Last summer, our sow’s sudden onset of limping, favoring her right back leg, had us stumped. The limp progressed to complete immobility, accompanied by a lack of appetite. After weeks of research and treatment attempts, we were at a loss for what was causing the mysterious ailment. We suspected pig arthritis, but despite our efforts, we couldn’t find any visible signs of injury or swelling.
Despite our best efforts to encourage her to eat with favorite treats, she remained unwell until suddenly, she recovered without explanation. Since then, we’ve made it a priority to learn about common pig ailments and their treatments, not wanting to experience that uncertainty again. With this knowledge, we can better care for our pigs and be proactive in preventing and treating potential health issues.
The 10 Most Common Pig Diseases
Coccidiosis
Coccidiosis, a common affliction among pig herds, often thrives in unhygienic environments where large groups of pigs congregate. While it’s well-known among chicken enthusiasts, this intracellular parasite can wreak havoc on suckling piglets, causing symptoms such as diarrhea, which may be bloody in nature. Typically, the disease manifests between 10 to 21 days of age, although in some cases, it may not appear until the piglet is around 15 weeks old.
Treatment usually involves fluid administration and coccidiostats, but since it can damage the intestinal walls, chronic issues may arise if left untreated. To prevent this problem from occurring, it’s crucial to treat the sow with coccidiostats before farrowing. Moreover, maintaining a clean farm environment is essential in reducing or eliminating the risk of coccidiosis.
Feces and flies are primary sources of infection, highlighting the importance of effective waste management and pest control.
Respiratory Diseases
While it’s true that young pigs fresh from weaning are most susceptible to respiratory diseases, this issue can affect pigs of all ages. The telltale signs of a respiratory infection include sneezing, coughing, lethargy, labored breathing, and stunted growth. In severe cases, these infections can be life-threatening. To minimize the risk of respiratory disease, maintain optimal ventilation in your barn, as poor airflow can exacerbate the issue.
Additionally, consider the impact of unhygienic conditions, such as dirty housing and overcrowded pens, which can contribute to the spread of infection. Multiple causative agents are at play here, including Pasteurella, Actinobacillus Pleuropneumoniae, and Streptococcus Suis, with poor hygiene being a significant vector for transmission.
To further reduce the likelihood of respiratory disease, isolate new pigs upon introduction to your farm to ensure their health status, and be mindful of ammonia levels in your barn, which not only harm the respiratory tract but also increase the pigs’ susceptibility to infection. While prevention is the best treatment, if you suspect illness, antibiotic administration may be necessary to prevent fatalities.
Swine Dysentery
The risk of swine dysentery is significantly higher among pigs raised in confinement. This condition is not typically associated with pig health, but it’s essential to recognize the signs, particularly if your farm regularly introduces new pigs. The disease often manifests post-weaning and is characterized by diarrhea, a reduced growth rate, and potentially life-threatening complications.
Bacteria of the Brachyspira Hyodysenteriae species are responsible for this condition, which typically requires antibiotic treatment. While treatment options exist, prevention is key. To minimize the risk of swine dysentery, aim to maintain a suitable stocking density, as overcrowding can exacerbate the issue. Moreover, it’s crucial to source pigs from reputable breeders and quarantine new arrivals upon introduction to your farm.
Additionally, ensure proper hygiene practices are in place and implement effective rodent control measures to prevent this disease from taking hold.
Mastitis
Mastitis affects not just pigs but all mammals, including breeding sows who are nursing or have recently weaned their young. This common health issue can manifest in a range of symptoms, including reduced milk production, loss of appetite, and elevated body temperature. The underlying cause is typically a bacterial infection within the mammary glands, which may also be accompanied by skin discoloration in the affected area.
Treatment options often include antibiotics and anti-inflammatory medications, although some veterinarians may opt for a combination therapy involving oxytocin and corticosteroids to promote healing and reduce swelling. In addition to addressing the immediate symptoms, it’s essential to prioritize good hygiene practices to prevent the spread of bacteria, as well as maintain healthy nutrition both during and after pregnancy.
Interestingly, stress can also play a role in mastitis development, highlighting the importance of managing overall health and wellness.
Greasy Pig Disease
Greasy pig disease, a condition that’s not as amusing as its name suggests, is caused by an infestation of Staphylococcus Hyicus bacteria. Typically, it manifests as dark lesions on the skin of affected pigs, which eventually spread and become flaky before transforming into the characteristic greasy texture. Fortunately, this condition can be treated with topical salves, antibiotics, and vaccines. However, prevention is key, and that’s where maintaining good hygiene in your barn comes in.
Since greasy pig disease often affects young piglets prior to weaning, it’s crucial to perform teat dipping on your sows both before and after farrowing. Moreover, unclean environments can accelerate the spread of this disease, making it essential to reduce the risk of skin abrasions by removing rough flooring or sharp equipment.
Additionally, clipping the teeth of young piglets can help prevent injuries caused by their sharp needle teeth, thereby minimizing the likelihood of further skin damage and disease transmission.
Porcine Parvovirus
While porcine parvovirus may not be a widespread concern, its potential consequences are significant. In gilts, it often leads to reproductive issues, resulting in smaller litters and a higher incidence of stillborn and mummified piglets. The challenge lies in diagnosing this virus, as it’s frequently misattributed to other reproductive disorders.
Typically, porcine parvovirus only poses a problem during pregnancy, but it can persist outside the host for several months, making it possible for multiple pigs to be affected. To mitigate its impact, regular vaccination of gilts is crucial.
Parasites, Lice, and Flies
Pig parasites are a common issue for farmers, similar to those found in other livestock. One of the most noticeable types is lice, which can be identified by their large size. These pesky critters cause significant blood loss, compromising pig health and increasing the risk of bacterial infections. Flies, too, can pose problems as they enter open wounds and sores, leading to infections that require prompt treatment.
A combination of sprays and maintaining a clean environment is crucial for managing these external parasites.
However, internal parasites are just as concerning. Roundworms, which reside in the gut or muscle tissue, are particularly threatening for young pigs. These worms can cause substantial weight loss and stunt growth, making it essential to take preventative measures.
Tapeworms, on the other hand, inhabit the muscles of your pigs, causing pig measles with minimal visible symptoms beyond mobility issues. The presence of tapeworms renders pork consumption dangerous, emphasizing the importance of good hygiene practices in preventing these parasites from affecting your farm.
Hog Cholera
Hog cholera, also known as swine fever, is a highly prevalent disease affecting commercial pig farms. Characterized by symptoms such as paralysis, diarrhea, loss of appetite, fever, abortion, and often mortality, this viral infection primarily spreads from pig to pig. Notably, it does not transmit through airborne routes or insect vectors.
In areas where hog cholera is present, it’s crucial to implement robust vaccination strategies for your herd.
To minimize the risk of disease transmission, consider limiting farm visitors and restricting access to pig meat. Additionally, any newly introduced pigs should be quarantined upon arrival.
Regrettably, there is no effective treatment for hog cholera, often necessitating euthanasia of affected animals.
Foot and Mouth Disease
You may have heard of foot and mouth disease affecting farm animals like cattle, goats, and sheep, but did you know it can also occur in pigs? This highly contagious and often deadly viral disease causes a range of symptoms including fever, blisters, lameness, loss of appetite, excessive salivation, and sadly, death. To protect your breeding stock from this significant threat, vaccination is crucial.
However, keep in mind that the immunity provided by vaccination is short-lived, making regular boosters essential, particularly during the fall months.
Anemia
Anemia is a condition characterized by a reduction in red blood cells, which can arise from various causes. While it’s occasionally linked to hemorrhage during farrowing, dietary insufficiencies are a more common culprit. The condition manifests in several ways, including pale skin tone, rapid breathing, scours, weakness, and jaundice. It primarily affects piglets, with symptoms typically surfacing around one week of age.
Preventing anemia is straightforward – inject your newborn piglets with 150-200 milligrams of iron dextran within a week of birth. Administer subsequent shots at three to five days of age, targeting the hind leg or neck. Should anemia develop later on in life, administering iron shots can be effective, though it’s essential to note that the intestine absorbs these minerals slowly and in limited quantities.
In such cases, providing electrolytes may also be necessary to effectively reverse the condition.
Tips for Preventing Disease
Preventing disease in pigs is crucial, as many common afflictions cannot be easily reversed or may even lack effective treatments altogether. When it comes to keeping pigs healthy, vaccination plays a vital role. It’s essential to ensure that new animals brought onto the farm are quarantined and deemed fit and healthy before integrating them with the existing herd. Furthermore, providing optimal living conditions is paramount for overall pig health.
This includes housing pigs in clean quarters with ample fresh bedding, food, and adequate aftercare. Additionally, it’s crucial to avoid malnutrition, which can be a significant contributing factor to disease development. A telltale sign of malnutrition is the visibility of bones such as hips, backbones, or ribs; ideally, only the shoulder blades should be visible on healthy pigs. Malnutrition often stems from poor-quality or insufficient feed.
Growing pigs and lactating sows require additional nutrition support. Maintaining clean pig feed is also crucial to prevent contamination. As with any livestock, if your pigs fall ill, it’s always best to consult a veterinarian, as many common diseases share symptoms with less common ailments and may necessitate more comprehensive veterinary treatment to facilitate recovery.
