How to prevent and treat paralysis in sows? These three methods are very practical
Paralysis in sows is a metabolic disease that is extremely likely to occur under conditions such as extensive feeding management and poor feed conditions. Once the disease occurs, it not only affects the sow's value for use, but also affects the quality of the piglets, causing great losses to production. Based on many years of clinical experience, the author achieved satisfactory results in treating sow paralysis by combining Chinese and Western medicines with acupuncture. It is introduced below for the reference of readers.
I. Causes of the disease
This disease mainly occurs after farrowing and during lactation in sows. In the former case, because the sow gives birth to a large number of piglets, the body's dynamic balance is disrupted after delivery, resulting in low blood calcium and blood glucose, or because the fetus is too large, the nerves controlling the muscles of the hind limbs are damaged during delivery. In the latter case, it is mainly during lactation, due to weak physique, overly single feed, malnutrition in the sow, an imbalanced calcium-to-phosphorus ratio in the feed, and insufficient salt content, etc., leading to paralysis caused by a lack of calcium in the sow that is not supplemented in time.
II. Clinical symptoms
The sow develops the disease within one week after farrowing or during the peak lactation period. The sick pig has poor appetite or loses it completely, and is listless. Body temperature is generally normal, and in some cases even drops. The sick pig lies on the ground and cannot stand. When the sick pig is driven to move, some barely stand and take a few steps, with a staggering gait, dragging the hind limbs while walking, and squealing, then lie down again because the hind limbs are weak; some sick pigs lie on the ground and cannot stand, showing a drowsy state, and touching the limb joints reveals no heat, swelling, or pain. Gastrointestinal peristaltic sounds are weakened, and in some cases even disappear. The stool is dry and pellet-shaped, dark brown in color. The ocular conjunctiva is congested, with eye discharge. The nasal mirror is mostly dry, and sometimes moist. If treated in time, most can recover.
III. Chinese and Western medical therapies
(I) Western medical therapy
1. Immediately use a stomach tube to administer 500 grams of badger oil to the sow by drenching, and add 2000 grams of soybean residue soup. At the same time, use warm soapy water to give the sow a deep enema to promote softening of the dry, hard feces.
2. Supplement calcium agents and vitamins. Inject 100-150 milliliters of 10% calcium gluconate or 20-50 milliliters of 10% calcium chloride intravenously, twice a day. Note that the intravenous push must be slow, and the medicinal liquid must not leak under the skin. At the same time, mix 30 milligrams of vitamin B1 and 0.5 milligrams of vitamin B12 for intramuscular injection, twice a day.
3. After injecting calcium gluconate, dissolve 0.1 grams of adenosine triphosphate plus 500 units of coenzyme A in water for injection, and inject intramuscularly, twice a day.
4. Inject 10 milliliters of Antondine, 5 milliliters of vitamin D colloidal calcium, and 6 milliliters of vitamin B1 intramuscularly, twice a day, for 7 consecutive days.
(II) Traditional Chinese medicine syndrome differentiation therapy
1. When paralysis occurs after farrowing or during lactation in sows, it is mostly due to deficiency of both qi and blood, with wind, cold, and dampness pathogens invading while the body is weak, entering the meridians and collaterals, congealing and not dispersing, blocking the meridians and collaterals, and causing the tendons and vessels to lose nourishment, resulting in paralysis. Therefore, treatment must follow the principles of warming the meridians and unblocking the collaterals, dispelling wind and overcoming dampness, and tonifying qi and blood. Take modified Fangfeng decoction and boil it, one dose per day, for three consecutive days. Modified Da Fangfeng decoction: 10 grams of astragalus, 10 grams of white atractylodes rhizome, 18 grams of angelica, 10 grams of codonopsis, 10 grams of saposhnikovia root, 10 grams of notopterygium root, 6 grams of prepared aconite, 8 grams of Sichuan lovage rhizome, 10 grams of white peony root, 10 grams of prepared rehmannia root, 10 grams of licorice, and 10 grams of ginger. In the formula, notopterygium root, saposhnikovia root, prepared aconite, and ginger warm the meridians and unblock the collaterals and dispel wind and overcome dampness; codonopsis, astragalus, white atractylodes rhizome, and licorice strengthen the spleen and tonify qi; prepared rehmannia root, angelica, Sichuan lovage rhizome, and white peony root nourish yin and tonify blood. Once qi and blood are supplemented, wind, cold, and dampness pathogens are dispersed, the meridians are unblocked and the collaterals are activated, and the tendons and vessels receive the warming and nourishing benefits of qi and blood, so the disease resolves on its own.
(III) Acupuncture therapy
Fire needling at the Baihui acupoint has a very good therapeutic effect on this disease. Specific procedure: clip the hair at the depression where the cross-shaped junction at the waist is located, disinfect with iodine tincture, hold the acupuncture needle over an alcohol lamp flame for a moment, wait until it cools to the point that it does not burn the skin, then insert it perpendicularly into the Baihui acupoint, with a needle insertion depth of 3-5 cm.
Whether the acupoint has been needled accurately should be judged according to the pig's degree of reaction to the acupuncture. If the acupoint is needled accurately, the pig reacts strongly, emitting bursts of howls as the needle is lifted, thrust, twirled, and rotated, and the muscles of the limbs also tremble accordingly, and it frequently passes a large amount of dry feces. In acupuncture theory, this reaction is called deqi. After deqi, in order to improve the therapeutic effect, continuously lift and thrust, twirl with a large amplitude, or flick the needle head heavily with the index finger to increase the amount of stimulation, and retain the needle for 5-10 minutes. If the sick pig reacts sluggishly after insertion, it indicates that the acupoint was not needled accurately, and the needle should be withdrawn, but it need not be withdrawn from under the skin; insert it again forward or backward until the reaction is strong.
After deqi is obtained at the Baihui acupoint, increasing the intensity of stimulation significantly improves the therapeutic effect. The reason is that strong stimulation at the Baihui acupoint has an enhanced effect of unblocking the meridians and activating the collaterals on the blocked meridians and collaterals. During acupuncture, a large amount of dry feces is passed, which empties the gastrointestinal tract and reduces toxin absorption, promotes gastrointestinal peristalsis, and enhances recovery.
In addition, for the prevention of this disease, sows should usually increase exercise. During the lactation stage, adjust the feed formula and increase the calcium and phosphorus content. Usually, 5-10 tablets of calcium gluconate and 10 grams of artificial salt can be added to the feed. During lactation, frequently wipe the pig's skin with coarse cloth to promote blood circulation and recovery of nerve function. Once a sow becomes paralyzed, provide extra soft bedding straw and frequently lift it up to prevent bedsores, turn the sick pig 2-3 times a day, and those that can walk a little should be driven to walk.