THUMPS.
Cause.—Disorders of the digestive system from overloading the stomach and causing irritation of the nerves leading to the diaphragm, which is the membrane that separates the lungs and heart from the intestines, stomach, liver and spleen. It is a spasm of this membrane that causes a hog or pig to have “Thumps.” Insufficient exercise; a large number of pigs may become affected at the same time when closely confined.
Symptoms.—Jerking of the flanks; the pig or hog becomes very weak and stunted in a very short time.
Treatment.—Remove the cause. In pigs, when first affected, careful feeding and exercise will generally effect a cure. In some cases, where the pigs are very small, it is well to take them away from the mother, permitting them to nurse very little. Give them Castor Oil in teaspoonful doses, and compel them to exercise. It may be necessary to give them Chloral Hydrate ten to fifteen grains two or three times a day diluted in a teaspoonful of water. Where the pigs will not eat mashes or drink milk, give them medicine by force with a teaspoon.
After Treatment.—Give hog regulator and tonic as prescribed on first page of this chapter.