It happens from time to time....
There's a runt in a litter and he's struggling.
It can often work itself out without intervening or....there's a couple of things I do to boost them up a little if they are weak.
That's:
1. Give them Milk Replacer
2. Give them Powerade
Those 2 things together will boost their energy.
The milk replacer can be given in 2 ways...
One of those is via syringe. This can be tricky because they can choke on it or aspirate trying to suckle on it. That can cause pneumonia.
The more proven method is to add a pan of milk replacer to their creep area/ behind those farrowing rails where mom can't reach it.
Show them the pan and they'll catch on quickly!
Include Power Ade (with sugar) in the water mix of the milk replacer. It's B vitamins, sugar and electrolytes will give that little fellow a boost!
I use THIS milk replacer from my local feed store.
Pro Tip: Leave the piglet with it's mom for optimum health. He'll need the nutrients in the mothers milk to keep his gut health balanced. Pulling him puts a series of events in motion that are very difficult to overcome.
Simple....huh?!
What have you done in situations like this? I'd love to hear from you!
~laura
