Why piglets grit their teeth and what to do, what is the reason and how to treat
Piglets may occasionally grind their teeth while eating. In some cases, this indicates the presence of diseases in young animals that can lead to the death of the animal. But in order to find the right treatment, you must first find out why the piglets are grinding their teeth. But before starting therapy for young animals, it is recommended to observe the animals for some time, paying attention to additional symptoms.
The piglet grinds its teeth: what is the reason
Squeaking teeth in piglets are mainly due to the following reasons:
- incorrect position of the teeth (abnormal bite);
- the chewing muscles have cramping or spasms;
- improperly selected diet;
- helminthic invasion.
It is difficult to identify the true cause of the teeth squeak without a specialized examination. This is partly due to the fact that piglets often make such sounds out of boredom.
It is possible to decide what to do in such cases only after, in addition to the indicated symptom, other signs of a possible disease appear.
Incorrect position of the teeth
This is a common cause of teeth squeaking. However, an abnormal bite can only be detected after examining the piglet at the dentist. Surveillance of the herd helps to exclude the presence of comorbidities due to which young pigs are grinding their teeth.
If this sound is made by only one piglet, then this may indicate the presence of an abnormal bite. To diagnose such a deviation, it is necessary to examine the jaw of the animal. With an abnormal bite, noticeable indentations or wounds left by the teeth remain on the soft tissues of the mouth. Treatment in such cases is recommended to be carried out immediately, since without adequate therapy, permanent damage to the mucous membrane is fraught with the development of abscesses (suppuration). And you can't do anything on your own. A specialized doctor should restore the shape of the teeth.
In order to prevent abnormal bite, it is recommended to give young animals small portions of coal. For adult animals, they hang a metal chain around their necks.
Boredom
Creak of teeth is characteristic of compact corrals, in which a large number of young animals have accumulated in a limited space. Piglets in such conditions become aggressive, which is why fights between animals become more frequent. The solution to this problem will be to increase the area of residence of young animals.
Teeth grinding is also possible when the pig is resting. This sound comes from boredom.It is not necessary to treat animals in such circumstances, provided that there are no other abnormalities. That is, therapy is not needed when young animals lead an active lifestyle and eat normally.
Spasms and cramps of the chewing muscles
When the above reasons for gnashing in pigs are excluded, then it is necessary to monitor the condition of the piglets. If the animals experience uncontrolled twitching of the cheeks while eating or at rest, this indicates cramps or muscle spasms. Such symptoms are due to neurological disorders or due to the physiological characteristics of a particular pig. An animal with such disorders must be shown to a doctor.
Diet errors
Teeth grinding is possible due to improper diet. This phenomenon occurs against the background of pain localized in the abdomen. In these conditions, the animal experiences discomfort, which provokes aggression, and, as a result, teeth grinding. Basically, the described phenomenon is typical for piglets, whose diet does not change for a long time and contains the same products.
If the youngsters are grinding their teeth intensively, this may indicate a stomach ulcer. This pathology provokes severe pain and develops against the background of constant consumption of dry and ground feed. In addition to the intense grinding, the course of peptic ulcer disease is accompanied by a sharp decrease in appetite, the release of bloody feces and a depressed state of the animal.
In addition to this pathology, an improper diet leads to the development of gastroenteritis. The disease occurs against the background of an early transfer of young animals to adult nutrition or a deficiency of vitamins A and group B.
Worms
Grinding teeth less often occurs due to helminthic invasion. More often, infection provokes:
- weight loss;
- wheezing;
- intense itching from the anus (the animal constantly scratches this area);
- flatulence and diarrhea;
- severe cough after exercise;
- increased nervousness.
Treatment for helminthic invasion is selected taking into account the type of helminths.
How to solve a problem?
Treatment of young animals from teeth grinding should be prescribed by a veterinarian, taking into account the cause of this phenomenon. Basically, therapy comes down to correcting the daily diet and changing the conditions of detention. In case of detection of helminthic invasion, the following drugs are prescribed:
- Hygrovetin. It is used in the treatment and prevention of helminthic invasion.
- Tetramisole. It is prescribed in case of detection of ascariasis (infection with ascaris).
- Levamisole. Solution for injection, recommended for nematode infestation.
- Alben. The drug is prescribed in cases where it was not possible to identify the type of worms.
- Invermec. The drug has a strong effect on the body. Therefore, the dosage of the medicine is calculated based on the age and weight of the pig.
If the grinding is caused by an incorrect position of the teeth, then the latter are grinded using the methods described above. For muscle spasms, drugs are used that normalize nerve conduction.
