Pet Pigs with Dr. Jessie Ziegler

Whether you've never seen a pet pig before or you occasionally find one trotting through your ER doors, this episode is packed with practical pearls to help you feel more confident when they do. Dr. Jessie Ziegler, board-certified large animal internist and clinical instructor at Midwestern University, joins us to break down the unique challenges of emergency and general practice care for pet pigs—from safe handling and sedation to diagnosing GI emergencies, interpreting diagnostics, and managing anesthesia and post-operative care.

We also dive into common emergencies like gastric impactions, foreign body obstructions, dog bite wounds, fractures, obesity-related arthritis, and salt toxicity, along with species-specific considerations for pain control, antibiotics, food animal drug regulations, and client communication. If pigs aren't part of your daily caseload, this episode will give you practical, evidence-based tips you can use the next time one shows up at 2 a.m.