Baby Pig Diseases

Question 1

What are some common perinatal conditions in pigs?

Answer 1

Skin - epitheliogenesis imperfecta, polydactyly, cleft palates

CNS - tremors, splayed legs, hydrocephalus

Urogenital - atresia ani, intersex condition

1-2 days of age

Question 2

What causes perinatal conditions?

Answer 2

Trauma, Hypoglycemia, Hypothermia

Question 3

What are some things that should be done prior to a piglet being born that are good management techniques?

Answer 3

Clean sow before entry
All in/All out - clean and disinfect
Maintain farrowing equipment - heaters, processing tools
Vaccinate sow for transmissible disease (diarrhea) and treat for parasites

Question 4

When should sows be moved into the farrowing crate?

Answer 4

Day 109

Question 5

What is a pig gestation?

Answer 5

114-115 days

Question 6

What are some risks to piglets at birth?

Answer 6

Still borns high in gilt litters form older sows
Trauma, hypothermia and hypoglcemia
-More loss if piglet <2lbs
-Lack of colostrum = issue

Question 7

What are some common piglet diseases day 1-3?

Answer 7

E.Coli, TGE and PED

Question 8

What are some common piglet diseases day 1-5?

Answer 8

Clostridium

Question 9

What is a common piglet disease for >5 days?

Answer 9

Coccidia

Question 10

What are come clinical signs of E.coli?

Answer 10

Yellow - white diarrhea, only one or two piglets effected, still suckling well, dehydrated, huddled

Question 11

What are some signs of TGE? (corona)

Answer 11

Vomiting, high morbidity and mortality, watery diarrhea, dehydrated, huddle, not suckling well, spread through litters, skinny

Question 12

How do we prevent/treat pig diarrhea?

Answer 12

Hygiene and biosecurity
vaccination sows
Diagnostics
Treat according to conditions diagnosed
Supportive care (electrolytes, dry, warm environment, nutrition, colostrum or milk

Question 13

What are some other management tools to support sick piglets?

Answer 13

Creep feed 7 days
Waterers at piglet level
Transition temp over time
observe behavior (check joints and skin, look for kyphosis or hunching, lethargy and ears back)

Question 14

What are some other common conditions in baby pigs?

Answer 14

Inguinal Hernia
Umbilical hernia or infection
Arthritis or polyarthritis (Strep, staph, pyogenes)

Question 15

What are some ways to perform euthanasia to collect samples?

Answer 15

Carbon dioxide
Blunt mechanical trauma (10lb under)
Electrocution (Not under 5lbs)
Injectable Barbiturates
Non-Penetrating Captive Bolt