Sick Pig Update II
Posted on September 18th, 2006 By ljrobinson at 2:06 pm (All, Four legs, Two legs)
Well, the pig is feeling better but he still needs at least one more shot. Ideally he would get three more shots. But, darn it if we haven’t turned that poor pig’s butt into a pin cushion trying to (unsuccessfully) get a dose into him. Pigs that feel good don’t hold still for shots!
I’ve got a new tool that hopefully will make us successful nurses. It looks similar to this but is not as fancy. Ours is the plastic version of the Pistol-Grip Syringe from Ideal Instruments. Part of our problem has been that I can’t adjust my grip on the syringe to push down the plunger without the pig coming off the needle. Then I have to try to stick him again and he gets so worked up, screaming and fighting us that I pretty much come unglued.
[edit] Well, I was an unsuccessful nurse with the cool new toy. Our neighbor, Mr. C., was quite successful though. We’ll be inviting him back for more farm fun tomorrow.
Madeleine said,
September 18, 2006 at 8:15 pm
He has to be the fastest pig-shot-giver-toer ever.
ljrobinson said,
September 18, 2006 at 10:46 pm
Faster than a speeding bullet.
Brad K. said,
September 18, 2006 at 11:42 pm
There is skill required to use any tool. Using a syringe, ear notcher (to identify pigs), pig ringer, pig holder (the wire cable in a pipe thingy), and the common diagonal cutter pliers (used to avoid tail-biting for pigs confined over winter — Dad put spring and summer pigs in a pasture. Does amazing things for meat quality.), these all take practice, and hopefully instruction and informed supervision at first. Why, look at the messes you make developing the ‘fill the water tank’ skill (I am still working on the ‘No, stay there and watch it until it is full’ rule. About 2-3 times a year. *sigh*)!
You might practice with a pillow. And plan on changing the needle every time you try a poke the first couple dozen times you stick the pig. With practice you may get a couple of uses, but when treating a sick pig you don’t want to be spreading the guck around, either.
Happy squeals, to you!
Until, we meet again!
Happy squeals, to you!
Keep smilin’ until then!
…
ljrobinson said,
September 19, 2006 at 6:52 am
Thanks Brad. In order for the pillow practice to be beneficial I think it would have to weigh 200 pounds and be very active. The first two shots were a breeze because the pig was sick enough that he didn’t have the energy to fight. Once he felt good he had a whole lot of fight. As for the informed supervision that I would have much rather had, I couldn’t get a vet out in time (or at all really - I called about 15 before I even got instructions). The pig wouldn’t have lasted the weekend and would have become much more contagious (to the other pigs and to my family). Perhaps I will start the look out for a seminar or workshop. I know people who can AI their own goats from having attended seminars, why not injections?
I got some balm for the areas worst affected by my inexperience and I say my mea culpas as I apply it.
ljrobinson said,
September 19, 2006 at 7:13 am
Oh, we did separate the sick pig out. I just reread my comment and didn’t want anyone to think we were foolish enough to not separate.
Rebecca said,
September 20, 2006 at 12:15 pm
Where did you get this contraption? I must have one. I went through the same problem with my goat! When he was sick, giving him the shot was a breeze. When he was feeling better and I had to give him meds it was hell on us both.
Rebecca said,
September 20, 2006 at 12:19 pm
Also interesting to note - Coal, my big ass Nubian goat has big sick a couple of times now - we deal with a farm animal vet out of Rensselaer. He has never laid an eye on Coal, but has successfully diagnosed him every time. I practically begged him to come to the house the last time, he told me to give Coal pepto. Reassuring. It’s scary having farm animals.
ljrobinson said,
September 20, 2006 at 12:20 pm
Rebecca, I just picked it up at Tractor Supply Company. They have them in the animal health dept. It makes me feel better knowing that a former professional blood letter also has problems injecting their livestock though.
Madeleine said,
September 22, 2006 at 5:20 pm
I wonder where we could get a pillow fit for practicing giving pigs shots on?
ljrobinson said,
September 23, 2006 at 9:41 am
Maybe we could invent one. Or we could strap one to a mechanical bull.
Barb! said,
September 23, 2006 at 4:40 pm
maybe a pillow stuffed with footballs…?
ljrobinson said,
September 23, 2006 at 10:36 pm
Scott gave the quarantined pig a football to play with so he wouldn’t be so bored.
Madeleine said,
September 24, 2006 at 8:28 am
Alright, now we just need a mechanical bull, and a tape recorder to play screaming pig noises, and we could put footballs in the pillow too, because a pillow is a little softer than a pig is.
ljrobinson said,
September 27, 2006 at 2:53 pm
I hope Brad hasn’t come back and been offended. It’s all in fun. Except for the tending to a sick pig thing, of course.