{"id":10403,"date":"2021-10-06T10:53:02","date_gmt":"2021-10-06T10:53:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/farmandanimals.com\/?p=10403"},"modified":"2021-10-06T10:53:05","modified_gmt":"2021-10-06T10:53:05","slug":"how-to-sedate-a-pig-for-hoof-trimming","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/farmandanimals.com\/how-to-sedate-a-pig-for-hoof-trimming\/","title":{"rendered":"How To Sedate A Pig For Hoof Trimming?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Although most pigs raised<\/a> for meat won’t ever need any hoof trimming, if you are raising a mini pig, pot-bellied pig, or even a pig for breeding purposes, knowing how to sedate a pig for hoof trim is essential. Sedation isn’t the only option to control a pig for hoof care but it tends to be one of the most reliable – here’s what you should know.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Hoof Trimming Basics<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"Hoof<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Pigs should have their hooves trimmed once a week to once a month, depending on the type of pig you have and your ultimate goals. If that sounds like way too often for you, consider the housing for your pigs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Pigs that are kept on cement or pavers of some sort will require less hoof trimming, as will those who spend time walking and engaging in regular physical activity – they’re essentially filing down the hooves themselves. You can even just put pavers right in front of the door where your pig goes in and out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Otherwise, hoof trimming is necessary to help ensure that your pigs can walk appropriately. Claw overgrowth can make rising difficult and affect the gait of your pig, putting unnecessary strain on his joints.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When you need to trim, start by soaking the hoof in water. This will soften the nail and hoof pad to make trimming easier. It will also allow you to thoroughly clean the feet of your pigs and to detect whether there is any inflammation or infection.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The ideal toe length is around 50 mm, but in some pigs, there can be one overgrown toe on the foot and one stunted toe. Do your best to match these but don’t worry if you can’t get it 100% perfect. Use a pair of nippers to reduce the length, working in several increments so you don’t cut too much and cause any pain or bleeding.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

You will also need to straighten the dorsal wall of the toe. You can use an angle grinder or straighten it and to remove the excess wall horn beneath the area where buckling occurs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The grinder can also be used to reduce the sole depth, since the outside claw is often more overgrown than the inside claw. If the heel is overgrown, you can remove tissue with the grinder or hoof knife. Don’t trim the heel flat to match the sole, as your pig needs this to absorb shock when it walks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Finally, you may also need to trim the dewclaws. These are prone to injury and can impact the normal movement of a pig. Ideally, the dewclaw horn should be trimmed back to about 20 mm.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Pig Won’t Let Me Trim Hooves: Solutions to Consider<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"Pig<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Although the steps above for hoof trimming seem simple enough, the reality is that handling a pig for hoof trimming, keeping it calm enough to handle without either of you getting hurt, is much more difficult than it seems. Here are some tips to try.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Flip the Pig<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

“Flip the pig”<\/em> sounds aggressive but it’s a simple move that will help calm your pig and will make the working conditions for you<\/em> much safer, too.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The basic theory behind this move is this – pigs do not like being on their backs or bottoms. This technique can be used instead of sedation to get your pig into a position for a hoof trim.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Your pig will probably scream and carry on while you’re getting it into this position, but don’t worry – you won’t be doing any harm.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Here’s a video that shows you exactly how to “flip the pig” <\/em>for easy sedation and hoof trimming:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=0tl2rJXV8gI<\/a>