Farrowing management and piglets

Question 1

After how long with straining and no piglet would you class a sow being in dystocia?

Answer 1

30 minutes

Question 2

Is primary or secondary dystocia more common in sows? What causes this?

Answer 2

Secondary

Due to exhaustion, dehydration, heat, hypocalcaemia

Question 3

What drugs can be used to help dystocia in sows?

Answer 3

Oxytocin 
Anti-inflammatories/analgesia
Calcium?
Prostaglandin
Antibiotics if indicated (penicillin)

Question 4

How is a sow sedated and induced for a caesarean?

Answer 4

Azaperone or xylazine/butorphanol

Induce with ketamine

Question 5

What is MMA syndrome and what causes it?

Answer 5

Mastitis, metritis and agalactia

Caused by management: water access, temperature, floor quality, constipation etc

Question 6

How is MMA syndrome treated in pigs?

Answer 6

Anti-inflammatories
Oxytocin
Antibiotics - broad spectrum e.g. pen/strep
May require piglet treatment

Question 7

What age is milk scour seen in piglets?

Answer 7

Very early on or 3 weeks

Question 8

What is the treatment for milk scour and nutritional scour?

Answer 8

None - self-limiting

Question 9

When does rotavirus typically occur?

Answer 9

Piglets
Pre-weaning
Post-weaning possible but reduced mortality

Question 10

What virus causes Porcine Epidemic Diarrhoea (PED)?

Answer 10

Coronavirus

Notifiable

Question 11

What virus causes Transmissible Gastroenteritis (TGE)?

Answer 11

Coronavirus

Question 12

Why is Porcine Epidemic Diarrhoea a notifiable disease?

Answer 12

Very high mortality in piglets less than 3 weeks old

Question 13

Name 2 coronaviruses that cause profuse watery diarrhoea and vomiting in piglets

Answer 13

Porcine epidemic diarrhoea (PED)
Transmissible gastroenteritis (TGE)

Question 14

How does PRRS affect piglets? What does it cause?

Answer 14

Sow infected in utero - viraemia in piglet
Weak piglets, conjuncitivits, bruising, anaemia and scour
(SCOUR UNIQUE TO PIGLETS)

Question 15

Which pathogen causes watery, flocculant creamy scour in piglets usually <1 week old? It doesn’t usually cause vomiting.

Answer 15

E. coli

Question 16

Which pathogen causes sudden death of piglets within 24 hours due to acute haemorrhagic enteritis? It is usually seen outdoors

Answer 16

Clostridium perfringens type C

Question 17

How can Clostridium perfringens be prevented in piglets?

Answer 17

Vaccination

Question 18

How is Clostridium Perfringens (both types C and A) treated in piglets?

Answer 18

Penicillin

+ vaccination for future

Question 19

What bacteria causes pasty scour in piglets at any time during lactation, causing poor growth? There is a ruminant vaccine used under the cascade to control this

Answer 19

Clostridium perfringens type A

Question 20

What age of piglets are usually affected by coccidiosis?

Answer 20

10-21 days old

Question 21

What is the main control method of coccidiosis in piglets?

Answer 21

Hygiene

?Toltrazuril treatment at 4 days old

Question 22

Give examples of bacteria that cause meningitis in piglets

Answer 22

E. coli
Haemophilus parasuis
Streptococcus suis

Question 23

A 3 week old piglet is presenting with pyrexia and convulsions a few days after having her tail docked. What is your most likely diagnosis?

Answer 23

Bacterial meningitis

Question 24

What age of piglets are typically affected by meningitis?

Answer 24

Any age - but usually near weaning (3-4 weeks)

Question 25

There are various different form of congenital tremors in piglets. What is the most common cause?

Answer 25

Cerebellar atrophy

Question 26

How is bacterial meningitis in piglets treated?

Answer 26

Control brain selling - steroids fastest
Systemic antibiotics
Hydration