Why does a pig cough: causes of the disease and how to treat it, prevention

It is important to detect and treat animal pathologies in a timely manner. This is especially true when caring for young individuals, which are not very good immune systems. Alarming symptoms are of particular concern. Therefore, many farmers are interested in why the pig is coughing. The reasons for the violation are different. These include infections, lesions of the digestive organs, helminthic invasions.

What is the danger of coughing for pigs and piglets

Cough in piglets may indicate serious pathologies that pose a threat to life. When such diseases appear, medications are usually required.Diseases of pigs in many ways resemble those of humans. At the same time, it is important to detect their symptoms in a timely manner. Many pathologies are infectious in nature and can spread between animals. In this case, there is a risk of defeating the entire herd.

Causes of symptom

Coughing in piglets can be caused by many factors. These include colds, helminthic invasion and other causes. It is important to make an accurate diagnosis in time.

Cold diseases

When breeding piglets in damp and cool rooms, there is a high probability of developing catarrhal pathologies. Weakening of the immune system provokes a deficiency of nutrients and vitamins. That's why it's so important to feed your pets properly.

The first symptom of a cold is a cough. In this case, piglets may be in an overexcited or apathetic state. The color of their ears also changes. Instead of pink, it becomes grayish.

Inflammation of the lungs, tuberculosis

Sometimes piglets cough because of pneumonia. At the same time, they have the following signs:

• wheezing;
• breathing disorder;
• dry cough;
• general weakness;
• appetite disorder;
• increase in temperature;
• thirst;
• appearance of conjunctivitis and crusting.

Similar manifestations occur in tuberculosis of an infectious nature. In such a situation, it is required to immediately separate sick animals and call a veterinarian who will diagnose.

Gastrointestinal diseases

If piglets are put on their normal diet too early, there is a risk of developing gastroenteritis.The main symptom of the pathology is blue ears and patches. In addition, stool disorders often occur, motor activity decreases, and problems with weight gain appear. Also, the imbalance of the diet becomes the cause of violations.

Ascariasis

Sometimes the occurrence of a cough is associated with the ingestion of ascaris in the body. They grow and develop in the intestines of animals. The length of the roundworm can reach 20-35 centimeters. Some of the eggs that were laid in the intestines transform into larvae and penetrate the bronchi and lung tissues through the bloodstream.

When toxic substances are excreted by larvae, animals develop poisoning. In this case, mucus overflows the lungs and disrupts respiratory functions. This causes a wet cough in piglets.

Ascariasis is very dangerous for pregnant pigs and small piglets. Therefore, to prevent pathology, deworming is carried out 1 month before farrowing. The main signs of ascariasis include:

• wheezing or coughing;
• breathing disorder;
• vomit;
• deterioration or complete loss of appetite.

Other reasons

Other factors that can provoke the development of cough in animals include the following:

• violation of ventilation in the room;
• accumulation of molds in the diet;
• lack of useful elements;
• traumatic injury;
• hit in the lungs of an alien object;
• irritation of lung tissue.

Diagnostic Methods

To identify the causes of coughing, you need to contact your veterinarian.The doctor should assess the general condition of the animal and examine additional symptoms. To diagnose helminthiasis, it is required to conduct a study of the feces of piglets. Laboratory research helps to identify viral infections - influenza or African plague.

How to deal with the problem?

In order to treat piglets, it is important to make an accurate diagnosis in time. Otherwise, therapy will not help to cope with the violation. A veterinarian should do research and select treatment.

Pneumonia requires a specialized smear test. Veterinary diagnostics will help to identify helminthic invasion. When a foreign object enters the body, the doctor conducts a small examination. After identifying the cause of the problems, treatment should begin. This must be done immediately, as the disease can progress and be fatal. To avoid complications of pneumonia, it is recommended to administer antibiotics by injection.Effective drugs include:

• "Thylane";
• Spiramycin;
• Oxytetracycline.

To eliminate helminthic invasion, it is recommended to use the drug "Novomek" with a concentration of 1%. In this case, it is worth using 1 milliliter of the product per 50 grams of the piglet's body weight. This helps to destroy the bulk of the worms.

Treatment is recommended to be combined with disinfection. This will help to cope with the causes of the development of pathology and protect the rest of the animals. Even after recovery, gilts may struggle to gain weight. In addition, they often become unsuitable for breeding.

Prevention measures

To avoid the development of dangerous pathologies, it is important to provide piglets with suitable housing conditions. They are recommended to be kept in a dry, warm and clean environment. To prevent the accumulation of dangerous gases, it is necessary to remove manure in a timely manner and control the balance of nutrition.

To strengthen the immune system of piglets on the 5th-7th day of life, they need to be given pre-launch feed. Particular attention is recommended to be given to animals that have been separated from their mother. This is a rather stressful situation, which increases the risk of pathologies. Cough in piglets is considered quite an alarming symptom. To cope with this violation, you need to contact a veterinarian in a timely manner, who will make an accurate diagnosis and select a treatment.

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