Hello, been a long time since I had time to be on. Unfortunately it's not with great news.
Our gilt, Pebbles (Wilma's daughter) is badly limping. A few months ago it started after she was attacked by younger feeder pigs who have since gone to piggy paradise, but it 'healed'. Then she was limping again a week later, healed, limped again. Fast forward.
Since yesterday she hasn't been able to put any weight on the front left foot - the exact same foot/leg she has always limped on every time she has the limp. It's not swollen or hot, I can't find anything embedded in her hoof. I can move and press on her toes and the bottom pad and she doesn't react. But she cannot walk on it. I believe the injury/problem is in the wrist area, as she has full movement in her shoulder. We have to coax her to get up to eat (but she DOES get up to eat and drink when we do so she isn't fully lamed) and she does move to different locations from time to time on her own.
I'm not quite sure what to do. I'm worried she has arthritis. Her mother, Wilma, would occasionally show lameness in her shoulders, usually in the winter and with rough playmates. Pebbles is in her own pen as she is a very timid pig (she was the only surviving piglet in her litter and didn't have playmates), and doesn't stand up for herself.
She is on Pig n Sow Blue Seal pellets (same as all our pigs).
Is there any advice on what we can do to help her? We're not going to breed her as it would be cruel to force her to bare extra weight on a potentially arthritic or injured wrist, but we don't want her in pain. And if it's something fixable I'd like to do it! I know there can be vitamin and mineral deficiencies. We do feed her extra eggs and bananas which she loves. But as far as her diet it's mainly pellets, bananas, eggs, and whatever she can forage from a wooded (but mostly mud at this point) pasture.
We have not given her any antibiotics at this point as there's no signs of infection (swelling or heat) but if you think we should let me know.
Our gilt, Pebbles (Wilma's daughter) is badly limping. A few months ago it started after she was attacked by younger feeder pigs who have since gone to piggy paradise, but it 'healed'. Then she was limping again a week later, healed, limped again. Fast forward.
Since yesterday she hasn't been able to put any weight on the front left foot - the exact same foot/leg she has always limped on every time she has the limp. It's not swollen or hot, I can't find anything embedded in her hoof. I can move and press on her toes and the bottom pad and she doesn't react. But she cannot walk on it. I believe the injury/problem is in the wrist area, as she has full movement in her shoulder. We have to coax her to get up to eat (but she DOES get up to eat and drink when we do so she isn't fully lamed) and she does move to different locations from time to time on her own.
I'm not quite sure what to do. I'm worried she has arthritis. Her mother, Wilma, would occasionally show lameness in her shoulders, usually in the winter and with rough playmates. Pebbles is in her own pen as she is a very timid pig (she was the only surviving piglet in her litter and didn't have playmates), and doesn't stand up for herself.
She is on Pig n Sow Blue Seal pellets (same as all our pigs).
Is there any advice on what we can do to help her? We're not going to breed her as it would be cruel to force her to bare extra weight on a potentially arthritic or injured wrist, but we don't want her in pain. And if it's something fixable I'd like to do it! I know there can be vitamin and mineral deficiencies. We do feed her extra eggs and bananas which she loves. But as far as her diet it's mainly pellets, bananas, eggs, and whatever she can forage from a wooded (but mostly mud at this point) pasture.
We have not given her any antibiotics at this point as there's no signs of infection (swelling or heat) but if you think we should let me know.
