VACCINATIONS AND WORMING
VACCINATIONS
Should your pet pig be vaccinated?
That is a question of some debate in the pig world. Of course, if
your local laws require it, then they will be vaccinated.
The vaccines are made for farm pigs and don't seem to have much
value to the potbellies since the vaccines are made for one
particular strain of a disease that potbellies rarely, if ever, get.
If you do have it done, don't let them talk you into every year
because we are seeing problems with pigs getting them too often and
their immune system is so good that it ends up doing more harm than
good.
We have also heard of cases where the vet over vaccinates the pig.
Meaning too much of the vaccination was given for the size/weight of
the pig.
If you must vaccinate, the recommended vaccinations may vary
depending on where you live. Vaccinations should include Erysipelas,
Bordatella, and Pasturella on a yearly basis after initial double
dose at 6 -10 weeks and 12 -14 weeks. Be careful: Reactions to lepto
vaccinations are common. As of this writing, rabies vaccine is not
approved in pigs. Pigs are resistant to rabies and are very unlikely
to contract the disease.
Using cat or dog vaccines are unacceptable. Lymes vaccine is not
approved in pigs. Remember, vaccinations are expensive and if they
are doubtful in value they should be avoided, especially since
occasional reactions do occur.
Vaccinations can be given either in the butt muscle or in the neck
about 2-3 inches behind the ear.
WORMING
Your pig should be wormed twice a year. This can be done with a
shot, but given orally is easiest and best. If giving orally, it is
not necessary to have a vet do the procedure. The antiparasitic of
choice is Ivomec 1% solution, while others are using Dectomax.
You can get the Ivomec at some feed stores or ask your vet to give
you enough for two doses. Tell your vet you want to give it by mouth
instead of in shots and he needs to give you a little more than what
would be in the shot. If you cannot get it from your vet or find it
at your local feed store then you will need to shop on-line. We get
ours from KV Vet Supply. You are looking for Ivomec for swine, the
1% solution.
Everyone has their own way of giving Ivomec. If you go to the vets
he will want to give a shot. Pigs don't handle shots very well so
ask if it can it to be given orally. Some use 2/10th of a cc per 10
pounds of body weight and 1/10th of a cc per 10 pounds if given by
injection. Others give 1cc per 50 pounds of body weight. This is the
formula we go by here, 1cc per 50 pounds and we have never had a
worm problem. Ivomec is safe and very hard to overdose so don't
worry. I have also used the horse wormer paste and make a peanut
butter and wormer sandwich on a slice of bread fold it over and give
them.
If your pig will sit nice for a treat then you can just squirt it
into the side of their mouth. (Make sure it is the side of their
mouth, not straight in, so it doesn't go down the wrong tube in
their throat.) Or you can dampen his food just a little and squirt
the Ivomec on the food and stir and they will usually eat it. If you
have more then one pig keep them separated so that you make sure
each pig gets his full dose.
Also remember that the pigs can build up an
immunity to Ivomec so it is good at times to alternate with Dectomax.
Dectomax is a pour on and it comes with a measuring bottle so you
don't make a mistake. It can be ordered from Jeffers Catalog
(1-800-JEFFERS). It is as good as Ivomec for up to 7 different kinds
of parasites including mange.
