Just recently the outdoor temperature has been very high indeed and this has resulted in almost unbearable indoor conditions also. This type of weather presents many difficulties for both black and white skinned pigs who do not have the opportunity to find shade or a wallow. The ideal living condition…
What is mange? Mange is a skin disease that is caused by mites, small insect-like parasites, almost invisible to the naked eye. Each species of domesticated animal has it’s own species of mange mites; and, with the exception of the sarcoptic mites, the mites from one species of animals cannot…
From the age of two weeks, Boris, my eldest potbelly resided in our house. Keeping a pig indoors isn’t the easiest thing to do, but I have to say apart from a minor problem where he ripped our kitchen carpet, he was perfectly well behaved. What I did notice though,…
It’s spring. I can tell because the calls about Dippity Pig are coming in. The medical term for Dippity is Erythema Multiforme. Literally translated it means: a superficial reddening of the skin, usually in patches, that takes many forms. Personally, I like “Dippity Pig” better! Symptoms While Dippity can vary…
Why go to the vet for yearly exams? General Exam: Just like us, pigs need a general check of their heart and lungs, and general condition. Vaccinations: With younger pigs, it is probably a good idea to give them annual vaccinations. There are pig diseases out there that could kill…
Many of you may have heard rumors of a new disease which has been seen in the UK particularly since the summer. The full name for this disease is Post-weaning Multisystemic Wasting Syndrome. The problem currently is mainly confined in Anglia and the Midlands, however, as the disease has no…
The mini pig has become an increasingly popular companion animal, largely because of its relative intelligence, strong human bonding characteristics, and trainability. Pig ownership has led to many problems, including legal battles, human-pig conflicts and the general lack of health care knowledge among owners and veterinarians alike. GOOD HEALTH Feeding:…
The subject of annual vaccinations in dogs and cats is currently being debated. Such a debate is not really pertinent to potbellied pigs (PBPs). For example, Texas State law requires an annual rabies vaccination in dogs and cats even though many rabies vaccines in these species are labeled for 3…
Potbellied pig owners may have cause for concern. Porcine stress syndrome (PSS), a potentially life-threatening genetic disease, thought only to affect commercial swine, has recently been found in the genes of at least one potbellied pig. PSS is a syndrome of acute death, and signs may include progressive breathing problems,…
In swine destined for human consumption, veterinarians correctly stress that the ham muscles are not to be used for injection because any lesions in this area will reduce the value of a major portion of the pork carcass. The neck muscles and subcutaneous areas behind the ears and the lose…
