Emergency care for potbellied pigs.

Because of the limited number of veterinarians treating potbellied pigs, many pet pigs do not receive proper preventative health care. The potbellied pig's continued popularity among urban dwellers ensures that veterinarians who treat small and exotic animals will be contacted by owners of pet pigs with real or perceived emergencies. Regardless of their knowledge of swine, the information contained in this article should enable any veterinarian to provide basic emergency care for pet pigs.     

Resting rectal temperature of Vietnamese potbellied pigs.

OBJECTIVE: To determine resting rectal temperatures of Vietnamese potbellied pigs. DESIGN: Prospective clinical trial. ANIMALS: 85 potbellied pigs on a single farm and 27 potbellied pigs examined at a veterinary teaching hospital for routine veterinary care. PROCEDURE: Rectal temperatures of the potbellied pigs on a farm were measured during the morning, afternoon, and evening. Rectal temperatures at the time of initial examination were obtained from medical records for the potbellied pigs examined at the hospital. RESULTS: Mean rectal temperatures for both groups of potbellied pigs were the same. Overall unadjusted mean +/- SD rectal temperature was 37.6 +/- 0.8 C (99.7 +/- 1.5 F; range, 35.1 to 39.6 C [95.2 to 103.3 F]). However, diurnal variation in rectal temperature was found among the farm population of potbellied pigs. After adjustment for age and repeated sampling, rectal temperatures recorded during the morning were found to be significantly lower than temperatures recorded during the afternoon and evening (mean difference, 0.5 and 0.9 C [0.9 and 1.6 F], respectively), and rectal temperatures recorded during the afternoon were found to be significantly lower than temperatures recorded during the evening (mean difference, 0.4 C [0.7 F]). There was a significant inverse linear relationship between age and rectal temperature. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Rectal temperatures of Vietnamese potbellied pigs may be lower than the lower limit of the reference range reported for domestic pigs. Because of diurnal variation in rectal temperatures, it is important to compare temperatures obtained at the same time of day when assessing patients.     

Normal hematology and hematologic disorders in potbellied pigs

Potbellied pigs have become a notable portion of small animal and farm animal practitioners' caseload. Relatively little information is readily accessible for the veterinary practitioner in regard to normal hematologic values or alterations of the hemogram in response to disease, however. This article is a review of blood collection techniques in swine adaptable to potbellied pigs in addition to collection artifacts observed in the swine hemogram. Alterations of the hemogram in disease states that may be encountered in potbellied pig medicine are reviewed.     

Potbellied pig husbandry and nutrition.

Vietnamese potbellied pigs, when appropriately cared for, make excellent pets for some people. However, their proper housing, care, and training is more challenging to the average person than that required for most traditional pets, such as dogs and cats. Failure to feed and house the pet pig appropriately results in the most common health and behavior problems. The obese, intractable pet pig gives little pleasure to a pet owner and appears to lead a very poor-quality life, frequently leading to the pet pig being given away or worse. Preventing health and behavior problems is easy if pet owners are armed with correct information early, either before or immediately after their acquisition of a pet pig. A veterinarian prepared to share this information can save the lives of many pigs as well as keep clients happy and coming back.     

Spiral colon bypass in a geriatric Vietnamese potbellied pig

An 8-year-old potbellied pig was evaluated for anorexia, decreased fecal production, signs of depression, inappetence, and abdominal distension. During hospitalization, a tooth root impaction and abscess were diagnosed, and abdominal radiography revealed severely distended, gas-filled large and small intestines. Exploratory laparotomy revealed a stricture of the proximal centripetal loop of the spiral colon and megacolon of the proximal portion of the spiral colon and cecum. A side-to-side spiral colon anastomosis was performed to create a partial bypass of the spiral colon. The success of this procedure suggests that spiral colon bypass is a treatment option for spiral colon stricture formation in potbellied pigs. Spiral colon stricture formation should be considered as a differential diagnosis in geriatric potbellied pigs that are anorectic, have abdominal distension, and have decreased fecal production.     

Two Cases of Pneumothorax During Mechanical Ventilation in Vietnamese Potbellied Pigs

This case report describes pneumothorax associated with positive pressure ventilation in two Vietnamese potbellied pigs while under general anesthesia. A discussion of possible causes and barotrauma/volutrauma follows. The cause of pneumothorax in both cases was probably an interaction of intermittent positive pressure ventilation with some factor unique to these two pigs.     

Use of the subcutaneous abdominal vein for blood sampling and intravenous catheterization in potbellied pigs

The subcutaneous abdominal vein was used successfully to deliver fluids IV after catheterization and as a means of blood collection in 6 potbellied pigs of various body sizes and types. Because a 16-gauge catheter could be easily introduced into the vein, a large volume of fluid could be administered rapidly. Most pigs were highly tolerant of blood collection from this vein, and little restraint was required. The catheters remained in place for as long as 1 week, and no serious sequelae resulted from catheterization of the subcutaneous abdominal vein.     

Mucinous adenocarcinoma and T-cell lymphoma in the small intestine of 2 Vietnamese potbellied pigs (Sus scrofa)

Small intestinal T-cell lymphoma and mucinous adenocarcinoma are rarely reported in the pig, with most lymphomas being of B-cell origin and only a single report of mucinous adenocarcinoma. Two aged Vietnamese potbellied pigs had concurrent T-cell lymphoma and mucinous adenocarcinoma of the small intestine. The lymphomas formed polypoid masses that projected into the intestinal lumen, whereas the mucinous adenocarcinomas were mural masses that bulged from the serosal surface. Immunohistochemically, neoplastic cells within the lymphomas were positive for CD3 and negative for CD79a. Mucicarmine stain highlighted the abundant cytoplasmic and extracellular mucin in the adenocarcinomas.     

Normal behavior and the clinical implications of abnormal behavior in guinea pigs.

Cavies are becoming more popular as pets because they are relatively easy to care for and provide never-ending love and entertainment with their curious but gentle nature. As with other species, the best way to learn about guinea pig behavior is to own guinea pigs. Understanding normal behavior provides the practitioner with the ability to more easily recognize pathology and abnormal behavior. This allows the veterinarian to provide necessary supportive care and pain management more quickly while performing diagnostics and determining the need for therapeutics. Understanding the behavior of cavies allows the clinician to better educate guinea pig-owning clients and to better and more quickly serve the needs of their guinea pig patients.     

Surgical correction of periocular fat pads and entropion in a potbellied pig (Sus scrofa)

A 16-year-old Vietnamese potbellied pig was examined because of recurrent ocular discharge and reduced visual ability. Bilateral upper eyelid entropion and impaired vision secondary to periocular fat deposition were diagnosed. Surgical correction with excision of subdermal fat and redundant skin was performed to address both issues. Surgery restored vision and resolved ocular irritation. More than 1 year following surgical therapy the pig is visual and comfortable with no evidence of recurrent fat deposition or entropion.     

Hepatocellular carcinoma and suspected splenic hemangiosarcoma in a potbellied pig

A 10-year-old, lethargic, potbellied pig presented with signs of abdominal discomfort and a palpable abdominal mass. Laparotomy revealed a 20 cm diameter mass on the spleen and smaller masses on the omentum and liver. After euthanasia and histologic examination of the hepatic mass, the diagnosis was hepatocellular carcinoma.     

Effects of surgical catheterization and degree of isolation on the behavior and exocrine pancreatic secretion of newly weaned pigs

The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of surgery and isolation on behavior and exocrine pancreatic secretion of nursery pigs. Thirty-two pigs were weaned at 28 d (d 0) of age and assigned to one of four treatments that comprised the 2 x 2 factorial combination of surgery (surgically modified, intensively handled animals or intact, minimally handled animals) and isolation (fully or partly isolated). The pigs were kept in metabolic crates that provided full or partial isolation for 25 d after weaning. On d 3, one-half of the fully and partly isolated pigs were surgically fitted with a pancreatic catheter, whereas others were left intact. Exocrine pancreatic secretions were collected from catheterized pigs beginning on d 7 and continuing every 2nd d. Behavior of the pigs was video-recorded on d 6 and 13 from 0700 to 2230. There was no indication of treatment effects on the exocrine pancreatic secretion. The volume of pancreatic secretion increased from d 5 to 23, and during the same period the output of protein and enzyme activity also increased. Surgically catheterized pigs showed a passive behavioral response in their undisturbed behavior, characterized by less time spent active, fewer postural changes, less chain manipulation, fewer escape attempts, and less play behavior than their intact littermates. Furthermore, surgical catheterization led to less fear of humans and behavioral indications of an ability to distinguish between familiar and unfamiliar persons. Partial isolation led to increased activity, increased chain manipulation, and increased play behavior, indicating that the provision of limited social contact may help reduce the negative effects of individual housing in weaned pigs. These results suggest that it is important to be aware of effects of housing, experimental surgery, and associated handling when interpreting results from intensive experiments.     

Repeated handling of pigs during rearing. I. Refusal of contact by the handler and reactivity to familiar and unfamiliar humans

Pigs housed in groups received different handling treatments for 40 d until slaughter age. Pigs of the human interaction (HI) and refusal of contact (RC) groups were individually introduced into a pen each day, where they remained for 3 min in the presence of a squatted handler. The handler tried to increase progressively physical reciprocal interactions with the HI pigs using eye and body contact and voice. The handler remained immobile and avoided eye contact and use of voice with RC pigs. These pigs were pushed away when they touched the handler. Control pigs remained in their home pens. Over sessions, HI pigs progressively increased physical interactions with the handler, up to 35% of their time. The RC pigs were motivated to interact with the handler as they tried to establish physical contact with the handler throughout the experiment. They increased levels of locomotion, rubbing, immobility, and snout contact with the wall, suggesting that they were frustrated by the refusal of contact. At the end of the experimental period, all pigs were subjected to three human exposure tests, where pigs were exposed to the handler and two other persons, one of which was unfamiliar, in a Latin square design. During this test, behavior of the humans was the same as for the RC treatment. The HI pigs discriminated between the handler and the other persons as indicated by their increased approach behavior towards the handler. Part of the prior handling experience was generalized to other humans as indicated by higher levels of proximity of HI and RC pigs with the different persons compared with controls. Physical contact with the human was associated with increased heart rates. Two possibilities are that these two characteristics are part of a general behavioral/physiological reactive profile, or that contact with humans provokes an arousal or emotional response. Despite this, behavioral data show that pigs are motivated to be in physical contact with a handler, even when the handler consistently refuses contact.     

Time budgets of group-housed pigs in relation to social aggression and production

Commercial producers house growing pigs by sex and weight to allow for efficient use of resources and provide pigs the welfare benefits of interacting with their conspecifics and more freedom of movement. However, the introduction of unfamiliar pigs can cause increased aggression for 24 to 48 h as pigs establish social relationships. To address this issue, a better understanding of pig behavior is needed. The objectives of this study were to quantify time budgets of pigs following introduction into a new social group and how these changed over time and to investigate how social aggression influences the overall time budgets and production parameters. A total of 257 grow-finish Yorkshire barrows across 20 pens were introduced into new social groups at 10 wk of age (~23 kg) and observed for aggression and time budgets of behavior at four periods: immediately after introduction and 3, 6, and 9 wk later. Pigs were observed for the duration of total aggression and initiated aggression (s) for 9 h after introduction and for 4 h at 3, 6, and 9 wk later. Time budgets were created by scan sampling inactive, movement, ingestion, social, and exploration behaviors every 2 min for 4 h in the afternoon and summarizing the proportion of time each behavior was performed by period. The least square means of each behavior were compared across time points. Pigs spent most of their time inactive. In general, the greatest change in pig behavior was observed between introduction and week 3 (P < 0.003), with gradual changes throughout the study period as pigs became more inactive (week 3 vs. week 6: P = 0.209; week 6 vs. week 9: P = 0.007) and spent less time on other behaviors. Pigs’ nonaggressive behavior and production parameters were compared with aggression using generalized linear mixed models. The time pigs spent on nonaggressive behaviors was negatively related to aggression (P < 0.045) with few exceptions. Initiated aggression after introduction was negatively related to loin muscle area (P = 0.003). These results show how finishing pigs spend their time in commercial facilities and indicate that behavior continues to change for up to 9 wk after introduction into a new social group. Efforts to reduce chronic levels of aggression should focus on promoting nonaggressive behaviors, such as exploration and movement, after the initial fighting that occurs immediately after introduction has waned, and should be implemented for up to 9 wk after introduction into new social groups.     

Diagnostic challenge: Generalized erythema and pruritus in a miniature pot-bellied pig (Sus scrofa)

A 10-week-old, intact male miniature potbellied pig (Sus scrofa) presented for intense pruritus that had started approximately 2 weeks earlier. Following microscopic identification of multiple stages of the Sarcoptes scabiei, var. suis from its skin,the pig was treated with ivermectin (300-400 μg/kg subcutaneously), three times at 10-day intervals.     

猪的行为特征探讨与饲养管理的改善

猪的行为是猪的本质特征的外在表现，在很大程度上影响着养猪工艺的发展和养猪业的效益。本文概括的分析了猪一般的行为特点和在饲养管理过程中的利用与改善措施。并对相关遗传特征进行了探讨。随着人们对猪的行为性状重要性认识的不断深入，猪的行为特征将在科学和生产过程中得到更加广泛的利用。     

Electroejaculation and artificial insemination in Vietnamese potbellied miniature pigs

A 15-month-old Vietnamese miniature boar was examined because of suspected infertility. A breeding soundness examination was conducted, using electroejaculation under anesthesia for semen collection. Semen values were normal despite a subpubic location of the testes. Artificial insemination of a gilt with extended semen resulted in the birth of a litter 111 days later. Vietnamese potbellied boars have small and sometimes nearly undetectable scrotal pouches, which may cause the producer to question the fertility of the boars.     

Effects of music stimulus on behavior response,cortisol level,and horizontal immunity of growing pigs

An enriched environment is widely used to improve domestic animals’ welfare and promote their natural behaviors. Music can reduce abnormal behavior in humans, nonhuman primates, and rodents. However, little is known about the effects of music on pigs. This study aims to explore the effects of repeated music stimulation on the behavior, physiology, and immunity of growing pigs. A total of 72 hybrid piglets (Large White × Duroc × Minpig) were randomly divided into three groups, including music (Mozart K.448, 60 to 70 dB), noise (recorded mechanical noise, 80 to 85 dB), and control (natural background sound, <40 dB), and 6 h sound stimulation was given per day (1000 to 1600 hours) from 40 to 100 d of age. The behavioral activities of the pigs were observed during the music stimulation, and their serum cortisol, salivary cortisol, and serum immune indices were also measured. Compared with the control group, the music group and noise group increased activity but decreased lying of pigs (P < 0.05). A significant increase in tail-wagging, playing, and exploring behaviors of pigs was found in the music group (P < 0.05), and the noise significantly increased the aggressive behavior of the pigs (P < 0.05). Tail-wagging, playing, exploring, manipulating, and aggressive behaviors decreased over time. Short-term (8 d) music stimulus had a lower cortisol level than that of the noise and control groups (P < 0.05), whereas long-term (60 d) music stimulus increased immunoglobulin G (IgG), interleukin-2 (IL-2), and interferon-gamma (IFN-γ) levels (P < 0.05) and decreased interleukin-4 (IL-4) level (P < 0.05). Long-term noise stimulus significantly reduced the level of IgG (P < 0.05) but did not affect the level of IL-2, IL-4, and IFN-γ levels (P > 0.05). In conclusion, short-term music stimulus (8 d) reduced the stress response, whereas long-term music stimulus (60 d) enhanced the immune responses. In addition, the noise increased the aggressive behavior, and long-term noise reduced the immunity of the growing pigs.     

Behavior and reproductive performance by stalled breeding females on a commercial swine farm

The behavior of stalled females pigs was observed to investigate the relations between behavior and reproductive performance. A commercial farrow-to-finish farm equipped with a computerized recording system with approximately 300 female pig inventories was visited three times to observe three postural behaviors (lying, standing, and sitting) and three stereotypies (vacuum chewing, drinker playing, and bar biting) of stalled females at 15-min intervals for 6 h (25 times including 0 min of one zero-time sampling) after feeding. Relative frequencies (%) of the postural behaviors and the stereotypies for 6 h were expressed as a percentage of a total of 25 time observations. Statistical models for reproductive performance included each behavior, parity, and day of visit. Among 609 pregnant females observed at our three visits, the means in relative frequencies (%) of lying, standing, sitting, vacuum chewing, drinker playing, and bar biting for 6 h were 60.1 +/- 0.91, 32.3 +/- 0.87, 7.60 +/- 0.44, 12.7 +/- 0.65, 0.4 +/- 0.06, and 0.2 +/- 0.50%, respectively. Among 514 farrowed females of the 609 pregnant females, the means of total pigs born, pigs born alive, pigs born dead, birth litter weights, pigs weaned, and adjusted 21-d litter weights were 12.3 +/- 0.13, 11.2 +/- 0.12, 1.1 +/- 0.06, 17.1 +/- 0.18 kg, 10.3 +/- 0.08, and 68.1 +/- 0.40 kg, respectively. Females showing a high relative frequency (> or = 36%) of vacuum chewing during gestation produced fewer (P < 0.05) total pigs born (11.7 +/- 0.38 vs. 12.6 +/- 0.22) than those showing no vacuum chewing. No relationships were found between vacuum chewing and other performance measurements such as pigs born alive, pigs weaned, and adjusted 21-d litter weights. Neither postural behavior nor the other stereotypies were related to reproductive performance. The farrowing rate was not related to any postural behavior and stereotypy in logistic regression mixed models. This study suggests that a subpopulation of females exists on commercial farms that frequently exhibit vacuum chewing and give birth to fewer total pigs. High frequency of vacuum chewing in those females may be indicative of their suboptimal reproductive performance.     

Moving Devices for Finishing Pigs: Efficacy of Electric Prod,Board, Paddle,or Flag

A total of 320 finishing pigs (72 to 90 kg) was used in four studies to assess the efficacy of various moving devices by evaluation of pig behavior and time to complete a standardized course. The handler was behind the pigs (n = 3) with the objective of moving the pigs forward. In the first study, pig reactions to an electric prod or paddle touching their ham, neck, rear hock or back, or on their left or right side were recorded. The percentage of pigs moving forward was greatest (P<0.05) when pigs were touched on their back. Future work standardized touching pigs on their back to get them to move forward. In the second study, paddles colored blue, red, or green were found equally effective (P>0.05) at moving pigs. Studies then standardized evaluations using blue devices. In the third study, the electric prod, paddle, and board were evaluated for time to complete the course. A handler using a board required less time (P<0.05) to move pigs compared with an electric prod or paddle. Pig vocalization was similar after being touched with either the paddle or electric prod, but these devices caused more pig vocalization than the board (P<0.05). In the fourth study, the board was compared with a flag. The board and flag were statistically equal in time required to move pigs through the course. In conclusion, the board was the most efficacious moving device among those evaluated.