Yesterday was a sad one.
The little pig that had her side gashed open because she got stepped on, developed respiratory distress. Soon after noticing that she was in a bad way, I seperated her and went into research mode and gave her a dose of LA 200 (a long acting antibiotic). My wife shortened the learning curve by calling the vet. He recommended a stronger, fast acting antibiotic and fluids delivered via syringe. She flew to town, got the needed supplies and we spent the rest of the day trying to nurse her back to health.
Whatever caused the respiratory distress worsened over the course of the day and by about 1800 hours it was obvious that the antibiotics and TLC would be insufficient to affect the outcome. I made the tough call and put her down.
I pray her malady was either secondary to lung damage from having been stepped on or aspiration pneumonia (the vet's guess). Knowing that even strong antibiotics had no effect, the only other things that would cause her cluster of symptoms are seemingly viral in nature. Since I have purposely not vaccinated, and since I am keeping a friend's pig (albeit a hundred yards away) thereby providing a potential disease vector, the next few days will be tense ones.
As for the tomatoes, a more strategic placing of the hot wire that keeps Linda from testing the fence now keeps her little ones out of my tomatoes.
In other news, it APPEARS that Lou's abdomen has started swelling. If I've guessed right, November 17th might see our second litter hitting the ground.
Also, we have decided, assuming no further losses, to keep the best looking one of the gilts as this will be the only pig born on our farm for quite some time that will be completely unrelated to our boar, Mr. Bingley. In the picture above that shows them all nursing, she is the second from the distant end and is unique in that she has a spot on her forehead. Her name is Tiffany and she is the dominate force in the litter and has been since day #1.