“BLACK TEETH”

Taranaki Daily News, 5 January 1935, Page 20 (Supplement)

“BLACK TEETH”

young litters trouble. IRREGULAR PLACING. 9 A source of trouble that may occur in young litters, and which usually reveals itself after tire first 24 hours, is that which is generally known as black teeth. The piglet possesses four needlelike teeth or tusks, two in the lower jaw and two in the top, and they are said to be provided for the purpose of holding the teat in the mouth. The fact that they have a dirty colour gives them the name of black teeth. Unfortunately, their primary use may be nullified by irregular placing, with the result that inter alia, they are liable to prick the sow’s teats, and so make them tender; consequently she will be extremely apprehensive of allowing the young pigs to suck, and instead of lying on her side, will be on her belly, thus preventing them from getting at her udder. When this takes place it is obvious that the youngsters will not obtain sufficient nourishment, not often enough, with the inevitable result that for a time, at any rate, growth will be poor, and any that are inclined to be slightly weak will fail to survive. The position is, of course, aggravated in winter by lower temperatures, when an essential for the initial stages of successful rearing is an ample and frequent supply of milk to assist in keeping the pigs warm. Black teeth are also apt to injure the suckers, who fight among' themselves for possession of a teat, thus lacerating their lips and cheeks, giving rise to easy infection through the wounds created. Dirty surroundings harbour a bacillus which infects the piglets from the skin of the dam’s udder by entering the wounds in their mouths, causing large thick scabs to appear on the outside of the cheeks. Soreness will, of course, tend to the pigs from sucking, and so enfeeble them, whilst if the complaint develops gangrene may set in and the affected parts be gradually eaten away; unless early measures are taken deaths will soon occur, and the entire litter may be wiped out. Where the young pigs are affected, scabs—if any—should at once be removed with the aid of warm and soapy water, and the part dried and painted with tincture of iodine, which usually does its work very satisfactorily. On the whole, it is best to remove the sharp tusks by careful clipping close to the gums, due regard being observed to avoid injury to any part of the mouth. At the same time as little as possible of the teeth should remain, being free from jagged edges, or else the trouble will be assisted rather than prevented or cured. The same operation should also be effected where the sow refuses to suckle owing to sore teats; if the skin of the mouths of the young pigs is broken, apply a little iodine.