115.Caring for new-born piglets (umbilical haemorrhage, artificial feeding, iron supplementation)

Question 1

Umbilical haemorrhage causes?

Answer 1

Umbilical haemorrhage Causes
o Prostaglandin to synchronize farrowing may ↑ risk of haemorrhage
o Toxicosis: Warfarin/Aspirin eaten by the sow
o In the UK: Certain resins in the sawdust (unknown mechanism)
o Clotting disorders
Bleeding → Anaemia → Death

Question 2

Umbillical haemorrhage Prevention?

Answer 2

Prevention

Clamp → Placed 6mm below the skin (not right next to the body) → Cut the cord

below the clamp → Use tape around the body to protect the clamp

Question 3

Artificial feeding what type of feeds are given?

Answer 3

Artificial feeding

Feeds: Colostrum; Natural products (milk powder); Dextrose (instant energy source)

Question 4

Good suckling reflex?

Answer 4

✓ Sucking reflex

Human baby bottles → Bottle openings need to be enlarged with 14G needle Piglets need

to be trained for artificial feeding

Question 5

Wrong suckling reflex?

Answer 5

✗ Sucking reflex

4mm lubricated stomach tube; Above tongue → Swallowing reflex

Tube may be lubricated with colostrum or paraffin oil

If the tube is placed into the trachea → Violent coughing If resistance

if felt → Tube has entered the stomach

Volume: No more than 20ml at one time; Repeat every 2 hours

Intraperitoneal (IP) injection → Dextrose

Question 6

Describe Iron supplementation in piglets?

Answer 6

Iron supplementation (Often accompanies tail docking)

Iron deficiency anaemia

Seen in piglets of fast-developing breeds → Intensive husbandry

Milk Fe + Mother’s Fe reserves = only 50% of piglet Fe requirement → Supplement!

Completed on day 3 after birth → 150-200mg IM iron dextran/fumarate/glutamate PO iron

supplement: Within 12 hours of birth → Ferrous sulphate/

Iron dextran/galactan