'Mrs Jones' aka Jonesy gave birth to a litter of 5 on the 17th of Feb. I could tell immediately that 2 of them would need support, they are clearly runts. In the past I have tried and failed to help runts and can ony put this down to inexperience and waiting too long to intervene.
Mum is keeping them warm and cleaning them but the other 3 are strong and healthy and the little ones are simply unable to compete. I have tried taking the other 3 out for a little while but the runts arent even trying to suckle. I have tried to put them to mums teat and they show no interest.
I have started to feed them every few hours, initially with 50/50 condensed milk and water. Occasionally I have added mashed up pellets and they really love milk mixed with mashed up vegetables.
One of the runts is a little deformed which is why he is unable to compete with his healthy big siblings. One leg hasnt formed properly and appears to be bunched up under his skin. His foot is hard, dead and calcified and half of it has fallen off. I think he may be blind in one eye, or his eyelid hasnt formed properly. Initially I thought it was half closed due to gunk but when I bathed it I noticed the eye under looked a little milky. The lid is now closed. He sounds hideous but he is absolutely gorgeous and if I am lucky enough to help him survive then obviously he will be taken to the vets for amputation of leg and whatever help he needs for eye. He eats really well and although he is tiny he isnt trembly and seems quite alert.
Runt number two is tiny and very wobbly on his feet. He really enjoyed his food until last night when he dove right in to the tiniest drop of milk on the teaspoon and inhaled it. He started struggling to breath straight away and I was devestated and full of guilt. I sat holding him most of the night, wiping away the bubbles coming out of his nose until he calmed down and I returned him to mum. I expected to find him dead this morning, but he is still there now, I am still feeding him and now he needs encouragement to eat, but does eat.
Finally I am back at work tomorrow and so worried about them, I am unable to feed them for about 7 hours, what can I do?
I havent given them water on its own, should I and how often?
Is runt 2 going to die or can they recover from inhaling fluid?
Is it cruel to try and keep a pig alive that will have to have a leg removed and is probably blind in one eye? There could be other problems?
Thank you
Mum is keeping them warm and cleaning them but the other 3 are strong and healthy and the little ones are simply unable to compete. I have tried taking the other 3 out for a little while but the runts arent even trying to suckle. I have tried to put them to mums teat and they show no interest.
I have started to feed them every few hours, initially with 50/50 condensed milk and water. Occasionally I have added mashed up pellets and they really love milk mixed with mashed up vegetables.
One of the runts is a little deformed which is why he is unable to compete with his healthy big siblings. One leg hasnt formed properly and appears to be bunched up under his skin. His foot is hard, dead and calcified and half of it has fallen off. I think he may be blind in one eye, or his eyelid hasnt formed properly. Initially I thought it was half closed due to gunk but when I bathed it I noticed the eye under looked a little milky. The lid is now closed. He sounds hideous but he is absolutely gorgeous and if I am lucky enough to help him survive then obviously he will be taken to the vets for amputation of leg and whatever help he needs for eye. He eats really well and although he is tiny he isnt trembly and seems quite alert.
Runt number two is tiny and very wobbly on his feet. He really enjoyed his food until last night when he dove right in to the tiniest drop of milk on the teaspoon and inhaled it. He started struggling to breath straight away and I was devestated and full of guilt. I sat holding him most of the night, wiping away the bubbles coming out of his nose until he calmed down and I returned him to mum. I expected to find him dead this morning, but he is still there now, I am still feeding him and now he needs encouragement to eat, but does eat.
Finally I am back at work tomorrow and so worried about them, I am unable to feed them for about 7 hours, what can I do?
I havent given them water on its own, should I and how often?
Is runt 2 going to die or can they recover from inhaling fluid?
Is it cruel to try and keep a pig alive that will have to have a leg removed and is probably blind in one eye? There could be other problems?
Thank you
It sounds like you 're having a rough time. Sadly I don't know the answer to your questions but hopefully someone will soon x
