Written by Rita Laws,
Pasado's Animal Care and Disaster Relief Animal Aid Supervisor

A pig with OCD? Yes, that's right we have a pig with OCD!

On any given day in the United States, there are nearly 63 million pigs in factory farms, and 104 million are killed for food each year.   The pigs seen above are in gestation crates.

Although Kevin Bacon (also known as Oliver) keeps his stall immaculate, that's not the type of OCD we are referring to. He has Osteochondrosis (OCD).

OCD results from years of selecting animals for rapid growth, large muscle mass, and efficient feed conversion and therefore much greater weight on the growth plates whilst they are still immature. This causes the bones to grow at abnormal angles as shown below. Abnormal gaits arise either from pain in the joints or abnormal movements in the hind legs from the hips which give a swaying motion. The pain is associated with damage to the sensitive membranes around the joints resulting from either splitting or erosion of the cartilage in the joints or movement of the growth plates.

When breeding pigs the only goal is profit. There is no concern for the health and well being of the animal. Mother pigs (sows)—who account for more than 6 million of the pigs in the U.S.—spend most of their lives in individual “gestation” crates. These crates are about 7 feet long and 2 feet wide—too small for them even to turn around.

After giving birth to piglets, sows are moved to “farrowing” crates, which are wide enough for them to lie down and nurse their babies but not big enough for them to turn around or build nests for their young. Piglets are separated from their mothers when they are as young as 10 days old. Once her piglets are gone, each sow is impregnated again, and the cycle continues for three or four years before she is slaughtered. After they are taken from their mothers, piglets are confined to pens until they are separated to be raised for breeding or meat.

 Every year in the United States, 50 million male piglets are castrated, usually without anesthesia. Because they, too, are extremely crowded and prone to stress-related behaviors (such as cannibalism and tail-biting), farmers chop off piglets’ tails and use pliers to break off the ends of their teeth—without any painkillers. For identification purposes, farmers also cut out chunks of the young animals’ ears.   As you can see, OCD is not a concern for farmers because once pigs reach “market weight” (about 250 to 270 pounds), they are sent to be slaughtered. (Note: Kevin Bacon weighs about 500 lbs).
 

We have been doing everything we can think of to try to help Kevin Bacon out, then it hit us, acupuncture! Why not? Everyone's doing it!!

The next step was finding someone willing to do it. That did not take long, Dr. Siegler (a long, long time Pasado's Supporter) from the Animal Healing Center in Redmond was excited the second he was asked. After doing some research, Dr. Siegler and Melanie (another long time Pasado's supporter/super volunteer) came out on a Sunday morning for Kevin Bacon's first session. Needles were placed on Kevin Bacon's head, spine, and legs. Once they where all in place, he decided to talk a walk around the pasture. Needless to say, it was quite a sight to see him digging holes with pink needles sticking out of him. After awhile he strolled into the barn and laid down in his stall.

Dr. Siegler then hooked him up to a machine that sent electrical pulses into the needles. Kevin Bacon seemed to really like this, and just laid there enjoying himself while munching on some hay.

Did it do any good? Well the jury's still out, but instead of making his normal one trip around the pasture on Tuesday, he did multiple laps! He will be getting his next treatment this Sunday, so stay tuned for updates on his progress.

1/28/08 UPDATE

We received an email from a volunteer about Kevin Bacon after his last acupuncture treatment. This time he also received a Chinese herb called Moxa that looks like a cigar they you burn and hold next to the needles.  It really warms up the points at a deep cellular level and is very relaxing.

Please tell Dr. Siegler that last night was a wonderful amazing night with Kevin Bacon.  Its like he is his old piggy self.  It is the first time in months that he was up and around when I came to close.  He was wiggly and mischievous like he used to be.  He even came into the barn through the front door and walked around with me while I put the goats to bed.  It was such a joy to see him like this.  He tail was wagging and I swear he had a smile on his face.  Its been so rough to see him the way he has been, grumpy and so difficult to get up to come in.  I love this pig so much I am sooooo thrilled he is doing better!  Dr. Siegler is my hero.  Thank him profusely.

 

Donna

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