Yesterday Molly took offense to me cleaning her floor. I have done this every day for all her confinement’s but it is never good to be complacent around a newly farrowed sow. I ended up with stitches from a pretty bad bite to the left hand.
So my record since a doctors visit – thirty one years – has been ruined. I went to the doctors to get a tetanus shot after Molly drew blood. ( I refused to go to the ER – luckily the local tiny doctors office was happy to rummage about in their seldom used supplies and look after me). They cleaned the wound which was incredibly painful and began to stitch it up then I ended up passed out and shifted in a fog to a gurney with BP and heart rate dropping fast.
It was a most peculiar feeling.
I was so embarrassed – here’s me thinking I was such a tough guy.
Molly and her eight piglets are going to be getting a little less attention in the meantime. The piglets are small and not as vigorous as normal and this may have made her more protective. After farrowing is a very dangerous time with any mother animal. I know this well. Just lucky human animals don’t bare their teeth and bite their nurses!
It was totally my fault. I have been working around sows and piglets for years and was over confident because I have never had an incident. I gave her a fright. Now I know better. 
It could have been a lot worse. I am bandaged up, my hand is smarting and not as mobile and I am a bit bruised from the fall. But there you are. I have learnt my lesson. And no real harm done. I will have a good scar for my troubles though. And there is blood in a trail from the barn to the house. I would take a photo but it is kind of ghoulish!!
And the show must go on.
Celi
The Kitchen's Garden 
94 responses to “AN ALTERCATION”
Gadzukes! Hope your hand is feeling better – and you too! Poor Molly – seems to have been quite a traumatic few days. Yesterday you thought you had five remaining piglets. You mentioned six today. Hoping one of the sickly three pulled through. Take care farmer girl!
I must have been sleep deprived yesterday. Molly has eleven piglets and then lost three. The remaining eight are small but coming along
Poor Molly, poor Celi, both flat out… I’d actually like to see your pig bite scar when the bandage comes off, I wonder what a pig bite looks like. Yes, I agree, very ghoulish, morbid curiosity! That whole BP and heart rate dropping sensation is very strange and unpleasant, isn’t it? Glad the experience is over, and I hope you’ll feel back to your normal self very soon.
You don’t want to see this – it is a bit messy
An honourable scar… I hope it heals well and quickly.
Yes! I will be happy when I am over these bloody bollocksy antibiotics. They make me feel awful.
WOW! I’m glad you were able to make it to the house and the office without help!
I was shaking from the adrenaline hit! My blood was pumping with it
I’m sure you were. But still I’m glad you were able to make it in the house then to the Dr. Office. Very glad!
Yes. So am I – if could have been a lot worse
I took a photo of the trail! It looked like a hockey rink bloodbath! So glad town was nearby to help tidy up your hand. I was so relieved!
Ps let me know if you want the photo 😉
NOW TAKE IT EASY! (Well, easiER)!
Snort
Oh, my word! I am glad you are okay! I have made the mistake of being too complacent with zoo animals, but only once or twice. If forgot that Big Al is a 525lb animal with wild animal instincts, and I awakened him from a nap when he was head-to-head with another adult male. He misinterpreted my pets, and he nearly ran over me. We were under a holly tree, so I was duck-walking as fast as I could. Once he realized it was me, all was forgiven, but I have a new system for getting his attention now. A tap on the top of the shell, and I stand back. If he feels like company, he will stand. If he doesn’t, I leave him alone.
I hope Molly’s piglets pull through and grow properly.
I desperately want to meet Big Al and all your others..
Oh my goodness! A wee sip of “medicinal” whiskey will have you feeling better 😉 Take care of yourself and take it as easy as you can.
I wish I had a well stocked liquor cabinet like they do in the movies
This is so shocking Cecilia! Stunning! Of all things to happen this is surely something I never saw coming. Thank god you were able to get to a doc. You must have lost a lot of blood having to travel. Tetanus shot is so important! I hope the pain is relieved quickly. As someone above said a wee bit of whiskey would help a lot.
It seems like Molly has not been herself for a while. Certainly hope she settles down pronto!
Yes! I need her to settle so I can get in and clean her room. She needs fresh straw
Actually, this didn’t ruin your record, Ceci ! You weren’t ill, you were hurt. Big difference in the reason you were in the office! Bet the staff there were more helpful and understanding than an old ER would have been! I so hope Molly’s five will thrive and flourish. They are adorable! Be well, friend! Sunny
The nurses were really lovely –
That is scary. I hope you heal well!
I will – I am a fast healer
I’m sure Molly feels bad…..hope you and the babies will be alright
Poor hand and passing out is serious so don’t pass it off so casually. I’m glad they were able to take care of you at the local doctor’s office but the ER is set up to deal with these things so they’ve got everything they need. (I think they’d have tetanus shots available too.) Hopefully, you won’t have to visit for another 31 yrs.
Fingers crossed for the 8 piglets to get fat and sassy and up to a better weight with all the good food Molly’s getting.
I’m guessing you might have fainted from the loss of blood, shock… bugger about the bite… and the broken record. I haven’t seen a doctor since we left the city… 3 1/2 years… fingers crossed.
Oh Lordy, Celi, I hope I didn’t jinx when I commented a couple weeks ago that I hoped the delivery would be without incident. Shortly after that Molly had her bad day, 3 have died, and you have a stitched hand. I am going to just keep quiet next time! I hope today is going well for all of you. (I have heard you say before that you stay at a distance with the new moms. Did you break your own rule?)
Oh dear! Get well soon C!!