Title: Keeping Show Pigs Healthy - What are some good practices?
Headings: Keeping Show Pigs Healthy
Keeping Show Pigs Healthy
Starting with Healthy Pigs
Isolating Pigs from the Farm
Following good health management Practices
Using Good Watering and Feeding Practices
Taking Care During and After Surgery
Recognizing Risks on the Farm
Vaccinating to Prevent Serious Diseases
Deworming Healthy Pigs
Diagnosing and Treating Sick Pigs Promptly
Using prescribed Drugs properly
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Content: Many veterinarians try to prevent complications after surgery by administering antibiotics and injecting a tetanus antitoxin. The highest risk for tetanus in pigs is after castration when the incision site is purposely left open for drainage and becomes contaminated with dirt containing tetanus spores, which are in substances like dirt and dust. Another possible complication is an abscess or cyst formation that creates an obvious skin enlargement at the castration site after healing. These usually must be removed surgically before you can exhibit a barrow. However, lack of healing time before a show is always a concern after abscess removal. To prevent complications such as abscesses, consider utilizing a veterinarian who uses anesthesia for castration, uses an aseptic surgical technique and closes the castration site. Veterinarians also commonly perform other surgeries requiring anesthesia, such as removal of a retained testicle (cryptorchidism), removal of an infected and enlarged urine pocket (preputial diverticulum removal), repair of the scrotal or an umbilical hernia, and removal of tumors. Before a surgeon administers anesthesia to your pigs, you need to understand that properly complying with drug withdrawal times can conflict with future exhibition dates. This is especially true for larger, older pigs. Therefore, always talk to your veterinarian before- hand and cooperatively plan any surgery involving anesthesia to ensure you’re in compliance.