Stomach Ulcers in Pigs

When a pig gets stomach ulcers they will lose interest in food, sleep more than normal and will begin to lose weight. Ulcers are a sore that develops on the lining of the esophagus stomach or small intestine. Ulcers are caused by stress, eating food that is too fine or going too long without food.

One of our sows got stomach and mouth ulcers 10 days before she had piglets, she ate very little, almost nothing, she wouldn't eat her hay and slept all day.

She had seven healthy piglets but still would not touch food and we were concerned that she would not be able to feed her piglets. We called a vet out and she told us to give her melons and she also wanted to give her omeprazole.

When we looked up the side effects of omeprazole these are a few things that they could experience: stomach pain, vomiting, constipation, and headaches. Not to mention the drug would cost about $200.

We decided to see if she would eat the melon or other soft foods and we were going to pass on the drug.

She loved fresh (not canned or frozen) pumpkin, cooked quinoa, banana and raw eggs. We fed her twenty-two raw eggs, one and a half cups of quinoa and three to four cups pumpkin one day, and she still could have had more. It took only a few days and now she is totally healed, back on her grain eating hay and has her energy back.

These are the foods we gave her and some of their benefits.

Pumpkin has beta carotene vitamin C, vitamin E, iron and folate. Pumpkin helps the immune system by helping the immune cells work better to ward off germs and speed healing when there is a wound, and since an ulcer is an internal wound, pumpkin is a very good healing food to give your pig.

Eggs have protein and fat and if fed raw and since they are slimy, they seemed to be very easy on her mouth.

Quinoa is considered a complete protein, is a good source of several minerals including manganese phosphorus, copper, folate, iron, magnesium and zinc.

In particular phosphorus and folate are good for maintenance of various body tissues, tissue growth and cell function.

Bananas have carbohydrates a good amount of potassium, vitamin C and vitamin B6.

It is important to take your pig off ALL ground feed and just feed mild non-acidic foods, our sow liked the raw eggs most then quinoa, it is not recommended to return them to grain until they are eating normally, and their energy is back to normal.