Part 21 (1/2)
BLACK TOOTH
CAUSE: Black Tooth, so called in swine, is princ.i.p.ally due to injuries to the teeth received by chewing hard matter, such as bone, etc., which causes them to decay.
SYMPTOMS: Toothache. Toothache in swine is similar to that exhibited by man, in showing loss of appet.i.te, salivation, or s...o...b..ring, hanging the head mostly to the side which is affected, loss of fear of man, and offensive breath. If the hogs are fed on strongly acid food for any length of time, their teeth may become dark colored. As the teeth are not materially injured; so long as decayed tooth substance cannot be noticed, and while the appet.i.te and chewing facilities of the hog do not appear to be diminished, no interference will be necessary.
It is customary with some people to examine the teeth of hogs, and if one tooth is found darker colored than the others, it is supposed to be the cause of the hog not doing well, if he is in a poor condition, and the tooth is hammered off flush with the jaw, leaving the broken roots, lacerated gums and nerves to increase the hog's suffering. If the hog recovers, it is often concluded that this was a case of Black Tooth.
My advice is, if you are determined to have the tooth out, extract it properly. Do not break it off. When your hogs are not thriving, give them the regulator and tonic prescribed on the first page of this chapter.
BLOOD POISONING
(Pyemia Septicemia)
CAUSE: Due to the toxic substance produced by germs that invade wounds, bruises, abscesses, or womb following farrowing, if lacerated.
SYMPTOMS: The seat of injury becomes swollen, pus may adhere to the hair, temperature elevated, appet.i.te poor, hog moves about very slowly, becomes separated from the rest of the drove, lies around in some cool, quiet place, eventually becomes very weak and poor and dies, if good attention is not given.
TREATMENT: Separate from the other hogs and remove to a clean, comfortable place and wash the seat of injury with some good disinfectant, as a five per cent Carbolic Acid solution. In case of abscess, open it low so as to a.s.sure good drainage. Keep clean, cool water before your hogs at all times. Give mashes made from wheat bran and hot water, or any good, substantial food that is easily digested containing regulator and tonic prescribed on the first page of this chapter.
BRONCHITIS
CAUSE: Lung worms, poorly ventilated sleeping quarters, sleeping in straw stacks, in manure heaps, overheated, filthy pens, where the animals inhale irritating gases given off the bodies of other hogs, and from filth. Smoke and dust are very common producers of bronchitis.
SYMPTOMS: Breathing fast, appet.i.te poor, slight rise in temperature and coughing. The hog is dull and stupid, refuses food, but drinks water frequently.
TREATMENT: Preventive; avoid the above named causes, but when hogs become affected, move them to clean, well ventilated quarters, avoiding dust and gases, disinfect bedding and floors with some good disinfectant, as Crude Carbolic Acid, sprayed. Also give large doses of the hog regulator and tonic, as prescribed on the first page of this chapter. Feed vegetables, or any easily digested food, and hot wheat bran mashes.
In case the disease is due to lung worms, confine the animals in a closed shed and permit them to inhale the steam from Turpentine and water for a few minutes, by placing water and Turpentine in a tin receptacle holding about two gallons, and inserting heated bricks or stones into the solution.
CASTRATION
This is generally understood by every stockraiser, yet there are some points many do not know. For instance, you should use in this operation an antiseptic solution, as Carbolic Acid or b.i.+.c.hloride of Mercury. Wash thoroughly with antiseptic yours hands and knife, also the seat of operation and make your incision as low as possible to permit the pus to drain out nicely. If this is not practiced, the pus will become absorbed into the blood, producing blood poison, which may produce death, or at the best will cause the hog to become stunted, whereas, if the operation is performed properly, the hog will thrive, regardless of the shock from the operation. I may add that it is much better to castrate pigs or hogs when their stomach and intestines are empty, and it is always good practice to feed laxative and easily digested foods sparingly after this operation.
CHOKING
CAUSE: Vegetables, such as potatoes, etc., roots, as carrots, turnips and sometimes pieces of bone or gla.s.s, lodge in the gullet. Paralysis of the muscular fibres of the gullet is a very common cause of choking in swine.
SYMPTOMS: The hog is unable to swallow, producing frothing at the mouth and, if the obstruction cannot be dislodged, death occurs in a very short time. Sometimes the obstruction in the gullet may be felt from the outside with the hand.
TREATMENT: The administration of small doses of Raw Linseed or Olive Oil, or Lard, will a.s.sist in dislodging the obstruction. Also careful manipulation of the gullet from the outside with the hand a.s.sists in either forcing it into the stomach or bringing it out through hog's mouth. If vomiting can be produced, it will dislodge the obstruction. If immediate results are not obtained from the above treatments, I would recommend butchering the hog for meat immediately.
COLD IN THE HEAD
(Nasal Catarrh)