5 days post partum, sudden change in breathing

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walnuthollow
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5 days post partum, sudden change in breathing

Post by walnuthollow » Tue Jun 25, 2019 8:09 pm

Good Evening.
I have a 2nd parity sow who threw 11 babies and two afterbirths on Friday afternoon. Went to feed this evening and she's breathing like she's in labor and twitching her tail constantly. No fever, no foul odor, no dilation, plenty of manure. She's producing milk, eating and drinking fine, babies are plump and active. I have a heat lamp in one corner of the farrowing crate because it's been unseasonably cool at night, but I have a barrier shielding her from direct heat.

I'm in East Tennessee and the only vets with swine knowledge are at UT-Knoxville, $300 minimum for a farm visit. So...any similar experiences? Advice? Follow up questions?

Thanks,

walnuthollow
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Re: 5 days post partum, sudden change in breathing

Post by walnuthollow » Wed Jun 26, 2019 5:43 am

Timestamp: 0300
Went to check on everyone. Asleep, Breathing: regulated, tail is calm. All indications are that she's getting hot with the heat lamp.

Follow on issue:
Lows are in the high 50's; High's are around 80F. Last year, this sow lost half her first litter around the same time of year because the babies would only sleep on the warm spots she created with her body. So I added the heat lamp and this is no longer an issue. The babies sleep under the lamp, even when it's 82F. The barn does not have power; I had an electrician make me a 100' cord just so I could run this one lamp. So hooking up a fan isn't an option.

My plan is turn her out of the crate for a couple hours this afternoon, in the heat of the day. Let her walk a bit and stretch out in the cool of the pen.

Any further advice?

Pac
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Re: 5 days post partum, sudden change in breathing

Post by Pac » Wed Jun 26, 2019 10:31 am

I had a similar issue and thought that maybe she had an infection, but it turned out to be the heat. The mamas like it cool. A fan would be helpful...maybe a spray down with water a few times a day?

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