not Her Majesty. You’re good at spotting these problems in advance, so she had the best chance of pulling round.
Time zone lapse wonderfully let me read the piggy dilemma and update in one go… happily all is well. The more I get to know chooks the more I appreciate what real characters they are!
Actually, a vet told me once not to feed onions to dogs as they can make them very sick. Obviously if yours eat it, well, maybe that isn’t true for cooked ones. Glad little piggy is on the mend. xx
LOVE the “heels”/ brindle socks on the calf in your header photo, and Inky(?) looks quite comfy in her little tin hut: )
Yes the minute I saw SICK PIG I thought not Sheila and not Wai! But gee, why not NOT LITTLE PIG too! I’m happy everyone is A-OK!
The nosy chicken pic is priceless!!
Any chance I can send my daughter to you for your special brand of TLC? She’s got bronchitis and a horrible UTI! I’ve read of the onion by the bed treatment, but have never tried it.
Glad piggy is better. You’re not going to eat her, are you? In one sentence you said, “I’d never eat a sick animal.” The next was, “She is better, though!” Yikes!!
Oh fingers crossed but the early signs sound positive.
I’m glad the piggy is feeling better, let’s hope she stays well.🐷😊
Err, I think the onion and bacteria story is a bit of ‘quackery’. See https://www.mcgill.ca/oss/article/health-you-asked/it-true-onions-can-absorb-bacteria
I guess we all heard that the little piggy who built his house of straw came to a bad end. Who knew it was true?
Lovely images .. the one with the chicken is a classic. Hope that little pig is better ..
Oh yes – he is so much better
Good 🙂