Common diseases 2Common diseases 2

SAPPO Training CourseSAPPO Training Course

ContentsContents

Skin problemsSkin problems Diarrhoea/gastro-intestinal problemsDiarrhoea/gastro-intestinal problems Respiratory problemsRespiratory problems FeverFever Lameness and paralysisLameness and paralysis Pale pigs – anaemiaPale pigs – anaemia Reproductive problemsReproductive problems

Skin problems - MangeSkin problems - Mange

Mange Mange • Caused by tiny mites Caused by tiny mites

(smaller than a full (smaller than a full stop) that live in the stop) that live in the skinskin

• Pigs scratch all the Pigs scratch all the time and have time and have crusted sores all crusted sores all over the bodyover the body

• Use dips, sprays or Use dips, sprays or injections injections recommended for recommended for mange controlmange control

Skin problems - OtherSkin problems - Other Other skin parasites (pig lice, fleas, ticks, Other skin parasites (pig lice, fleas, ticks,

flies) feed on blood and do not always flies) feed on blood and do not always cause disease but if present in large cause disease but if present in large numbers can cause the pig discomfort and numbers can cause the pig discomfort and excessive blood loss – use dips/spraysexcessive blood loss – use dips/sprays

Wounds – use wound spray, protect from Wounds – use wound spray, protect from fliesflies

Sunburn – provide sufficient shadeSunburn – provide sufficient shade Infectious diseases (greasy pig disease, Infectious diseases (greasy pig disease,

diamond skin disease = erysipelas) – diamond skin disease = erysipelas) – prevent by good hygiene, vaccinate prevent by good hygiene, vaccinate against erysipelas, treat with antibiotics against erysipelas, treat with antibiotics

Other skin problemsOther skin problems

A – treated woundA – treated wound B – Sunburned B – Sunburned

pigletpiglet C – Erysipelas C – Erysipelas

(diamond skin (diamond skin disease)disease)

D – Greasy pig D – Greasy pig diseasedisease

Diarrhoea (scours)Diarrhoea (scours)

Unweaned piglets: infectious causesUnweaned piglets: infectious causes Weaners: change from milk to solid food, Weaners: change from milk to solid food,

infectious causes especially colibacillosisinfectious causes especially colibacillosis Growers: infectious causes (swine Growers: infectious causes (swine

dysentery, ileitis)dysentery, ileitis) Prevent by good hygiene and diet, keep Prevent by good hygiene and diet, keep

piglets warm, avoid sudden change in piglets warm, avoid sudden change in feed, vaccination and treatment as feed, vaccination and treatment as recommendedrecommended

Other abdominal problemsOther abdominal problems

Worms – cause poor growthWorms – cause poor growth VomitingVomiting

• Infectious diseases: prevent by good Infectious diseases: prevent by good biosecurity biosecurity

• Stomach ulcers: prevent by balanced diet, feed Stomach ulcers: prevent by balanced diet, feed not too finenot too fine

• Poisoning: keep poisons safe, make sure feed Poisoning: keep poisons safe, make sure feed is not too salty, unlimited access to wateris not too salty, unlimited access to water

ConstipationConstipation• Sows in late pregnancy: feed bran and/or green Sows in late pregnancy: feed bran and/or green

feedfeed

Other abdominal problemsOther abdominal problems

Rectal prolapseRectal prolapse• Causes are abdominal pressure, mouldy feedCauses are abdominal pressure, mouldy feed• Isolate pig, feed wet feed, leave to healIsolate pig, feed wet feed, leave to heal

Abdominal pain – arched back, groaningAbdominal pain – arched back, groaning• Causes are stomach ulcers, organ Causes are stomach ulcers, organ

displacement, constipation, diseasedisplacement, constipation, disease Organ displacementOrgan displacement

• Usually spleen or stomach in sows after Usually spleen or stomach in sows after farrowing, invariably fatalfarrowing, invariably fatal

• Prevent by calm conditions, feeding 3 x per Prevent by calm conditions, feeding 3 x per dayday

Abdominal problemsAbdominal problems

A – scours A – scours B – B –

constipation constipation C – large C – large

roundwormroundworm D – rectal D – rectal

prolapseprolapse

Airway problemsAirway problems

Clinical signs are coughing, sneezing, Clinical signs are coughing, sneezing, discharge from eyes or nose, noisy discharge from eyes or nose, noisy breathingbreathing

Atrophic rhinitis (leads to a deformed Atrophic rhinitis (leads to a deformed snout)snout)• Prevent with good ventilation, reduce Prevent with good ventilation, reduce

dustdust• Where the problem exists, can vaccinate Where the problem exists, can vaccinate

sows and use in-feed medicationsows and use in-feed medication

PneumoniaPneumonia Causes include viruses, bacteria, worms, Causes include viruses, bacteria, worms,

inhalation of foreign material, bad inhalation of foreign material, bad ventilation and dust or ammonia build-upventilation and dust or ammonia build-up

Cold and draughts predispose pigs to Cold and draughts predispose pigs to pneumoniapneumonia

Signs include fever, slow or uneven Signs include fever, slow or uneven growth, coughing, difficult breathinggrowth, coughing, difficult breathing

Prevent by good hygiene, clean dry Prevent by good hygiene, clean dry environment, de-worming; monitor lungs environment, de-worming; monitor lungs of slaughtered pigs for signs of chronic of slaughtered pigs for signs of chronic pneumoniapneumonia

Treat infectious causes with antibioticsTreat infectious causes with antibiotics

FeverFever Fever is a sign that Fever is a sign that

the body temperature the body temperature is abnormally highis abnormally high

Signs are skin Signs are skin flushing, not eating, flushing, not eating, panting, tremors, lying panting, tremors, lying down, not wanting to down, not wanting to move, pigs huddling move, pigs huddling togethertogether

Always a sign of a Always a sign of a serious disease or serious disease or problemproblem

Infectious causes of feverInfectious causes of fever May be other signs e.g. vomiting, diarrhoea, May be other signs e.g. vomiting, diarrhoea,

coughing, difficult breathingcoughing, difficult breathing Bacterial diseases (septicaemia, pneumonia)Bacterial diseases (septicaemia, pneumonia)

• Often one age group affected, usually younger pigsOften one age group affected, usually younger pigs• May respond to antibiotic treatmentMay respond to antibiotic treatment

Viral diseases (African or classical swine fever, Viral diseases (African or classical swine fever, PRRS)PRRS)• May affect all age groupsMay affect all age groups• No treatment possibleNo treatment possible• These diseases must be reported (see notifiable These diseases must be reported (see notifiable

diseases)diseases)

Heat strokeHeat stroke Usually affects adult pigsUsually affects adult pigs Occurs on very hot days if the pigs have Occurs on very hot days if the pigs have

no shade, housing becomes very hot, or no shade, housing becomes very hot, or they are transported when it is hot they are transported when it is hot

Pigs become recumbent, pant, do not want Pigs become recumbent, pant, do not want to move, no other signs of diseaseto move, no other signs of disease

Throw as much cool water as possible over Throw as much cool water as possible over them, arrange shade or move them to a them, arrange shade or move them to a cooler areacooler area

Transport pigs in the cool part of the day Transport pigs in the cool part of the day or at night, cover the vehicle but ensure or at night, cover the vehicle but ensure ventilation, do not stop on the wayventilation, do not stop on the way

Lameness and ParalysisLameness and Paralysis

Lameness – pigs limping, holding a foot of Lameness – pigs limping, holding a foot of the ground, unable to get up, swollen the ground, unable to get up, swollen jointsjoints• Sore feet or legs due to arthritis, injury, bone Sore feet or legs due to arthritis, injury, bone

problems, cracked or split clawsproblems, cracked or split claws Paralysis – pigs unable to move part or Paralysis – pigs unable to move part or

whole of bodywhole of body• Usually due to spinal injury or to poisoningUsually due to spinal injury or to poisoning

Cull pig unless the problem can be treatedCull pig unless the problem can be treated

Lame pigLame pig

Pale pigs - AnaemiaPale pigs - Anaemia

Iron deficiencyIron deficiency• Young piglets on cement: give iron Young piglets on cement: give iron

injection in first 7 days of life, or dump injection in first 7 days of life, or dump red soil in pen – it contains iron and red soil in pen – it contains iron and anaemic pigs will eat itanaemic pigs will eat it

Blood lossBlood loss• Through stomach ulcers, bloody Through stomach ulcers, bloody

diarrhoea, parasitesdiarrhoea, parasites• Treat intestinal infections, ulcers, Treat intestinal infections, ulcers,

parasitesparasites

Reproductive problemsReproductive problems

Infertility – no piglets:Infertility – no piglets:• Sow infertile: not cycling, or diseasedSow infertile: not cycling, or diseased

Make sure gilt/sow is coming on heat – test by firm Make sure gilt/sow is coming on heat – test by firm pressure on the back when standingpressure on the back when standing

Check for genital discharges and urinary problemsCheck for genital discharges and urinary problems

• Boar infertilityBoar infertility Make sure that mating is taking placeMake sure that mating is taking place If not the boar may have back or leg pain or poor If not the boar may have back or leg pain or poor

libidolibido

• Pre-natal deathPre-natal death Hot weather, too few foetuses (less than 4), or a Hot weather, too few foetuses (less than 4), or a

disease can cause piglets to be resorbed in early disease can cause piglets to be resorbed in early pregnancypregnancy

Reproductive problemsReproductive problems Abortions and stillbirths – piglets are Abortions and stillbirths – piglets are

aborted during pregnancy or born dead at aborted during pregnancy or born dead at term (aborted piglets not always seen)term (aborted piglets not always seen)• Abortions: various infectious diseases, Abortions: various infectious diseases,

hormonal failure, metritis, mouldy feed, hormonal failure, metritis, mouldy feed, constipation, sunburn or excessive heat, old constipation, sunburn or excessive heat, old ageage

• Stillbirths: various infectious diseases, delayed Stillbirths: various infectious diseases, delayed or difficult birth process (more often in older or difficult birth process (more often in older sows)sows)

Unless fertility problems can be resolved Unless fertility problems can be resolved easily, it is better to cull infertile sows and easily, it is better to cull infertile sows and boars; do not let sows or boars get too oldboars; do not let sows or boars get too old

Any Questions?Any Questions?