This post features images of a wounded piglet, please proceed with caution.
Sometimes in animal husbandry, accidents happen. With the modern domestication of certain breeds, various instincts can be lost. Many of the modern “factory pig breeds” have very little of their maternal instinct left. Fortunately, all of our pigs are currently at least half “Large Black,” which is a breed that can still forage and raise their offspring rather well. Still, when a first time mother has her first set of piglets, sometimes the little ones get stepped on. Such was the case for Bo-Bo shortly before we left for Wisconsin.
WHAT HAPPENED
This is a photo that was taken the morning of the accident. While Red-pepper was helping me do chores, she noticed that one of our new little piglets had been wounded. You can tell from the look on her face that this was not a happy morning.
Because of the tiny size of the piglet and the large size of the wound, we knew that it would best if we did something. The cut was over an inch across and then made a ninety degree turn and continued on for more than an inch. Since a whole flap of skin was dangling, I decided that it would be best if we stitched it up.
First we cleaned the wound, as dirt and mud had crept inside of it. Once we believed that all possible foreign objects, no matter how tiny, were removed, we covered it in a protective healing ointment. Then we went to where I keep my fishing supplies and also to where @mama-pepper keeps her sewing machine.
Using fishing line and a needle, I began to stich up the wound while Red-Pepper held onto Bo-Bo, trying to keep him calm. The photo shows the stiches before we trimmed the fishing line. By looking at the stiches, I realized that I could have put in one more, but the job that we did was still better than nothing.
We left those stiches in for over a week, but we had to remove them before leaving. We did not want to leave tight stiches in a growing piglet for almost two weeks while we travelled. More than likely, this would have caused some new problems as the skin tried to grow bigger while having the fishing line restraining it. Obvioulsy we were eager to see how Bo-Bo was doing when we got back home.
BO-BO UPDATE VIDEO
Thankfully, Bo-Bo healed up wonderfully. There was still some swelling prior to us leaving, but all of that had gone away. The scar is mostly only visible in the spot where I could have added one more stitch, but it is definitely better than if we had not done anything.
Bo-Bo is healed, full of energy, and strong! He is also a little afraid, but he hasn’t had much for interaction with people over the past two weeks. He definitely has a lot of fun with his siblings though. Also, now Red-Pepper knows a little more about the healing process, and has even helped put stiches in a wound. Let’s hope that she never needs that information in the future, but just in case she does, she’s got it.
If you want to check out the video from the morning of the accident, here you go.
We were so happy that all nine piglets are still alive and well, and so blessed that Bo-Bo is fully recovered!
As always, I'm @papa-pepper and here's the proof:
proof-of-bo-bo-doing-better
Until next time…
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My mama did something like that too on a wounded piglet when I was a young boy. That creature loved her back. It would sleep at her feet when she sat outside and it cried horribly a few months later when it realized it was sold to be roasted for the town fiesta.
Thanks so much for the update! We were hoping he was doing well!
Glad the trick with the ointment on the nose, or on all the piglets kept him safe!
Red pepper is so sweet! Love seeing all your pictures and videos! So glad to see bo bo is doing better! What wonderful animal doctors you two are!
I am so happy your little pig is ok. It looked pretty bad. Good job with the stitching @papa-pepper and Red-Pepper! Wound care is such an important skill to have. Good morning!
It is an important skill! Thanks man!
You're welcome!
Wow!
Good to see him doing better!!
I know he will be pork at some point, but good to see he is having a good life in the meantime!!
@papa-pepper great job Bo-Bo healed up wonderfully indeed. Greetings to @papa-pepper tribe
Hey I think you did dang good on it all!
Sharing for others to see it being tended to!
Yep! Nothing like protecting and caring for those critters in our care!
And good lessons for us aspiring animal husbandrers!
Hope he feels better! Pigs are one of the smartest animals on the planet.
He's doing great! Thank you.
Aww that is one lucky piglet to have such a caring pepper around! Glad to hear it's doing well now :-)
Thank you @playfulfoodie!
That's great news
I was just thinking thought you did this yourself and she is doing great
I dread to imagine what it would have cost having a vet treat this
Poor piggie! I am glad he is feeling better now. I breed Bulldogs and they are clumsy mothers too We have to watch them 24 hours a day for the first 4 weeks otherwise the mother can lie on the puppies and kill them!
Little red pepper is so brave helping with the stitches! I am not sure I would have been as brave! Did you give the piglet antibiotics too?
Thank you for sharing your experience.
We used an ointment that can help in these situations, but did not give it any oral or injected antibiotics (they can kill the good bacteria too).
Breeding bulldogs sure sounds interesting.
It really is. It is hard work, but so rewarding!
Nice when a plan comes together. Good to have a helper "red-pepper" in times like this.
Oh sh*t - there was blood in those photos. That poor pig. :'(
Yeah, wounds can get like that.
Yay, happy that the recovery was successful!
Way to go @papa-pepper...
Bo-Bo! SO happy he is ok! Sending hugs to red pepper and bo-bo!
Hey, @papa-pepper! I am so glad that Bo Bo made a successful recovery. Learning to care for wounded and sick animals is all part of homestead life. Kudos to Red Pepper for stepping up and learning a valuable lesson.
You done a really great job @papa-pepper because the wound was really big and after your medical treatment the pig is looks healthy and Red-pepper is also looks very happy now,keep it up @papa-pepper
I hate it when accidents happen on the farm, but having the knowledge to deal with the situation is vital. Good job teaching the little peppers and on that repair.
Wow! I think you have a big farm @papa-pepper... And the PIG that you have is a native PIG and the meet is really delicious not like the color white PIG. Good it healed quickly with that big wound! Amazing that your girl is not afraid? 😆
By the way, what is the pig food? Is it natural feeds or pelletes? Very expensive native PIG if they are eating natural, like grass with more juice or skin of the fruits like watermelon skin.
I have piggery before when i'm in my country. 5 Pigs with 2 native. PIG in my language is BABOY... 😆
How is the well of little-pepper? Ahahaha... she is funny really!!! 😁
Papa-Pepper Pig Power - Proof!
Wow, I am amazed that you chose to stitch the piglet up yourself, have you ever done it before? Also red-peeper seems quite brave to hold the piglet up while you were treating it. I would have passed out or sweat a bucket if I was in her place.
I hope he is feeling better now
Nice feel good story on the homestead. I guess it's not all wine and roses out there, keeping your animals healthy takes some work.
It takes constant care to maintain everything, all of which has to be taught to the next generation, so keep up the good work, my man
It's really great news that bo bo is healed, you did a great job man but putting the stitches, bravo doc!
All these solutions to problems that your kids are learning are just awesome, these will be of great help to them if they face any such situation some day!
I agree, thank you!
You are such a kind man...i wouldnt have thought that fishing line and a needle would have such a use..you oughta be a vet.
That's great news I am happy Bo-Bo is better :)
Great on you for taking care of that piglet... not everybody is so compassionate.
Glad to hear the BoBo is doing ok. You never can tell with these things. They can go either way so easily.
And this is just one more skill, one more experience that your kids have, that show them caring for animals is a good thing. :-)
Wow..i see them getting big now and healthy!
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Awww .. looks like Bo-bo is in good loving , caring hands!!