Disease Checklist:

[mikey]

Prolapse of the Vagina and Cervix
Prolapse of the vagina and cervix commonly occurs in the last third of pregnancy including the immediate pre-farrowing period.
Symptoms
Sows
In the early stages the protruding tissues appear between the lips of the vulva and return to their normal position when the sow stands.
With advancing pregnancy the prolapse may remain to the exterior and as soon as this occurs the animal should be removed from it's existing environment and loose-housed.
The tissues become swollen with time.
Piglets, Weaners & Growers
N/A
Causes / Contributing factors
It occurs usually in older fatter sows that are heavy in pig.
It is a response to increased abdominal pressure together with a relaxation of the internal structures that support the neck of the womb.
It is more common in older sows.
Sows housed on tethers with slippery floors are more prone.
Stalls or tethers with floors that slopes too steeply to the rear predispose.
High levels of starchy feed intake, produce excess fermentation and gas and an increase in abdominal pressure.
Diagnosis
This is by clinical signs. It may be confused with eversion of the bladder but may be differentiated by handling the tissues.

[mikey]

Pseudorabies PR
Related Products:
Porcilis Begonia
PRV/Marker Gold®
This is an important disease of pigs caused by a herpes virus. The virus can remain hidden in nerves of the pig in a carrier state for long periods of time and then be reactivated. Once introduced into a herd the virus usually remains there and it can continually affect reproductive performance at varying levels. The virus can survive for up to three weeks outside the pig. Acute outbreaks of disease occur when virulent strains of the virus first infect an unvaccinated susceptible herd. The virus crosses the uterus and placenta and infects the foetuses.
The pig is the main host. Dogs and cattle may become infected, show nervous signs and die.

Symptoms
Sows
Coughing.
Fever
Nervous signs
Reproductive failure.
Abortions.
Mummified piglets.
Stillbirths.
Birth weak litters.
Piglets
Nervous signs.
Incoordination.
Sneezing.
Coughing.
High mortality.
Low / poor viable piglets.
Weaners & Growers
Fever.
Sneezing.
Coughing.
Pneumonia.
Nervous signs including incoordination, fits and meningitis.
Some strains of the virus can cause severe respiratory disease and others severe rhinitis.
Usually low mortality.
All Other Species
Nervous signs.
Death.
Causes / Contributing factors
Movement of carrier pigs.
Virus airborne - at least 3km (2 miles).
Infection from feral (wild) pigs.
The role of mechanical spread by birds is questionable.
Contaminated carcasses may spread infection.
Mechanically on people.
Contaminated vehicles.
Through infected semen via AI or a carrier boar.
From infected slurry.
Within herds it may be spread by nose to nose contact, or by aerosol droplets.
Periods of stress may activate disease.
Continual production systems perpetuate disease.
Additionally:
The presence of other infections such as PRRS and leptospira may increase the severity of disease.
Diagnosis
When a susceptible breeding herd first breaks down with this disease the clinical signs described above strongly suggest aujeszky's disease and are almost diagnostic. Laboratory tests are required to confirm the diagnosis.

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Rabies
This is caused by a virus and considered a rare disease in pigs. It is invariably fatal in all species including the human - hence its importance. Rabies is absent from the UK but present in may other countries throughout the world.
Symptoms
Piglets
Rare.
As for sows.
Sows, Weaners & Growers
Onset is sudden with:

Nervous twitching of the face muscles.
Fits and convulsions.
Rapid chewing.
Salivation.
The muscles may also go into spasm.
Posterior paralysis may occur.
Death usually takes place within 3 days.
Causes / Contributing factors
Rabies virus is spread by contact with wild life.
Diagnosis
Consult your veterinarian immediately.

[mikey]

Rectal Stricture
This is a condition often considered a sequel to rectal prolapse in growers and finishers. Approximately a fingers length inside the rectum the tissues gradually shrink, scar tissue develops and eventually the tube completely closes. The area where the stricture occurs is supplied by two tiny arteries that originate from the aorta. Some studies suggest that if these arteries are blocked or thrombosed by bacteria a rectal stricture will result. Erysipelas, Haemophilus parasuis, streptococci and salmonella have been implicated.
Symptoms
Weaners & Growers
Affected pigs in the early stage of the disease often show:

A very loose watery diarrhoea that becomes projectile.
A gradual increase in the size of the abdomen.
Constipation.
Loss of condition / poor growth.
Sows & Piglets
N/A
Causes / Contributing factors
Infection and thrombosis of blood vessels.
Sequel to rectal prolapse.
Diagnosis
Based on clinical signs.

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Retroviruses
These are thought to occur within the genome of every cell in every pig's body. The virus genomes have become part of the genome sequence of the pig and are passed on through the cells of the ovum and foetus. Thy are of no consequence to the pig or the pig farmer and are only of concern if the pig has been reared as a source of organs or tissues for human patients. The concern is that a retrovirus may pass from the transplanted organ or tissue into human cells and cause disease. The overriding fear is that this virus might then spread to other people causing an epidemic.

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Rotavirus Infection
This virus is widespread in pig populations. It is present in most if not all pig herds with virtually a 100% sero-conversion in adult stock. A further epidemiological feature is its persistence outside the pig where it is resistant to environmental changes and many disinfectants. Maternal antibodies persist for 3-6 weeks after which pigs become susceptible to infection but exposure does not necessarily result in disease. It is estimated that only 10-15% of diarrhoeas in pigs are initiated by a primary rotavirus infection. In a mature herd disease appears after piglets are 7 to 10 days of age. It becomes progressively less important with age. However if pathogenic strains of E. coli are present severe disease can occur with heavy mortality.
Symptoms
Sows
Transient diarrhoea.
Piglets
Watery profuse diarrhoea in younger animals.
Villus atrophy is a consistent feature with dehydration, malabsorption and wasting.
Diarrhoea usually persists for 3-4 days.
Pigs look hollow in the abdomen and become dehydrated.
The eyes are sunken.
The skin around the rectum is wet.
Weaners & Growers
In a mature herd:

A watery profuse diarrhoea appears after piglets are 7 to 10 days of age. It becomes progressively less important with age.
However if pathogenic strains of E. coli are present severe disease can occur with heavy mortality.
Villus atrophy is a consistent feature which results in malabsorption.
Dehydration.
Diarrhoea usually lasts 3-4 days.
Pigs look hollow.
Eyes are sunken.
Skin around the rectum is wet.
The role of rotaviruses in the post-weaned pig is probably less important although they are often identified when acute E. coli diarrhoea occurs in the first 7-10 days after weaning.
Causes / Contributing factors
Poor house hygiene.
Permanently populated houses. Adopt all-in, all-out.
Movement of pigs.
Temperature fluctuations.
Contaminated boots and clothing.
Diagnosis
Whenever there is a diarrhoea problem in pigs between 10 and 40 days of age rotavirus infection either as primary agents or secondary must be considered. Electron microscopy and ELISA tests in the laboratory are required for confirmation. Try the litmus test by soaking scour in litmus paper, E. coli infections turn blue, virus infections red.

[mikey]

Ruptured Blood Vessel
This is often seen post farrowing and can be life threatening. The blood may be fresh and bright red indicating fresh haemorrhage or dark brown previous haemorrhage.
Symptoms
Sows
Blood from the vulva or vagina evident.
Blood in faeces.
Blood in urine.
Pale pig.
Rapid breathing.
Dehydration.
Piglets, Weaners & Growers
Rare
Causes / contributing factors
Damaged vulva.
Ruptured blood vessel at farrowing.
Acute cystitis.
Dead piglet in the womb.
Haemorrhage from the umbilical cord.
Diagnosis
Identify the source of the haemorrhage and ligature if possible.

Treatment
If a fresh haemorrhage, apply pressure
See vulval haematoma for treatment
See also cystitis
Give anticoagulents - vitamin K

[mikey]

Ruptures, Hernias
Of many congenital abnormalities, umbilical or inguinal ruptures are most common. They are considered to be developmental defects and have a very low heritability. Umbilical hernias can sometimes be traced back to a particular boar in which case he should be culled. These are most evident from 6 to 12 weeks of age.
Symptoms
Weaners & Growers
Swellings 30 - 200mm in diameter protruding from the umbilicus and abdomen, or below and in front of the testicles or in the groin (inguinal rupture).
If the swellings are large trauma to the skin may cause ulcerations particularly umbilical ruptures.
Sows & Piglets
N/A
Causes / Contributing factors
Environmental factors can increase the incidence of umbilical hernias so if there is a problem (more than 2% of pigs) consider the following:
Are prostaglandins used to synchronise farrowings. If so check that piglets are not being pulled away from the sow at farrowing and the cord stretched excessively.
Is navel bleeding occurring on the farm? Are naval clips being used to prevent bleeding? If so make sure they are not placed close up to the skin otherwise the tissues will be damaged and weakened.
Identify the precise time when the ruptures appear. Do these coincide with a change of housing?
In housing where the pigs pass through a small hole to the dunging area sudden severe abdominal pressure may cause ruptures.
Are stocking densities high and causing increased abdominal pressure?
In cold weather do the pigs huddle thereby increasing abdominal pressure?
Check records to see if any particular boar is implicated.
If the rupture is large and the pig is on a concrete floor or slats it should be moved to a soft bedded area so that the overlying skin does not become sore and ulcerated.
Examine navels at births and two days later to see if there are any abnormalities.
Diagnosis
Visual evidence. Reduction of the bowel contents in the rupture when squeezed back into the abdomen.

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Salmonellosis
Salmonella bacteria are widespread in human and animal populations. Some of them can cause disease in pigs.
They multiply mainly in the intestines of young growing pigs but also in some sows. They may be shed in faeces for several weeks or months with no clinical disease. Salmonella in the gut of the pig can contaminate carcasses during the slaughter process and their presence creates potential public health risks from food poisoning.

Of the many serotypes of salmonella that exist, the ones that are most likely to cause clinical disease in pigs are Salmonella choleraesuis, and Salmonella typhimurium and to a lesser extent Salmonella derby. Other "exotic" salmonella serotypes may infect pigs and be shed in the faeces for limited periods but they usually remain sub-clinical. S. choleraesuis and S. derby are host-adapted to the pig and may be carried for long periods by sows, the former sometimes causing clinical disease in sows (fever, depression, septicaemia, pneumonia, meningitis arthritis and diarrhoea) but rarely in people.

Pigs may become long-term sub-clinical carriers of S. choleraesuis and S. derby, the organisms surviving in the mesenteric lymph nodes draining the intestine. Many such carriers do not shed the bacteria in faeces unless they are stressed. Pigs may be intermittent or continuous faecal shedders of other serotypes but the carrier state is usually short, weeks or a few months and is self limiting.

S. typhimurium and S. derby are more likely to cause milder disease, the main sign of which is usually diarrhoea. The serotype most commonly found in pigs, however, is Salmonella typhimurium which sometimes is associated with diarrhoea in young pigs but which is also a major cause of food poisoning in people. Some strains have multiple medicine resistance. If it is diagnosed in your pigs you should take hygienic precautions not to become infected yourself. Many other so called exotic types may also be detected in pigs without causing disease.

Remember that S. typhimurium, which occasionally can be isolated from pigs, are common causes of food poisoning in people.

Salmonellosis can occur at any age but is most common in growing pigs over eight weeks of age. Severe S. choleraesuis infection occurs typically at around 12 to 14 weeks.

Disease is dose dependent, that is, a relatively large number of organisms are required before clinical signs occur.

Symptoms
Weaners & Growers
The acute septicaemia and pneumonia which may occur with S. choleraesuis may result in fever, inappetence, respiratory distress, depression, coughing, red skin and poor doing pigs.
The skin of the extremities (i.e. tail, ears, nose and feet) become blue.
Foul-smelling watery diarrhoea which may be blood stained, is a common feature.
Yellow jaundice may result from liver damage and lameness from arthritis.
Nervous signs resulting from meningitis.
If untreated, mortality may be high.
Infections with S. typhimurium usually are manifest by diarrhoea.
Piglets
Disease would be uncommon in the piglet and due to passive immunity provided via colostrum.
Sows
Clinical signs of Salmonella choleraesuis and occasionally Salmonella typhimurium infection may include any combination of the following:

A high temperature.
Depression.
Loss of appetite.
Congestion of the ears, snout and tail.
Pneumonia.
Coughing.
Nervous signs.
A smelly sometimes bloody diarrhoea.
Death may occur in the acute phase of the disease.
Causes / Contributing factors
Poor hygiene.
Overcrowding.
Stress by moving and mixing.
Permanently populated houses.
Contaminated boots and clothing.
Mechanical means via faeces and the movement of contaminated equipment.
Vermin and flies.
Contamination of feed by birds, rats and mice
Contamination of raw feed ingredients and thus the final product.
Diagnosis
The post-mortem lesions are strongly suggestive of S. choleraesuis, particularly the generalised pneumonia, the appearance of the lining of the small and large intestine, the congested spleen and multiple small haemorrhages. However, to make a specific diagnosis it is necessary to submit to the laboratory either fresh faecal samples from untreated pigs or where available a dead or live untreated pig.
Severe salmonellosis caused by S. choleraesuis can occur alone but it also commonly occurs with classical swine fever (hog cholera) in those countries in which this disease still occurs. In such countries it is important to ensure by serology and laboratory tests that swine fever is not the primary cause (NB. swine fever usually also affects sows and sucking piglets and also causes mummified litters and abortions).

Severe PRRS in herds with endemic EP may give the appearance of salmonellosis, however PRRS also causes abortions, stillbirths and precipitates scouring in piglets.

[mikey]

Savaging of Piglets (Cannibalism)
This is a condition mainly in first litter gilts that may account for up to 3% increase in piglet mortality.
Symptoms
Sows
Offending gilts can often be identified by their nervous apprehension at the onset of farrowing.
They have a "wild eyed" look.
Piglets, Weaners, Growers
N/A

Causes / Contributing factors

It is thought to be related, in part at least, to the major hormone changes that take place around parturition.
The following factors seem to predispose to it:
A harsh or alien environment.
Poor empathy between the gilts and the stockperson.
Nutritional deficiencies.
The effect of being placed in individual confinement for the first time.
It may also be related to temperament.
It seems to be more prevalent in some breeds than others.
Alarming outbreaks have been experienced in new gilt herds where 100 - 150 pregnant animals have been reared together in straw yards. In such large groups no pecking order develops.
Diagnosis
Severe trauma to the skin and limbs. Clinical picture. History.

[mikey]

Scour (E. coli)
Related Products:
Aurofac / Aureomycin
Gletvax 6
NEOCOLIPOR
SCOURMUNE®
Of all the diseases in the sucking piglet, diarrhoea is the most common and the most important. In some outbreaks it is responsible for high morbidity and mortality. In a well run herd there should be less than 3% of litters at any one time requiring treatment and piglet mortality from diarrhoea should be less than 0.5%. In severe outbreaks mortality can rise to over 7% and in individual untreated litters up to 100%.
E. coli diarrhoea, clostridial diarrhoea, coccidiosis, TGE and PED all cause diarrhoea in the piglet. E. coli is the most important.

At birth the intestinal tract is micro-biologically sterile and it has little immunity to disease producing organisms. Organisms begin to colonise the tract quickly after birth, among them potentially pathogenic strains of E. coli and Clostridium perfringens. Immunity is initially provided by the high levels of antibodies in colostrum (IgG, IgM, IgA). After the colostral antibodies have been absorbed into the blood stream, the immunity is maintained by the antibody (IgA) which is present in milk. IgA is absorbed into the mucous lining of the intestines. It is essential that the newborn piglet drinks sufficient colostrum soon after birth to prevent potentially pathogenic organisms multiplying against the intestinal wall and causing diarrhoea. It is also essential that the piglet continues to drink milk regularly after the colostrum has gone so that its intestines continue to be lined by protective antibodies.

The antibodies acquired passively from the colostrum and milk are finite and can be overwhelmed by large doses of bacteria present in the environment. The higher the number of organisms taken in, the greater the risk of disease. Environmental stress such as chilling also plays a role because it lowers the piglets resistance. There is thus a delicate balance between the antibody level on the one hand and the weight of infection and stress on the other.

Scour in the piglet can occur at any age during sucking but there are often two peak periods, before 5 days and between 7 and 14 days.

Sudden outbreaks of scour involving large numbers of litters with acute diarrhoea and high mortality suggest TGE, epidemic diarrhoea or PRRS. Rotavirus diarrhoea appears in waves in individual litters or groups of litters and normally in the second half of lactation. Coccidiosis is usually involved in diarrhoea from 7 to 14 days of age. At less than 5 days of age the most common cause is E. coli with acute diarrhoea particularly in gilts' litters. Clostridial infections also occur at this age.

At weaning the loss of sow's milk and secretory IgA allows the E. coli to attach to the villi of the small intestines, the toxins produced then cause acute diarrhoea, usually within five days of weaning.

Symptoms (E.coli)
Sows / Growers
Uncommon.
Usually occur with viral infection.
Piglets
In acute disease:

The only sign may be a previously good pig found dead.
Huddle together shivering or lie in a corner.
The skin around the rectum and tail is wet.
Watery to salad cream consistency scour - distinctive smell.
Vomiting.
As the diarrhoea progresses:
Dehydrated.
Sunken eyes.
Leathery skin.
The scour often sticks to the skin of other piglets giving them an orange to white colour.
Prior to death piglets may be found on their sides paddling and frothing at the mouth.
In sub-acute disease:
Signs are similar but the effects on the piglet are less dramatic, more prolonged and mortality tends to be lower.
This type of scour is often seen between 7 to 14 days of age.
Watery to salad cream consistency diarrhoea, often white to yellow in colour.
Weaners
The first signs are often slight loss of condition, dehydration and a watery diarrhoea.
In some cases blood or black tarry faeces may be seen or they may be like paste with a wide range of colour: grey, white, yellow and green. The colour is not significant.
Poor pigs - wasting, hairy.
Sloppy faeces and often dirty wet pens.
Sunken eyes.
Dehydration results in rapid loss of weight.
Pigs may be found dead with sunken eyes and slight blueing of the extremities.
Good pigs may also be just found dead with no external symptoms.
Occasional vomiting.
Causes / Contributing factors
Sows & Piglets
Poor pen floors.
Poor pen hygiene associated with bad drainage.
Poor hygiene procedures, between pens.
Environmental contamination from one pen to another i.e. boots, brushes, shovels clothing etc.
Continual use of pens.
Moisture, warmth, waste food and faeces are ideal for bacterial multiplication.
Draughts.
Routine use of milk replacers, particularly if they are allowed to get stale or contaminated, may increase the incidence.
Scour is more common in large litters. This can be due to:
- Insufficient colostrum.
- Poor teat access.
- Poor crate design.
- Agalactia in the sow.
Weaners & Growers

Pre-weaning

Are the weaning problems mainly in gilt litters? If so consider E. coli vaccination in gilts:

- Creep feeding. Consider the type, frequency and age of introduction.
- Stop creep feeding before weaning and assess the effects.

At weaning consider:

- Stress.
- Stocking density - group sizes.
- House temperatures and temperature fluctuations.
- Poor house hygiene.
- Continually populated houses.
- Water shortage.
- Feed type: Meal or pellets, wet or dry.
- Feeding practices.
- Quality of nutrition.
After weaning consider the effects of:
- Air flow - chilling.
- Temperature fluctuations.
- High ventilation and humidity.
- Creep feed management.
- Assess the response to different creep diets.
- Consider other diseases present.
- Age and weight at weaning.
- Floor surfaces - provide comfort boards.
- Asses rate and evenness of growth.

A diarrhoea problem in growing pigs is likely to be associated with one or more of the following diseases (Most common *):
Classical swine fever (in those countries where it is still endemic).
Coliform infections. *
Colitis (non specific). *
Parasites.
Porcine epidemic diarrhoea (PED). *
Porcine enteropathy including PIA, NE and RI. *
Rotavirus infection.
Salmonellosis. *
Spirochaetal diarrhoea.
Swine dysentery. *
TGE (rare in Europe now but still common in some other countries).
Diagnosis
This is based on the clinical examination, the response to treatment (viral diseases do not respond to treatment) and laboratory examination of the scour.

Submit a rectal swab and faecal sample of a recently dead pig or a live pig to the laboratory for cultural examinations and antibiotic sensitivity tests.

A simple test to differentiate between virus causes and E. coli diarrhoea involves the use of litmus paper to determine whether the scour has an alkaline or an acid consistency. Soak the paper in the scour, E. coli diarrhoea is alkaline (blue colour change) whereas viral infections are acid (red colour change).

It is not possible to eliminate organisms such as rotavirus, E. coli and coccidiosis from the herd and most if not all pigs will be infected with them. Herds can be maintained free of TGE, PED and PRRS. All herds carry clostridia but other factors are required to cause disease.

[mikey]

Seasonal Infertility
Abortion means the premature expulsion of dead or non-viable foetuses. Embryo loss occurs when there is death of embryos followed by absorption, or expulsion. Healthy embryos grow into foetuses.
There is often alarm when an abortion is seen but it should be remembered that there can be loss of embryos at any time during early pregnancy, which often go unseen.

Embryo loss or abortion can be considered in three main groups:

During the period from fertilisation to implantation
During the period of implantation at around 14 days post-service to 35 days.
During the period of maturation, which results in premature farrowings. It can be seen therefore that losses can take place at any stage from approximately 14 days after mating, when implantation has taken place, through to 110 days of pregnancy.
Records help to identify reproductive problems. These should include information on:

- Age (or parity) profile of the herd.
- Failure to come on heat.
- Culling rates.
- Bleeding and discharges from the vulva.
- Repeats, sows not in pig.
- Lameness.
- Litter sizes.
- Mastitis, lack of milk, swollen udders.
- Deaths and their likely causes.
- Poor conformation.
- Prolapse of the vagina or rectum.
- Savaging.
Symptoms
Piglets, Weaners & Growers
N/A
Sows
The delivery of a premature litter with or without mummified pigs.
Mucus, blood, pus discharges from the vulva.
Sow may be ill or normal.
Symptoms of a specific disease.
Sows not in pig.
Usually less than 2% of sows affected, however acute PRRS may cause rates to rise to 20% or more.
Causes / Contributing factors
Infectious Causes (common ones). Consider the following:
Aujeszky's disease.
Influenza virus.
PRRS (Blue ear disease).
Leptospira.
Specific bacteria, E. coli, klebsiella, streptococci, pseudomonas.
Parasite burdens.
Cystitis, nephritis.
Non Infectious Causes
Seasonal infertility.
Decreasing daylight length, poor lighting.
Low temperatures.
Chilling, draughts.
Poor nutrition.
Mouldy feeds.
Contaminated water.
Stress.
No boar contact.
Vaccine reaction.
Lameness.
Poor hygiene.
Diagnosis
Fresh, aborted foetuses should be submitted to a competent diagnostic laboratory where examinations can be carried out for evidence of viral and bacterial infections, together with histological examinations and toxic studies. In many cases the end results of post-mortem and serological tests do not identify any particular infectious organism, which may seem disappointing. However, it is useful in telling us what is not present.
A Checklist for Abortions
Abortion Level. Is this more than 1.5% of sows served? Take action.
Are sows ill? Probably disease.
Are sows otherwise normal? Probably non infectious, Maternal failures.
Is the problem seasonal? Autumn abortion syndrome.
Do they occur in a particular part of the farm? Environmental.
Are the aborted pigs fresh or alive? Suggests the environment.
Are mummified pigs present? Suggests infection.
Is the dry sow accommodation uncomfortable? Suggests the environment.
Are sow pens wet, draughty, poorly lit? Suggests the environment.
Does the ventilation system chill the sows? Suggests the environment.
Are there factors that place the sows in a negative energy state? e.g.: High chill factors, draughts, low feed intake, a change in bedding or availability.
Are sows short of food - Check feed intakes by volume and weight.
Is the food mouldy? Check for mouldy feed.
Do the sows experience 14 hours of good light at eye level?
Are the lights dirty, covered in fly dirt?
Can you read a newspaper in the darkest corner?
Do your sows have boar contact in pregnancy?
Are any other diseases evident in the sows? e.g.: lameness , cystitis, kidney infections.
Are the abortions associated with stress?
Increase feed intake from days 3 to 21 after mating according to body condition and environmental temperatures.
Increase the mating programme by 10-15% over the anticipated period of infertility.
Because boar semen can be affected, particularly by environmental temperatures, follow each natural mating 24 hours later by purchased AI.

[mikey]

Shoulder Sores
They arise due to repeated bruising and pressure over the bony prominences on the shoulder blade in breeding females. Ultimately the skin breaks, there is an erosion and a large sore develops. Such sows should not be kept for future breeding
Symptoms
Piglets, Weaners & Growers
N/A
Sows
Highest point of the spine a reddening of the skin appears, which gradually forms into an ulcer.
In severe cases the lesion may extend to 40 - 70mm in diameter with the development of extensive granulation tissue.
Often both sides of the shoulder are affected.
Causes / Contributing factors
They are associated with totally slatted flooring and individual sows that are too thin and have a prominent spine to the shoulder blade.
First noticed in the farrowing crates where the floors are slippery.
The sow has difficulty in rising, thus constantly bruising her shoulder.
Diagnosis
This is based on the clinical signs and ulcerating shoulders.

[mikey]

Spirochaetal Diarrhoea
This is a disease associated with spirochetes distinct from the one that cause swine dysentery. It occurs mainly in growing pigs appearing very similar to non-specific colitis and PIA caused by Lawsonia intracellularis. Spirochetes are common inhabitants of the large intestine and caecum.
Symptoms
Weaners & Growers
A mild to moderate sloppy diarrhoea develops two to six weeks post-weaning that persists for a few days.
Dehydration.
Loss in growth.
Most cases resolve in 7 to 10 days but in some pigs it becomes chronic.
The disease can be difficult to differentiate from other bacterial infections, particularly non-specific colitis.
Piglets & Sows
N/A
Causes / Contributing factors
A sudden change in diet.
Removal of copper from the diet.
Withdrawal of growth promoters.
Poor hygiene i.e. dirty floor surfaces, water contamination.
Diagnosis
This is difficult because specific organisms cannot usually be identified. If there is an on-going problem on the farm, live diseased pigs showing typical signs, should be submitted for post-mortem and bacteriological examinations to eliminate swine dysentery.

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Splaylegs
This is a condition where the newborn piglet is unable to hold the front and/or (more commonly) back legs together and up to 2 % of piglets can be affected. The mobility of the piglet is impaired which makes teat access difficult.
Symptoms
Piglets
The piglets are unable to stand with the hind legs deflected laterally.
As a result they often adopt a dog sitting position.
Death usually ensues either due to starvation or crushing because the pig cannot move away from the sow.
Poor / low viable piglets.
Sows, Weaners, Growers
N/A
Causes / Contributing factors
It is more common in the Landrace breed and in males.
Disease is caused by immaturity of the muscle fibres in the hind legs, over the pelvis and occasionally in the front legs.
The condition is exaggerated when piglets stand on very smooth or wet slippery floors.
Diagnosis
This is based upon the clinical signs.