Piglet Scours - Electrolytes?

[Eroc1_1]

We are bottle feeding 2 piglets inside because they were the 2 weakest of the litter, extremely chilled, and one of them has a big wound(which we are treating). They are 1 week old today.

The one piglet was doing well but developed scours over the last 3-4 days. We have been giving an oral treatment 2x daily(as per the instructions) but it doesn't seem to be touching the problem. He is still eating well. They did get an iron shot yesterday. Should I be administering an electrlyte solution along with his normal feeding because he has lost a little weight.

I found a recipe for one:
1 qt. warm water
3 tblsp black strap molasses
1 tblsp baking soda
1/3 cup apple cider vinegar

Thank you,
Eric

 

[jk47]

Well electrolytes could help due to the shock and scours and they due sell mixes especially for piglets and you are treating for scours. But dont feed it more then like a week.also what are you using as a scour treatment? Also if the piglets dont get better soon I would suggest calling a breeder in your area that might be able to give more hand on help

 

[M.L. McKnight]

Electrolytes are helpful, you can use countless internet recipes in a pinch but it is a good idea to keep a few packs of the Dumor or similar mixes on hand anytime you have babies. Gatorade even works, I'm not a fan of it myself but I had one little gilt that perked right up after being given some lemon (yellow) gatorade.

You might need to check the type of milk replacer you are using, some brands are a bit too sweet for certain critters. I use Dumor or Sav-A-Caf when I can't get milk from one of my cows. Crack an egg in a little bowl and let your pigs have it, that'll help them out and they need the lysine.

 

[Eroc1_1]

I am using Spectrogard from TSC as an oral treatment. I am feeding Uni-Milk multi-species milk replacer from TSC - which does have some lysine in it.....I stopped milking our goats 10 days ago.....drat.

I may try the milk replacer and an egg. He is NOT doing so hot at all. So I am gonna do all that I can with everything I have here at home. I think he is so dehydrated and twitching a lot. I fear the worst...

I wish I would have gotten these replies earlier when I was close to town but the email notification isn't notifying.....

 

[jk47]

You might want to try a different scour medicine if it isent working with the one you have also is there any chance of a picture because sometimes see what the pig looks like might help

 

[M.L. McKnight]

Call Auburn, Mississippi State or another college with a vet school and ask them for suggestions. More than likely they will give you free advice and they can let you know if there might be a type of parasite that is going around in your area.