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Farm Animal Final Year > Pig Lameness > Flashcards

Pig Lameness Flashcards

1
Q

List a common cause of hindlimb lameness in pigs

A
  • Joint ill in piglets
  • Splayleg in piglets
  • Mycoplasma hyosynoviae arthritis
  • Ulcerations
  • Bursitis
  • Osteochondritis dessicans
  • Swollen or bush foot
  • Overgrown hoof conditions
  • Erysipelas
  • Conformation issues – genetics
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2
Q

What are the clinical signs for joint ill in piglets?

A
  • Reluctance to stand
  • Dog sit
  • Starvation
  • Crushing
  • Visible and palpable swelling of joints
  • May abscess and burst
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3
Q

What is the usual history for joint ill in piglets?

A

There are a number of possible routes by which the bacteria can gain access to the blood stream and, hence, spread to the joints:-

1) Through the navel
2) Through badly clipped teeth
3) Through contamination of a docked tail stump
4) Through wounds or abrasions (Fig 1.)
5) Through the tonsil of the piglet (especially Strep suis)

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4
Q

What is the treatment for joint ill in piglets?

A
  • In general, penicillin, ampicillin or lincomycin are likely to be effective.
  • Use of pain killers (e.g. ketoprofen) may also be indicated as this condition can be very painful.
  • Treatment should be continued for at least 3 and preferably 5 days even if a response occurs within 24 hours (often the case in Strep suis infections)
  • Failure to respond and evidence of burst abscesses from joints should lead to euthanasia.
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5
Q

Would you give antibiotics to joint ill in piglets?

A

Yes

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6
Q

What is the usual history for spayleg in piglets?

A
  • As they are unable to stand they struggle to consume colostrum!!
  • Clean the farrowing crate and have good grip to lower prevalence
  • Caused by trauma immediately after birth
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7
Q

What are the clinical signs for spayleg in piglets?

A
  • Splits of back legs
  • Unable to stand
  • Severe cases may have splays of forelegs
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8
Q

What is the treatment for spayleg in piglets?

A
  • Massage hips to help piglets to walk
  • Tape legs together
  • Consider using shedded paper as bedding
  • Review mycotoxins in sows feed
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9
Q

What is the usual history for Mycoplasma hyosynoviae arthritis?

A
  • Occurs in outbreaks
  • Often 12-24 weeks
  • UK – major problem due to pig breeding companies controlling herds
  • Most common in heavy muscle breeds
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10
Q

What are the clinical signs for Mycoplasma hyosynoviae arthritis?

A
  • 1-2 weeks after moved
  • Sudden lameness in one or more legs
  • Stiff joints
  • Abnormal gait
  • Swollen joints
  • Pigs rather sit than walk
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11
Q

What is the treatment for Mycoplasma hyosynoviae arthritis?

A
  • Antimycoplasma drugs such as Tiamulin, macrolides, lincosamides
  • Give for 7 days in water
  • Meloxicam may be needed
  • No vaccine currently available
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12
Q

Would you give antibiotics for spayleg in piglets?

A

No

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13
Q

Would you give antibiotics for Mycoplasma hyosynoviae arthritis?

A

Yes

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14
Q

What is the usual history for Ulcerations?

A
  • Rough flooring and contact surfaces
  • Common with new floors
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15
Q

What are some clinical signs of ulcertations?

A
  • Ulcers on limbs
  • Secondary infections not uncommon
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16
Q

What is the treatment for ulcerations?

A
  • Move to better pen with straw
  • Cover exposed tissue with wound spray
  • Lime wash floors and walls to reduce sharp points
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17
Q

Woudl you give antibiotics to a pig with ulcerations?

A

No (Yes if secondary infection)

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18
Q

What is the usual history for a pig with bursitis?

A
  • Poor floor surface.
  • Lack of bedding.
  • High stocking densities on slats.
  • Bad slats in confinement.
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19
Q

What are the clinical signs for bursitis?

A
  • Swellings develop over the lateral sides of the hocks and elbows and over the points of the hocks.
  • Occasional lameness may be seen.
  • Infection may occur.
  • If skin is broken and secondary infection occurs abscesses develop.
  • Ulceration of the skin.
20
Q

What is the treatment for bursitis?

A
  • If no secondary infection – not commercially important and can be left to own devices
  • If infected give ABs
21
Q

What is the usual cause for osteochondrosis dessicans in pigs?

A

Due to selective breeding for rapid growth

22
Q

What are the clinical signs for ACUTE osteochondrosis dessicans?

A

This is seen when there is a separation or fracture of the bones at the epiphyseal plate (epiphyseolysis) associated with sudden movement. The animal walks on three legs, the affected leg swinging freely. Crepitus or rubbing of the broken bones together can usually be felt. Sudden fractures can also occur in the knee and elbow joints, which are more common in the young growing pig. Fractures of the vertebrae in the spine occur particularly during lactation and immediately post weaning. In such cases the sow is in acute pain, often in a dog sitting position with the hind legs well forward. Animals housed in farrowing crates with slippery floors tend to slide the back legs forward and there is a risk of the hind muscles pulling away from their attachments to the pelvis (apophyseolysis). In such cases the sow will stand with assistance but it cannot pull the hind leg backwards. When it is placed on to the ground it just slides forward. Such animals should be culled immediately.

23
Q

What are the clinical signs for CHRONIC osteochondrosis dessicans?

A

The onset is gradual. The pig shows abnormal leg conformation and gait with or without stiffness and pain. The temperature remains normal and joints will not be swollen unless there are fractures.

24
Q

What are the clinical signs of osteochondrosis dessicans in pigs in front legs and hind legs?

A

Front legs

  • These may be straight with the pig walking with a long step on its toes.
  • The knees may be bent inwards or flexed which causes the pig to walk with short steps.
  • The pasterns may be dropped. This is common in old sows due to shortened bones and slack tendons.
  • The feet may be rotated or twisted.

Hind legs

  • These are straight with a swinging action from the hips as the pig moves. Avoid selecting such females for breeding.
  • The legs are tucked beneath the body.
  • The hocks turn inwards and are close together.
  • The pig walks with a goose stepping action.
  • Likewise in old sows the pasterns may be dropped.

Abnormal gaits arise either from pain in the joints or abnormal movements in the hind legs from the hips which give a swaying motion. The pain is associated with damage to the sensitive membranes around the joints resulting from either splitting or erosion of the cartilage in the joints or movement of the growth plates. Some pigs however may show severe clinical signs yet on post mortem examinations the joints appear normal and vice versa. Joints may become inflamed (arthritis), particularly in the hip, knee and elbow. OCD may be seen within three months of gilts being introduced on to the farm, during their first pregnancy, in lactation or in the first 2 to 3 weeks post weaning

25
Q

What is the treatment for osteochondrosis dessicans?

A

There is no specific treatment for OCD, however, at an early stage the sow should be moved from its existing environment to a well-bedded pen where the foot can grip. If not, the lesions progress and ultimately arthritis and permanent lameness develop.

Gilts that are confined in stalls or tethers, or group housed on floors that are wet and slippery should be moved as soon as clinical signs appear

26
Q

Would you give antibiotics to osteochondrosis dessicans?

A

No

27
Q

What is the usual cause of swollen or bush foot?

A

Puncture or trauma to lower leg

28
Q

What are the clinicals signs of swollen or bush foot?

A
  • Open wounds not uncommon
  • In the early stages, there will be little other signs than a reluctance of the sow to put weight on the foot. She will act as if she is touching something hot. Over a few days, swelling may appear above the horn and the foot will be noticeably hot and painful. Unless action is taken, the developing abscess will infiltrate all tissues of the foot, including the joint cavity,tendons and bone, setting up a septic arthritis or osteomylitis and tendonitis. Ultimately, the pressure above the hoof will be so great that the skin will die off (necrosis) and the abscess will burst with pus and blood leaking out. The animal is likely to be 100% lame, be off food and reluctant to rise. Swelling of connective tissue may extend above the foot as far as the hock or elbow
29
Q

What is the treatment for swollen or bush foot?

A
  • Treat with antibiotics
  • Vigorous Tx, failure to respond quickly = RIP
  • Move piggy to compromised pig pen with straw and inject with lincomyacin or another suitable AB
30
Q

What are the clinical signs of overgrown hoof conditions?

A
  • Long toes/ claws
  • Overgrowth of claws which may make rising difficult and will alter the gait of the pig which can put additional strain on joints.
  • Cracks and defects in the claw allowing faecal contamination resulting in sepsis and ultimately bush foot.
31
Q

What is the treatment for overgrown hoof?

A
  • Regular inspection
  • Small grinder to trim feet
32
Q

What can be the cause/history of Erysipelas?

A
  • Wet dirty pens.
  • Wet feeding systems, particularly if milk by-products are used, can become major sources for multiplication of the organism
  • Continually populated houses with no all-in and all-out procedures and disinfection.
  • Water systems that have become contaminated with the organism.
  • Virus infections.
  • Feed back of faeces.
  • The movement of pigs involving mixing and stress.
  • Sudden changes in temperature and warm summer weather.
  • Sudden changes in diet.
  • Common in straw based systems.
  • Feeding milk waste products.
33
Q

What are the clinical signs of Erysipelas?

A
  • Piglets
  • Rarely in sucking pigs.
  • Sows
  • Per-acute or acute disease
    • The onset is sudden.
  • Often the only sign being death.
  • Death - generalised infection.
  • High temperatures 40?C (108?F) - Fever.
  • Obviously ill, although others can appear normal.
  • May cause abortion.
  • Mummified piglets.
  • Stillbirths.
  • Restricted blood supply causes small raised areas called diamonds in the skin. These are clearly defined become red and finally black, due to dead tissue but no abscesses. Most heal in 7 - 10 days.
  • Often these lumps can be palpated in the early stages before anything can be seen.
  • Stiffness or reluctance to rise indicating joint infection - arthritis.
  • Sudden death is not uncommon due to an acute septicaemia or heart failure.
  • Sub-acute disease
  • Inappetence.
  • Infertility.
  • Characteristic skin lesions and ulceration.
  • The temperature ranges from 39-40?C (102-104?F) - Fever.
  • The disease can be so mild as to be undetected.
  • Some piglets may die in the womb following sub-acute disease and become mummified.
  • Abortion with ill sows and dead piglets.
  • Chronic disease
  • This may or may not follow acute, or sub-acute disease.
  • The organism either:
    • Affects the joints producing lameness or
    • The heart valves producing growths.
  • Boars
  • Boars infected with erysipelas develop high temperatures and sperm can be affected for the complete development period of 5-6 weeks. Infertility is demonstrated by returns, sows not in pig and poor litter sizes.
  • Weaners & Growers
  • Acute infection:
    • Sudden death.
  • Acutely ill pigs running high temperatures.
  • Characteristic skin lesions may also be evident as large 10 to 50mm raised diamond shaped areas over the body that may turn from red to black. They may be easier to feel than to see in the early stages and often resolve over 7 - 10 days.
  • Commonly the disease is less acute and mild.
  • Skin lesions may appear but the pigs may not appear to be ill in spite of a high temperature 42?C (107?F).
  • The organism may settle in the joints causing chronic arthritis and swellings which can be responsible for condemnations at slaughter.
  • Lameness.
34
Q

What is the treatment for Erysipelas?

A

Swine erysipelas is very susceptible to penicillin which is the medicine of choice.

Affected sows should be treated with long-acting preparations unless disease is acute. Usually a single injection is adequate but in severe cases it is necessary to repeat this two to three days later. The normal dose rate would be 1ml/10kg body weight.

In acute cases a quick acting penicillin injected twice in the first 24 hours should bring about a rapid response. Continue daily injections for 3-4 days.

Where a large number of sows are involved water medication with amoxycillin or phenoxy-methyl penicillin should be carried out. The dose level will depend upon the purity of the antibiotic powder used. (See chapter 4 Water medication).

In prolonged outbreaks in-feed medication using 200-300g/tonne of phenoxymethyl penicillin for two weeks should control disease.

35
Q

What are the most critical conditions associated with lameness in pigs?

A
  • Vesicular diseases such as FMD
  • Leg fractures
  • Trauma
  • Femoral head fracture
  • Split hips
36
Q

What is the history/cause of vesicular disease?

A

The causal agent is an enterovirus of the family Picornaviridae. It belongs to the species Human enterovirus B and is thought to have evolved from the human pathogen coxsackievirus B5, with which it shares a close antigenic and genetic relationship. There is only one serotype of SVD virus, although isolates may be differentiated by antigenic or genetic typing and may differ in virulence. SVD virus is transmitted by direct or indirect contact or by feeding infected pork or pork products. Infection is via the oral route or through skin abrasions and can give rise to viremia, fecal viral shedding, and generalized vesicles that rupture to release large amounts of virus.

37
Q

What are the clinical signs of vesciular disease?

A

The primary signs are fresh or healing vesicular lesions on the feet, especially the coronary band, and less often other areas such as the mouth, lips, teats, or snout. The lesions may be mild or inapparent, especially when pigs are kept on soft bedding. The lesions are similar to those of foot-and-mouth disease (see Foot-and-Mouth Disease), vesicular exanthema of swine (see Vesicular Exanthema of Swine), and vesicular stomatitis (see Vesicular Stomatitis); however, affected pigs usually do not lose condition, and the lesions heal rapidly. Nervous signs have been described but are rarely seen in the field. The OIE recommends that any outbreaks of vesicular disease in pigs should be assumed to be foot-and-mouth disease until proved otherwise by laboratory testing.

38
Q

What is the treatment for vesicular disease?

A
  • No treatment or vaccine available
  • On-going vesicular disease surveillance program with tracing and humane slaughter of all test positives and contacts
  • Elimination of infected and contact pigs
  • Control of vehicles used for transporting pigs
  • Thorough disinfection of premises, transport vehicles, and equipment
  • Strict import requirements, movement controls and quarantines for animals and animal products
  • Either prohibition of garbage feeding or enforcement of thorough cooking of garbage used to feed animals
  • Prohibition of feeding with ship or aircraft garbage through collection and destruction at ports of entry
39
Q

What is the history/cause of a leg fracture?

A
  • Bone disease such as osteomalacia, osteoporosis or leg weakness (OCD).
  • Low levels of calcium, phosphorus and vitamin D levels in the diet.
  • Trauma.
  • Fighting.
  • Fractures in piglets are usually caused by trauma from the sow
40
Q

What are the clinical signs for leg fractures?

A
  • The onset is always sudden and painful.
  • The pig is unable to rise on its own without difficulty.
  • Incoordination.
  • A significant feature is the reluctance to place any weight on the affected leg and lameness.
  • The pig is very reluctant to move unless on three legs.
  • The muscles and tissues over the fracture site are often swollen.
  • Crepitus or the rubbing together of the two broken ends of the bone can often be felt.
  • Fractures of the spinal vertebra are common particularly in the first litter gilt during lactation and after weaning.
  • The pig usually adopts a dog sitting position and exhibits severe pain on movement.
  • In chronic cases joints may be swollen and abscessed.
41
Q

What is the treatment for leg fractures?

A

The affected pig should be slaughtered on the farm

  • Prevent in the future:
  • If fractures are a recurring problem it is necessary to check that there are no diseases such as osteomalacia, osteoporosis or leg weakness (OCD).
  • Check the calcium phosphorus and vitamin D levels.
  • Check management procedures during the period of effect.
42
Q

What is the cause/history of femoral head fracture? This is a specific form of OCD affecting the neck of the femur

A

Trauma associated with bullying, pushing through a narrow doorway or a mating injury

43
Q

What are the clinical signs of femoral head fracture? This is a specific form of OCD affecting the neck of the femur

A

Sudden unilateral hindlimb lameness

Collapse of gluteal (hip) muscles – mostly on one side

44
Q

What is the treatment for femoral head fracture? This is a specific form of OCD affecting the neck of the femur

A

No effective treatment

45
Q

What is the history/cause of split hips?

A
  • It is more common in the Landrace breed and in males.
  • The disease is caused by the immaturity of muscle fibers of the hindquarters, around the pelvis and occasionally the forelimbs.
  • This condition worsens when the pig is standing on very soft, wet and slippery floors.
46
Q

What are the clinical signs of split hips?

A

The pig does the splits with the back legs

Inability to rise (this is due to a tear in pelvic muscles)

47
Q

What is the treatment for split hips?

A
  • No treatment
  • Euthanasia
  • Review the flooring and environment

Farm Animal Final Year (131 decks)

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