Farrowing management and piglets Flashcards
After how long with straining and no piglet would you class a sow being in dystocia?
30 minutes
Is primary or secondary dystocia more common in sows? What causes this?
Secondary
Due to exhaustion, dehydration, heat, hypocalcaemia
What drugs can be used to help dystocia in sows?
Oxytocin Anti-inflammatories/analgesia Calcium? Prostaglandin Antibiotics if indicated (penicillin)
How is a sow sedated and induced for a caesarean?
Azaperone or xylazine/butorphanol
Induce with ketamine
What is MMA syndrome and what causes it?
Mastitis, metritis and agalactia
Caused by management: water access, temperature, floor quality, constipation etc
How is MMA syndrome treated in pigs?
Anti-inflammatories
Oxytocin
Antibiotics - broad spectrum e.g. pen/strep
May require piglet treatment
What age is milk scour seen in piglets?
Very early on or 3 weeks
What is the treatment for milk scour and nutritional scour?
None - self-limiting
When does rotavirus typically occur?
Piglets
Pre-weaning
Post-weaning possible but reduced mortality
What virus causes Porcine Epidemic Diarrhoea (PED)?
Coronavirus
Notifiable
What virus causes Transmissible Gastroenteritis (TGE)?
Coronavirus
Why is Porcine Epidemic Diarrhoea a notifiable disease?
Very high mortality in piglets less than 3 weeks old
Name 2 coronaviruses that cause profuse watery diarrhoea and vomiting in piglets
Porcine epidemic diarrhoea (PED) Transmissible gastroenteritis (TGE)
How does PRRS affect piglets? What does it cause?
Sow infected in utero - viraemia in piglet
Weak piglets, conjuncitivits, bruising, anaemia and scour
(SCOUR UNIQUE TO PIGLETS)
Which pathogen causes watery, flocculant creamy scour in piglets usually <1 week old? It doesn’t usually cause vomiting.
E. coli
Which pathogen causes sudden death of piglets within 24 hours due to acute haemorrhagic enteritis? It is usually seen outdoors
Clostridium perfringens type C
How can Clostridium perfringens be prevented in piglets?
Vaccination
How is Clostridium Perfringens (both types C and A) treated in piglets?
Penicillin
+ vaccination for future
What bacteria causes pasty scour in piglets at any time during lactation, causing poor growth? There is a ruminant vaccine used under the cascade to control this
Clostridium perfringens type A
What age of piglets are usually affected by coccidiosis?
10-21 days old
What is the main control method of coccidiosis in piglets?
Hygiene
?Toltrazuril treatment at 4 days old
Give examples of bacteria that cause meningitis in piglets
E. coli
Haemophilus parasuis
Streptococcus suis
A 3 week old piglet is presenting with pyrexia and convulsions a few days after having her tail docked. What is your most likely diagnosis?
Bacterial meningitis
What age of piglets are typically affected by meningitis?
Any age - but usually near weaning (3-4 weeks)
