Unit 4 - Identification of Sick Pigs Flashcards
What is the normal posture for a pig?
Sternal or lateral recumbency
What abnormal postures can pigs exhibit?
Dog sitting, head extended, arched back, favored limb, and head tilt
What does dog sitting indicate?
Pneumonia, pleuritis, and back injury
What does head extension indicate?
Respiratory distress
What does an arched back indicate?
Pain - lameness, polyerositis
Describe normal general behavior that pigs can have.
Curious, avoid confrontation
Will squeal when held or in pain
Bite clothing, boots, and rarely hand or body
What are some abnormal general behaviors that pigs can have?
Hyperkinetic
Listless/lethargic/slow
What can cause hyperkinetic behaviors in pigs?
Nutritional deficiencies, genetics, CNS disease
What can cause listless/lethargic/slow behaviors in pigs?
What does this behavior look like?
Cause: Systemic illness
Appearance: Reluctant or failure to move when stimulated, drooping ears
What is the normal flight distance for pigs?
8-10 feet
T/F: You should always be wary when around a boar.
True - they can be aggressive especially if they don’t know you
What is the typical behavior for a pig to have if you move forward towards them?
They try to backup or turn around and escape
Where is the normal blind spot in a pig?
Behind the shoulder and directly behind the pig
What should a pigs normal body condition look like?
Hair coat, muscle/fat cover skeleton, full belly
What will an unthrifty pig look like?
Skeleton exposed
Hair coat often longer and more dense
What will an off-feed pig look like?
Empty belly (36-48 hours after quit eating)
When looking at the conformation of a pig, what is the main emphasis on?
Muscle/skeleton - proper angulation of limbs, even toe size
What abnormal reproductive conformations can pigs have?
Abnormal vulva/hermaphrodites
Abnormal underline
What is the desired number of functioning teats a pig should have?
14+
Pigs are marginally ________ meaning their temperature will _______ with stress (little pigs) and will ______ with high ambient temperatures.
Homeothermic
Increase
Increase
What is skin evaluated for?
Hair coat - length and density
Rough/excorations - mange mites
Lice
Rub marks
What does superficial conjunctival congestion indicate?
Insects
What does tearing indicate?
Plugged lacrimal ducts or excessive production from irritation
What are the ears evaluated for?
Hematomas, cannibalism, and necrosis
What does lateral/dorsal nose deviation indicate?
atrophic rhinitis
What does nose swelling indicate?
Bull nose or improper teeth clipping
What can cause nasal discharge?
Blood with atrophic rhinitis, mucus/pus with inclusion body rhinitis
What tail malformations can occur in pigs?
Too short, too long, or cannibalism
T/F: Once a pig is pulled from a pen, they will be returned to the pen once they have healed.
False - they will not be returned to that pen - they have to establish a new hierarchy in their new pen
What does normal stool look like in sows and young pigs?
Well formed, dark gray/green color
What does normal stool look like in older pigs?
Formed but softer, green to yellow
Red stool indicates what?
Lower bowel hemorrhage
Black stool indicates what?
Upper bowel hemorrhage
White stool indicates what?
Malabsorption
Odorous stool indicates what?
TGE/PED
Mucousy stool indicates what?
dysentery
What breathing pattern is indicative of pneumonia?
Thumps - pronounced/abdominal/labored pattern
What breathing pattern is indicative of hyperthermia?
Tachypnea, no labored pattern
What is the breathing pattern highly dependent on?
environmental temperature
If there is a productive cough suggestive of airway disease, what is the likely cause?
IAV
If there is a non-productive cough suggestive of airway disease, what is the likely cause?
M. hyopneumoniae
If the cough is not suggestive of airway disease, what are the top differentials?
PRRSV, PCV2, and APP
What does presence of hemoptysis indicate?
APP
How do pigs with lameness present?
Favor one limb - alter posture if multiple limbs are involved
What foot lesions can be found?
Bruises, cracks, overgrown
What legs are typically affected by splay leg?
Usually rear legs
Arthritis is most common in what group?
Young pigs
What are signs of OCD in pigs?
Splay legs in sows due to fracture of the tuber ischium
Unilateral rear leg lameness due to fracture of femoral cap
Joint mice in stifle
What are signs of pain?
Grind teeth, squeal when moved
What is normal post-farrowing discharge like?
Small amount of clear fluid, no odor
What is abnormal post-farrowing discharge like?
Increased volume, red-brown color, foul odor
What is post-breeding discharge indicative of?
They are not pregnant
What is late gestational discharge often associated with?
Pregnancy
What does red-brown fluid from the urinary tract indicate?
Cystitis/nephritis
What CNS signs can/do pigs exhibit?
Convulsions Hyperextension Rigidity Head tilt Circling Extension of head in ratcheting patter with deprivation
T/F: CNS signs are typically of infectious origin.
True
Where is the most common location for intravenous injections in pigs?
In the ear vein
