Note
Studied by 25 peopleLameness and neuro pigs
Lameness:
Lameness in piglets
Joint ill | § Cause: Streptococcus suis § Clinical signs: joint swelling, lameness, recumbency § Diagnosis: CS, PM exam – purulent tenosynovitis § Treatment: lincomycin § Control: review floor consistency, check teeth clipping and tail docking equipment |
Splay leg | § Cause: muscle immaturity, aggrevated by post-birth trauma § Clinical signs: HLs in splits, unable to rise § Diagnosis: CS § Treatment: massage hips, tape legs together, consider euthanasia as prognosis poor § Control: if multiple cases, check flooring (use shedded paper as farrowing bedding) |
Lameness in adult pigs
Mycoplasma hynosynoviae arthritis | § Seen in growers and young adults, usually 2w post-arrival to farm § Clinical signs: sudden onset HL lameness, joint swellings and stiffness § Diagnosis: CS, joint tap – culture, PCR § Treatment: lincomycin § Control: review pen layout (size of steps, floor condition) |
Bush foot | § Infection enters foot via – puncture wound, toe trapped in slat, open wound from abrasive floor § Clinical signs: open wound § Treatment: lincomycin, move to separate pen, encourage to rise several times daily o Vigorous treatment required – euthanasia if no response |
Femoral head fractures | § Cause: OC affecting femoral neck § Clinical signs: sudden onset, unilateral HL lameness, collapse of gluteal muscle on one side |
Split hips | § Cause: sow falls/slips ® tears pelvic muscle ® unable to stand § Clinical signs: HL in splits, unable to stand |
Neurological disease:
Infectious causes of neurological disease
Glasses disease | § Affects piglets aged 4-8w § Glaesserella parasius – URT commensal § Clinical signs: o Pyrexia o Respiratory signs – coughing, increased respiratory effort o Reduced growth rate o Swollen joints o CNS signs – paddling, trembling o Sudden death § Diagnosis: CS, virus isolation or PCR § Treatment: ampicillin § Control: vaccination |
Streptococcus suis | § Affects post-weaned piglets § Normal URT commensal – travels through blood ® septicaemia, death § Clinical signs: o Pyrexia o Inappetence o Depression o Shifting lameness o Ears held back, eyes squinted § Diagnosis: CS, bacterial culture § Treatment: amoxicillin 5d and NSAIDs § Control: vaccination |
Oedema disease | § Affects nursery pigs § Causes: toxaemia due to E. coli o Infection via contaminated environment or sow § Clinical signs o Sudden death o CNS signs – ataxia, paralysis, recumbency o Oedema of face o Post-weaning D+ § Diagnosis: CS (facial oedema, concurrent D+), bacterial culture § Treatment: supportive treatment for acidosis, a/b not useful as toxins already active § Control: vaccination |
Non-infectious causes of neurological disease
Salt poisoning | § Causes: o Lack of water supply, excessive salt intake o Osmotic changes in brain ® concentrated salt in brain o When rehydrated, water drawn into brain ® swellings, death § Clinical signs: o CNS signs – dull, depressed, dog sit, head pressing, paddling, nystagmus o Sudden death § Diagnosis: CS and history, PM of brain § Treatment: restore water slowly over 24-48h, euthanise if permanent brain damage § Prevent: ensure access to water at all times |
Toxicities | § Coal tar poisoning (waste from road tar, roof asphalt, clay pigeon fragments) o Clinical signs: dull, inappetence, death, liver necrosis § Anticoagulant rodenticide toxicity (pigs eating rodenticide or poisoned rats) o Clinical signs: anaemia WITHOUT pyrexia, haemorrhages § Lead toxicities (soil with high lead content) o Clinical signs: neurological signs § Plant poisonings o Hemlock – nuerolgoical signs, congenital deformities in piglets o Black nightshade – neurological signs |