[Gpdd] HEALTH Pregnancy

Penny Charlesworth piggyfriends at tesco.net
Sun Jul 13 18:05:03 EDT 2008


Hi Lisa,

Congratulations on adopting that little piggy. You didn't tell us her name but "Welcome new piggy " from us all.

I am no expert with pregnant piggies but I have had a few born here at Piggyfriends and have been lucky in that all the births have occurred with no problems. It is the most wonderful sight to see newborn piggies running around their pen on day one and trying all the new foods. They are just too cute.

You are doing the right thing by making sure that she has nothing but the best to eat. A pregnant piggy's need for Vit C doubles at this time. Just don't let her become too fat as this can lead to toxaemia.

Your piggy is obviously very young to be having her first litter. I once had three very young rescues giving birth on the same day as a result of them having been kept with another sow, who, when I collected them was not a sow at all ( but he came home anyway ). Despite what you may have read, these young ones can have larger litters. My three had 5, 4 and 4 between them but they all coped admirably and fed each others' babes. If I had not been present at the births, I probably could not have told which babe belonged to which mum.

Others will tell you differently but I offer my mums-to-be a dish of brown bread and milk a couple of times a week in the lead up to the birth as this helps develop strong bones in the babes. Peter always did this and his word is good enough for me. I continue this for a while after the birth too. Please don't all post and tell me that piggies are lactose intolerant. Lisa asked for help from those who have experienced pregnant piggies and this is what I do but I'm sure that she will be delighted to receive everyone's input.

As some of you know, I am a great advocate of natural remedies and offer my pregnant sows some raspberry leaves as these are reputed to make for an easier birth, are a uterine tonic and have healing properties in uterine infections. I can pick these for most of the year but Peter used to use Dene's Raspberry Leaf pills for his mums-in-waiting. One tablet a day, increasing to one and a half for a week to ten days before the expected birth. This info about the tablets comes from his "Piggy Potions" book.

Do not be afraid to handle your piggy - just do it very carefully and only when necessary. Possibly you could put a towel in her pen and wait until she is sitting on it and then lift the towel with her inside. I wouldn't bother about weighing her at this time. When I clean my pens I do one half, wait until the piggies move onto the clean side to get at the food, usually a pile of grass, that I have placed there and then I clean the other side. Perhaps you could do this and reduce the need for handling her even further.

Do leave her friend with her when she gives birth. I have always left mine together and the others act as aunties to the babes even if they cannot feed them. You do not want your piggy to be stressed so keep everything the same for her.

I do hope that everything goes smoothly but keep the number of your emergency vet close as you will need to rush her there if any complications develop. My rodentologists have saved the life of many a client's babe by their timely intervention.

Wishing you and "piggy" all the very best. Keep us all posted.

Penny and the Piggyfriends.






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