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The
uterine infections and tumors has become a problem for
pigs across the Country and seems to affect mostly the older girls that
people have. The uterine infections happen only to females still intact.
This may have to do with heat cycles etc.
Tumors:
There
are few symptoms of the growth of the tumors except to the
most discerning eye of the owner. The pig may appear to have a swelling
on one side or a distended stomach in one area. Eventually the loss of
weight and over all well being of the pig is affected. In the early
stages and sometimes in the later stages, there is no rise
in temperature nor lack of appetite, both key things we watch for with
our pigs.
Most
of the cases with these kinds of tumors are non malignant, but not always.
The tumors can grow to very large size before the diagnosis
is made. One in CA was weighed in at 70 pounds and one in Pa caught
early at 35 pounds. In most cases the prime area seems to be an attachment
to the uterus. The only cure for this is surgery.
It
is far better to have that young pig spayed than to
have to put an older pig through the surgery when it is compromised
by the tumor once a tumor exists. This is not to say that everyone
should run out and spay these older females now that we know this, but
it is reason to watch a little closer and mention should
your pig show any of the above symptoms.
Spaying
is not easy on an older pig and my vet personally really does
not want to do them unless it is a medical necessity. So we
aren't saying go out and find a vet to spay your old girls. This does
however tell us that when at all possible, get them spayed
as youngsters when it is easy on them.
We
have always known that spaying the one and only house pig still had lots
of merit as the once a month PMS that the females can go through made
life uneasy for all of us. This is another more important reason
to have it done on our pets.
It
also gives us something else to watch out for as much as possible. It
is good that we are now aware of this problem and gives us a chance
to discuss it with our vets should we think it's a problem to our own
animals.
Uterine
Infections:
The
uterine infections are also called Pyometria, this is an infection
inside the uterus that can cause major problems and even death if not
treated. Symptoms include running a temperature, poor appetite, general
malaise of the pig and sometimes a discharge from the vulva. This is something
that only intact females have and the most thorough treatment is a spay.
Pigs
that have the discharge are less likely to be as bad as those with no
discharge. At least some of the infection is moving out. The discharge
can be yellow or white and sometimes green. Some pigs do not have
any discharge and that means the uterus can be full of pus and infection.
In severe cases left untreated the uterus breaks and peritonitis
sets in which is often fatal.
Antibiotics
can hold the infection down and in some early cases may appear to fix
the problem, but it has been found that the safest surest way
of treatment is a complete spay. This problem if caught early and treated
can be fixed. Once again if the pig is spayed this would not be a problem
at all.
Cancers:
We
have long known that pigs are able to get cancer. One of the
most common is the mammary gland type where you might find a hard knot
on the teat line of the pig. (Gives you good reason for that
belly rub every day as you feel for this.) Pigs have
shown up with pancreatic cancer, skin cancer, lymph gland melanomas etc.
Females are showing cancer growths in the vulva area and intact males
have shown it in their testicles.
Its
important that you go over your pig looking for any unusual
lumps, bumps etc. on a routine basis. Not that I feel all are operable,
but the vastness of our scientific research says that some are fixable.
I would never suggest surgery on old pigs that will stress easily or who
will probably be gone before the cancer ever gets them. For
these a good quality of life for the time remaining, as long as the appetite
stays good is the best we have to offer.
Copyrighted
by Phyllis Battoe - All Rights Reserved
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