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changes in a sow's nipples

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Deb H

Deb H

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I gave all the piggies a bath yesterday during which I checked them all over. Barbra my dominant sow has had some changes to her nipples. They are more elongated than normal. Is this usual. I am concerned because they now have a neutered boar and although I waited six weeks I still worry!

I am a bit of a worrier about the most ridiculous things and probably wouldn't have even noticed had I not bathed them in the order of sow, boar, sow.

someone please put my mind at rest - she is too old to be having a first pregnancy :...
 
i do believe a sow can give birth at any age...but if she has a litter after 1year its dangerous and shes likely to have problems delivering.

could you have a really gentle feel for babies? its possible she isnt pregnant and the longer nipples are a result of hormones or something else?

and while there is a thread running on nipple changes may i ask is it normal for a sow (under a year old) to develop small brown raised 'spots' around one nipple??
 
I have never heard of spots, sorry, but I think that nipples can change with age - you need to be worried about pregnancy if they swell up a bit.

Keep your piggies weighed weekly and look out for increased thirst and unnormal weight gain if you are worried about pregnancy.
 
6 weeks is a good amount of time to wait and you should be safe.

Nipples can change due to hormonal changes or ovarian cysts, for example - I had a sow who had long, crusty nipples and she'd never littered, it turned out she had ovarian cysts later on.

I've also had a guinea with what seemed to be a false pregnancy, and hers got bigger too - no babies though!

Sophie
x
 
Sophie has hit on my first thought - hormonal/ovarian cysts; one sign of cystic ovaries is enlarged nipples.

Deb, how old is Barbra? In terms of her dominance, which you mentioned, is her behaviour usually very hormonal and dominant?
 
Barbra is 14 - 16 months old. She has always been the dominant piggie. She moves Caramel out of her bed to see if Caramel has something she hasn't had; so she is a little bullying. She also takes food both off Caramel and Marty Pig. I don't handle her much - she is more Carys' piggie and Carys says she has been grumpier than usual (she has a particlar wheek when grumpy).

I will weigh her again tonight (always on a Wednesday)
 
Phew

I think I can stop worrying now! rolleyes rolleyes
I weighed Barbra and she is exactly 2lb - the same as she was two weeks ago when I last weighed her. I think I am just a little bit paranoid :{

thanks all for the reassurance
Deb xx
 
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