How to save piglets with hypothermia.
Hyperthermia is one of the biggest killers of piglets born in cold weather, but you can save those piglets.
Your vet is your best resource. Talk to your vet if you have no experience and need assistance.
Disclaimer - The information in this blog is based on our experiences and is strictly for educational purposes. If you wish to apply information contained in this blog, you are taking full responsibility for your actions.
Although we leave our farrowing sows alone as much as possible, in cold weather we keep a closer eye on them and may intervene to save hypothermic piglets.
When you are dealing with free-range pigs, interfering can be dangerous - you can get injured or you can lose piglets when you upset the sow. If in doubt keep out! Sometimes it’s better to leave them alone and cut your loses.
Here are some pointers.
When you pick up piglets, they squeal - this often upsets the sow and you are putting yourself and the piglets in danger.
If you have to move piglets you can try gently pulling them by a back leg into a tote or a pail with straw or a towel in it. It makes moving them easier.
Body Temperature
A piglet’s body temp should be 38-39 ℃.
Write this somewhere handy - I have it written on my fridge, along with all my dosage amounts for any meds or wormers we have to use and piglet milk powder mixing ratio. It makes it easier than trying to read packages when you are in panic mode.
Colostrum
Getting colostrum into your piglets is your top priority but they can’t drink when they are cold.
Ideally, once the piglets are born they make their way to their mothers’ teat, but sometimes they will crawl in the wrong direction, away from the sow, and get stuck in a corner. They get cold and hypothermic but you can save them.
They may appear dead, sometimes you will see them opening their mouth slightly, they will be cold - you can rescue them.
What to do if you find a hypothermic piglet:
Immediately start to warm them up
If you don’t have a warm area set up - do whatever you need to to start the piglet warming up.
shove the piglet inside your jacket, or even put it down your bra
put it under your arm,
put them under a heat lamp
put them in a tote with a hot water bottle, I cover the tote with a towel
The best way to warm up a hypothermic piglet
When a piglet seems dead, the best way to warm it is to put it in a plastic bag with its head out of the bag.
Put the bag in a small pail (like an ice cream pail) of warm (36-37 ℃ or 96-97 ℉) water - I shouldn’t have to say this but -stay with it and make sure its head is above water. It could take a 10-15 mins to warm up. Using a plastic bag rather than plunging the piglet into warm water means you don’t have to dry it off.
Once it is warm, it needs to get colostrum asap. If it’s wiggly and active, you can try putting it back on the sow but ONLY if you feel you can do that safely - I ALWAYS have a pig board and a way out, have someone else there too if you can.
NOTE - You may have to be quiet around your farrowing sow - I am around my pigs all the time, but sometimes they are irritated by any sound.
I do talk to them if I have to go in with them when they are farrowing. Occasionally, we get one that likes perfect quiet - use your judgement - if in doubt, stay out! Do not put yourself at risk with a farrowing sow - hormones change them when they are farrowing.
They can injure you and their piglets when you interfere.
To warm piglets you can use:-
Hairdryers - We do use these sometimes, they are a slow way to warm them up - make sure the heat isn’t too hot.
Heat lamps - You can put piglets under these to warm up but keep a close eye on them and make sure they don’t burn. They can’t move until they warm up and heat lamps can be too hot - Put your hand under the lamp at the height of the piglet and if it gets too hot for you it’s too hot for the piglet.
You can make a warm box with a tote and a hot water bottle. I have used wine bottles and pop bottles in the past too when I couldn’t find my hot water bottle.
Provide Warm Bedding: Ensure the area has dry bedding, such as straw or shavings, to help insulate the piglets.
Heat pads - These are placed under bedding - I haven’t used these yet but am planning to get some.
Monitor Piglets Closely: Regularly check the piglets' temperatures and ensure they are warming up
Good luck! For more information on raising pigs check out my ebook or email me to arrange a consultation
Based on our experiences free ranging pigs in Saskatchewan, this downloadable guide is packed with tips on housing, feeding, watering, fencing and handling pigs.