83. Locomotor diseases in piglets and growers

Question 1

Name the locomotor diseases in piglets and growers?

Answer 1

• Splay leg
• Rickets

Question 2

Splay leg Causes?

Answer 2

Causes

• Unclear
• Environmental (slippery floors, cold, wet environment)
• Stress at farrowing
• Low birth weight
• Genetics (Landrace)
• F2 toxin

Hypoplasia of the longissimus dorsi and biceps femoris

The new-born piglets’ hind limbs (rarely front limbs too) are splayed, the piglet cannot stand up

It is more frequent in males

Question 3

What are the Consequences of splay leg?

Answer 3

Consequences

• Inability to suckle
• Trampling
• Increased mortality in the farrowing stable

Question 4

What are the treatment options for splay leg?

Answer 4

Treatment

• Bind the hind legs together for 48-72 hours (not too tightly- blood flow)
• If all the legs are affected- euthanasia

Question 5

Rickets Etiology?

Answer 5

Rickets
Etiology
• Deficiency of calcium (tetany), phosphorous (small farms- not enough grains and protein), or vitamin D
(intensive-lack of sunlight), or imbalance of their concentrations (fast growth)

Question 6

Pathogenesis of Rickets?

Answer 6

Pathogenesis

• Disturbance of mineralisation of long bones (PTH incr)- especially in growth plates
• Long bones widen and thicken, growth plates are irregular

Question 7

Clinical signs of Rickets?

Answer 7

Clinical signs

• Stunted growth
• Lameness- ends of long bones thicken, these bones bend unnaturally (bent joints)

Question 8

Necropsy findings in Ricketts?

Answer 8

Necroscopy findings

• Numerous healing fractures
• Ribs bend before braking
• Growth plates thicken, their surfaces are irregular- saw the bone longitudinally to see

Question 9

Treatment of Rickets?

Answer 9

Treatment

• Usually not economical
• Tetany: Ca-borogluconate IM
• Vitamin D inj- 200 IU