Pet pigs and their peculiarities

Question 1

What are full size pigs?

Answer 1

• Large white
• Landrace
• Duroc
• Pietrain
• Saddleback
• Hampshire

Question 2

What are medium sized pigs?

Answer 2

• Tamworth
• Berkshire
• Middle white
• Welsh
• Gloucester old spot
• British lop

Question 3

What are small size pigs?

Answer 3

• Kune-kune
• Vietnamese
• Pot-bellied

Question 4

What breed are predisposed to inguinal hernias?

Answer 4

• Kune-kune - therefore if not going to be a breeding boar must be castrated

Question 5

What are legalities of hobby pig owners?

Answer 5

• Every place with a pig needs to be registered as a farm - even if just pet (CPHH number)
• All movement need to be registered - movement standstill 20d for pigs (6d for ruminants)
• Need walking licences - specific routes + collar + lead

Question 6

How would you handle pigs?

Answer 6

• Gold standard = snitch - behind upper canine teeth
• Boards
• Fences

Question 7

What is top of normal temperature?

Answer 7

• 39.5 oC taken as top

Question 8

What is needed for blood sampling?

Answer 8

• Snitch
• Long needle for jugular

Question 9

What are pigs fed?

Answer 9

• Omnivores = eat anything
• DO NOT feed kitchen scraps
• Cannibals in the wild
• Need around 13MJ + 15-16% protein
• Will eat 1% of bodyweight

Question 10

How much water does a pig drink daily?

Answer 10

• 10% of BW
• Need to be robust - will uproot troughs to spill water
• Can’t sweat so will wallow in water / mud

Question 11

What does obesity lead to in pigs?

Answer 11

• Common in pet pigs
• Arthritis
• Inactivity
• Joint issues
• Foot problem
• Dermatitis
• Eye issues
• Fertility problems
• Make them work for their food / games

Question 12

What can lead to emaciation?

Answer 12

• Failure to eat
• pyrexia
• too hot
• rubbish food
• no water
• Heavy parasite burden
• Wrong food

Question 13

What are zoonotic risks with pigs?

Answer 13

• Ascariasis
• Brucellosis
• Campylobacteriosis
• Cysticercosis (Taenia solium)
• Erysipeloid
• Hepatitis E
• Leptospirosis
• Ringworm
• Salmonellosis
• Streptococcus suis type 2
• Swine Influenza
• Tetanus
• Toxoplasmosis
• Trichinellosis

Question 14

What are reproductive issues in pet pigs?

Answer 14

• Anoestrus due to obesity
• Scrotal hernias - Kune-Kunes + Vietnamese pot bellied

Question 15

What enteric diseases are in pet pigs?

Answer 15

• Scour = not common - infection burden = low
• Nutritional scour - variation in diet
• Twisted guts from abrupt changes in food / water
• Ulcers from low level stress

Question 16

What are respiratory diseases in pet pigs?

Answer 16

• Ascarid worm burdens in lungs - migrating L3
• Often chronic form - due to background infection rather than breakdown

Question 17

What skin diseases are seen in pet pigs?

Answer 17

• Mange - v common (ivermectin tx)
• Lice - Haematopinus suis - uncommon (ivermectin tx)
• Ringworm - trichophyton - (UV light tx)
• Erysipelas (penicillin tx)
• Insect bites
• Bacterial infections - greasy pig
• Sunburn - when insufficient mud
• Zinc + Vitamin B deficiencies = parakeratosis - correct diet
• Photosensitisation - toxins - parsley, ragwort….
• Contact allergies - urine scald
• Old age alopecia
• Wounds - heal well

Question 18

What are lameness issues in pet pigs?

Answer 18

• Joint issues - often obesity / age related (NSAIDs + bedding)
• Overgrown claws - trimming / solid ground
• Joint, hoof + bone problems - nutritional deficiencies (Ca2+, Phosphorus, Vit D, Biotin)
• Infections - strep / staph (young) - penicillin + NSAIDs
• Erysipelas

Question 19

What injections would you use in pigs?

Answer 19

• 1.5 inch + 16G for adults
• 1inch + 18G in smaller pigs
• 1inch + 21G in piglets
• aim for neck muscle

Question 20

What NSAIDs are used in pigs?

Answer 20

• Ketoprofen - oral + injectable
• Meloxicam - oral + injectable
• Tolfenamic acid - injectable

Question 21

What steroids are used in pigs?

Answer 21

• Dexamethasone - injectable

Question 22

What sedation is used in pigs?

Answer 22

• Azaperone - injectable

Question 23

What are routine treatments for pet pigs?

Answer 23

• Erysipelas vaccine x2 / year
• Clostridial vaccine x2 / year
• Parasite control - ivermectin x2 / year
• benzimidazoles x4 / year
• Iron injections for piglets - depending on soil access

Question 24

Why would you de-tusk boars?

Answer 24

• Uneven wear from malformed jaw / stone chewing
• Continuous growth

Question 25

How would you de-tusk boars?

Answer 25

* Sedate heavily * Using embryotomy wire, saw as close to gum as possible - no nerves or blood vessels in tusks

Question 26

What are old pig diseases?

Answer 26

* Arthritis - NSAIDs * Joint / foot problems * Tumour growth - often terminal * Dental issues * Diabetes * Fractures

Question 27

How would you euthanise a pig?

Answer 27

* Gun = method of choice * Pet owners prefer barbiturate injection - HARD