How to take a pig's temp? (non emergency)
- Brimstone
- For Rocky
I know this sounds like a stupid question, and I do understand the basics of taking a pig's temp. But I'd appreciate some guidance on the finer details involved in the procedure.
I bought a digital, rectal thermometer (the "quick read" variety that claims to give a temp in 10 seconds). I've seen my vet lubricate the thermometer and put it up the pig's butt. But where exactly does it go? Is the thermometer held in the perineal sac or in the rectum?
Or is taking temps something I should just leave to the vet? Obviously I'm not planning to do it on a regular basis, only when I suspect one of them is sick and want more info before running off to the vet. Until this point I've been going with the "Well, his feet feel warmer than usual" approach. I know lethargy is a sign of a fever or illness, but Rocky is such a lump to begin with it's hard to tell when he's lethargic. And he never seems to lose interest in food, so that's not necessarily a good indicator either.
I bought a digital, rectal thermometer (the "quick read" variety that claims to give a temp in 10 seconds). I've seen my vet lubricate the thermometer and put it up the pig's butt. But where exactly does it go? Is the thermometer held in the perineal sac or in the rectum?
Or is taking temps something I should just leave to the vet? Obviously I'm not planning to do it on a regular basis, only when I suspect one of them is sick and want more info before running off to the vet. Until this point I've been going with the "Well, his feet feel warmer than usual" approach. I know lethargy is a sign of a fever or illness, but Rocky is such a lump to begin with it's hard to tell when he's lethargic. And he never seems to lose interest in food, so that's not necessarily a good indicator either.