A few weeks ago , we walked out to the squealer barn to identify that one of our sow ( who had recently weaned her 13 piggy ) was suddenly limp and unable to put up .
Upon further investigation , we happen upon that she had twisted her ankle joint and had some significant swelling . The excrescence and pain were causing her to be lame .
We were fortunate in that the cause of her gameness was loose to identify – not so fortunate in that wound like these can be stubborn to treat !
Lameness is n’t always triggered by an obvious injury and when it ’s not , it can be tough to treat it . In many cases , lameness can kill a pig – so it ’s important to hump several of the most rough-cut effort of lameness in pigs so that you may take step to address the consequence promptly .
What is Lameness?
As with any kind of farm animate being , lameness is an yield in pig production that can cause serious passing and tension . While it can be due to developmental abnormalities or congenital problems , more often than not , lameness in pigs results from pain from infections , injuries , or underlying diseases .
Lameness is complicated because although it can simply be define as the failure of a pig to take the air usually , it can occur at varying degree of grimness . It can also get other symptoms , such as exercising weight loss , sore , pucker of the feet , an arced back , and more .
alas , second only to reproductive unsuccessful person , lameness is the most vulgar cause of sow having to be culled . It is not age- or breed - specific , with pig of all ages and breeds at danger of becoming lame .
In addition to a failure to walk normally , lameness might present with symptoms such as
10 Causes of Lameness in Pigs – and How to Treat
Treating gimpiness in pigs starts with identify what may have caused it in the first office . It is very difficult to treat a pig that has become lame and doing so often relies on identifying the root cause and treating both it and any related to symptoms .
1. Arthritis
While arthritis is vulgar in humans as we get older , it can go on in pigs of any age . It is most common in sows and draw or growing pigs .
Also known as mycoplasma arthritis , it typically presents as lameness , stiffness , swollen junction , and perhaps lesions on the tegument . In many cases , lameness and joint excrescence are the only polarity .
It ’s typically a bacterial infection that can be open as the result of trauma or by physical contact with another sow .
It is by and large do by with an antibiotic drug like lincomycin or penicillin . Keeping pigs on solid bedding that isnot concretecan help preclude the disease .
2. Injury
As with any other animal , injury can be due to just about anything .
Often , injury is more likely if pigs are overweight as well as those that are “ tight ” in structure , meaning their joints are put so that they can not take longsighted , easy strides .
Poor flooring can increase the likeliness of a slip and fall . Cement and concrete are sturdy and sluttish to clean but can be toilsome on the legs of a pig . At the same clip , a wood floor , though easygoing , can be slippery when slopped . Therefore , it ’s a good idea to add a soft shock of bedding to preclude drop .
Other causa of injury include push at the confluent , exercise extremes , and accidents . Often these can not be prevent but checking your pigs regularly for any injuries is all important to being capable to treat them promptly . You may need to administer pain medications or call in a vet – sometimes , bull that are severely injure can not be salve .
3. Dippity Pig
Dippity pig is one of those hog diseases that sounds funny but in reality , can be quite damaging to a herd of copper .
It ’s often used interchangeably with the name “ erythema multiforme ” as well as “ bleeding back . ” Thought to be a neurologic disorder , tension or sunburn can aggravate it .
touch hog are sensitive to the touch and have a hunkered - down dance . They often douse down when contact , too , and appear to be in great distress . It has a sudden onslaught but disappears just as quickly , typically within 48 - 72 hour .
The good word is that it is relatively easy to plow . you may give your slovenly person aspirin to help come up to the pain in the neck . However , it ’s important to assure in with a vet if you mistrust this disease , as it could be another issue instead of dippity pig .
4. Streptococcal Infection
Most Sus scrofa naturally carry multiple serotypes of streptococcal bacteria and will never show any sign of the zodiac of infection .
However , contagion are most common in wean pigs about 2 - 5 week after weaning . Certain condition make these variety of transmission more vernacular , such as overcrowding , temperature wavering , and immingle younger pigs with honest-to-god ones .
This disease can be hard to settle down out since it often co - occurs with other diseases , include swine influenza . Other symptom , besides lameness , include fever , depression , and a deficiency of appetence . In severe case , a hog can die without you even realise what is going on .
Meningitis , however , is the most striking lineament of this disease . This is normally the symptom that conduce most vets to determine that a strep infection is the job or else of something else . A cop with meningitis might hold its ears back , squint its eyes , and appear uncoordinated . It may also hurt from convulsions or lesions .
If you suspect this sort of infection is add to your pig ’s gimp , get hold of a vet right away . To treat this disease , you will call for a lab trial to identify and will want to be treated with an appropriate antibiotic .
5. Porcine Stress Syndrome
I wo n’t go into too much detail aboutporcine stress syndromesince we have already covered it in detail .
However , it ’s important to recognize that this disease can cause lameness along with other symptom such as blotchy or ablaze skin , back muscle necrosis , a fever , facial vellication , and more .
It ’s a peculiar disease that unfortunately can make death in as little as 15 - 20 minutes , so jazz how to prevent PSS is more of import than knowing how to treat it , in many case .
6. Erysipelas
Another bacteria disease to be on the lookout for is erysipelas . A bacterial disease , it is impossible to extinguish from a ruck because it can be regain just about everywhere , naturally fall out in the environment .
It ’s most common in sows , gilts , and growing pig , causing a gamey temperature , infertility , lameness , and more . It can be fatal .
This disease is stimulate by wet , dirty pens , wet feeding systems , and pathetic conditions in terms of hygienics and public discussion . There are vaccines available for this disease but unnatural brute can be do by with penicillin .
7. Clostridial Diseases
Clostridial diseases can also stimulate lameness but you ’ll almost always observe other symptoms first , such as looseness and alas , death .
It normally strike shote in the first few days of lifetime , because of the intake of bacterial cells in textile that has hail into physical contact with septic feces . It ’s usually communicate among groups of pigs so proper hygiene can help prevent it .
Some vaccinum can be yield to a pregnant sow to prevent this disease . Improved hygiene can quit an infection from spread but antibiotic are often necessary .
8. Brucellosis
Brucellosiscan move pig of all ages , with sow most perilously regard because it can have abortion and infertility . It can also cause lameness , of course , along with many other symptoms .
There are science lab tests that can be used to identify brucellosis . Since this is a disease that readily transmit to humans , too , it ’s crucial to contact a vet if you suspect this disease . Unfortunately , affected pig bed often have to be slaughtered . The good news is that this disease is comparatively uncommon .
9. Foot Rot
foundation rot is , fortuitously , easy to prevent in slob .
This upshot go up when the area around the claw becomes swollen and painful , typically after cracks or splits have appeared in the hoof . commonly , it is retrieve in one foundation only and is more plebeian in the hind feet .
It can be worsened by hapless ball over Earth’s surface or by vitamin insufficiency , so paying attention to these two factors is essential . Antibiotics can be used to deal rotten tissue .
10. Glasser’s Disease
Glasser ’s diseaseis another cause of lameness that can be unmanageable to describe since it award many of the same symptoms as other diseases .
It targets the politic surface of the spliff along with the lung , heart , and mastermind . This disease can stimulate symptoms like feverishness , pain , and a lack of appetency , along with respiratory problems . It is advantageously handle with antibiotic . To protect young pigs , deal using antibiotic drug atfarrowing time .
Preventing Lameness
Some sloven issues go to lameness that really ca n’t be foreclose , even with the best attention to animate being welfare . You ca n’t always stop a Sus scrofa from tripping and injure herself and some bacterial diseases are omnipresent , transmitted by bacteria that are happen virtually everywhere .
However , keeping a hygienic environment for your pigs can aid keep most issue . ensure stalls are muck out regularly and include scores of soft bedding ( avoid tiptop hard floors ) .
Consider immunise your sows for various lameness - stimulate diseases before farrowing and keep the name and issue of a unspoiled vet on hand , as it can be difficult to see out what exactly is going on .
Ultimately , foreclose and treating lameness in pig bed is far more difficult than it expect ! However , the more thoughtful and open-eyed you are , the quicker you will be capable to jump into activeness should the ( inauspicious ) need arise .
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