Teeth Clipping/Grinding
The necessity for teeth clipping/grinding
needs to be reviewed routinely. The long
term objective is to identify the underlying
causes of piglets scrabbling at the sow’s
udder and address them. Teeth
clipping/grinding can temporarily be
necessary if fighting at the udder is causing
teat damage/necrosis or facial necrosis proceeding to greasy pig
disease.
Teeth clipping/grinding should be done after 12 hours of life to allow sufficient
uptake of colostrum but before the 7th day of life (preferably before day 3).
Equipment should be disinfected between
groups and in good working order. If using
teeth clippers, the blades need to be sharp
and straight edged, replace if the blades
become jagged. The picture on the left
shows unacceptable teeth clippers as the
blade is jagged.
To perform:
1. Support the piglet between your body and forearm and insert a
finger into the corner of its mouth to open the jaw.
2. Clip or grind 1-2 mm (points) of the eye teeth/needle
teeth/canines.
3. Return to the pen as soon as possible.
4. When using clippers, dip them into surgical spirit between each
piglet.
1 x upper canine. 1 x lower canine
and 1 x lower incisor
Poor technique can cause joint-ill, Strep meningitis or local facial infections:
Pictures curtesy of John Carr and BPEX