Baby Pig Diseases

Question 1

Perinatal conditions affect piglets within the first ____ days of age.

Answer 1

1-2

Question 2

What is the name of the congenital condition that causes open skin wounds on piglets between 1-2 days of age?

Answer 2

epitheliogenesis imperfecta

Question 3

Do polydactyly piglets survive and do ok?

Answer 3

yes

Question 4

Do pigs with cleft palate survive and do ok?

Answer 4

if severe, no.

Question 5

T/F: piglets will not outgrow congenital tremors

Answer 5

false – they will (:

Question 6

What can you do for piglets that have congenital splayed legs?

Answer 6

hobble their legs
It may or may not work to correct them.

Question 7

T/F: piglets with congenital hydrocephalus will not survive.

Answer 7

true

Question 8

What is the prognosis for atresia ani in piglets?

Answer 8

if its complete, poor prog.
if partial, they may do ok if they can still defecate easily enough.

Question 9

T/F: congenital intersex conditions are common in piglets but do not usually cause problems.

Answer 9

true
they just cannot be bred.

Question 10

What are the 3 big causes of perinatal conditions?

Answer 10

1. trauma (sow crushes them)
2. hypoglycemia
3. hypothermia

Question 11

If there are too many piglets than the sow can nurse, what can you do to ensure proper colostrum intake after birth?

Answer 11

1. cross foster (labor intensive)
2. put milk replacer in a bowel and they are usually curious enough to start drinking it on their own
3. split-suckling (labor-intensive)
4. tube feed (labor-intensive)

Question 12

Which of the following is NOT an ideal recommendation for piglet management prior to their birth?
A. Perform All-In/All-Out cleaning and disinfecting of farrowing facility prior to sows entering
B. Maintain good-working farrowing equipment (heat lamps, processing tools)
C. Vaccinate sows for transmissible diseases prior to farrowing
D. Treat sows for parasites at the time of farrowing

Answer 12

D. Treat sows for parasites at the time of farrowing

you should treat sows for parasites prior to farrowing.

Question 13

What are the 3 biggest risks to piglets AT BIRTH?

Answer 13

1. trauma (getting laid on)
2. hypothermia
3. hypoglycemia/starvation

Question 14

From what 2 age group of pigs are stillbirths most common?

Answer 14

gilts
older sows

Question 15

T/F: if piglets are less than 2.5 lbs at birth, piglet losses increase.

Answer 15

true

Question 16

What are the 3 main piglet diarrheal diseases that present in 1-3 day old piglets?

Answer 16

1. E. coli
2. Transmissable Gastroenteritis Virus (TGE)
3. Porcine Epidemic Diarrhea Virus (PEDv)

Question 17

How old are piglets when they get diarrhea caused by clostridium (perfringens, C+D, A, and difficile)?

Answer 17

1-5 days old

Question 18

Piglets greater than 5 days old that are experiencing diarrhea, most likely have _________.

Answer 18

coccidiosis (isospora suis)

less likely salmonellosis.

Question 19

What is the biggest difference between rotavirus and TGE in piglets?

Answer 19

Rotavirus affects only the tips of the intestinal villi, whereas TGE affects the entire villi to the crypts making treatment and recovery more difficult.

Question 20

T/F: piglet mortality from diarrhea is highest with rotavirus

Answer 20

false – from TGE + PEDv

Question 21

A group of 3 day old piglets are suckling well but having yellow-white diarrhea. They are slighly dehydrated and cold (seen huddling). They have stained coats. The diarrhea is not spreading to other litters.
What is the diagnosis?

Answer 21

E. coli

Question 22

If a group of piglets have been diagnosed with E. coli, how would you treat them?

Answer 22

options are: penicilins, cephalosporins, gentamycin, or spectamycin*

Question 23

T/F: it is illegal to treat piglets that have e. coli with erythromycin

Answer 23

true

Question 24

A group of piglets have watery diarrhea and some are vomiting. They were healthy at birth 2 days ago, but quickly became dehydrated. Their coats are stained. They are huddled and not suckling well. The diarrhea seems to be spreading between litters. What is the diagnosis?

Answer 24

coronavirus – either TGE or PEDv.

Question 25

You diagnosed a group of sick piglets with coronavirus – either TGE or PEDv. What is the best treatment protocol and why?

Answer 25

euthanasia because the mortality rate is so high.
You need to estblish herd immunity.

Question 26

Supportive care in sick piglets is vital. What does supportive care for them entail?

Answer 26

1. electrolytes
2. warm environment
3. dry environment
4. nutritional support (colostrum or milk replacer)

Question 27

when should you start providing creep feed to piglets?

Answer 27

~7 days of age

Question 28

Why should you provide waterers at the level of the piglets?

Answer 28

because they are curious and they will start drinking early on.

Question 29

T/F: it is important you slowly transition the piglets to cooler environmental temperatures as they get older.

Answer 29

true

Question 30

What type of swellings would be concerning for piglets to have?

Answer 30

1. inguinal hernias
2. umbilical hernias/infection
3. arthritis or polyarthritis (streps)

Question 31

what are the 5 options for euthanasia in piglets?

Answer 31

1. carbon dioxide
2. blunt mechanical trauma
3. electrocution
4. injectable barbituates
5. non-penetrating captive bolt