Edematous disease of piglets: symptoms and treatment, prevention

Edematous disease of young piglets is the main cause of their mortality. The owner takes care of his pets, provides them with comfortable conditions and the necessary food, and they suddenly die. Similar symptoms occur in young kids, lambs. Naturally, this prospect does not suit the farmers, and they strive to prevent the occurrence of the disease in their animals.

Description and causative agent of the disease

Scientists do not yet have exact information about which microorganism can cause edematous disease in pigs.Many of them agree that it could be beta-hemolytic toxigenic colibacilli. They are the cause of specific poisoning of the animal organism. In veterinary medicine, the disease is also known as enterotoxemia or paralytic toxicosis. In the people, the disease is simply called edematous disease of piglets.

The signal that a piglet has a dangerous disease is an elevated temperature, which after a while drops to normal. In the future, the young pig refuses to eat, suffers from photophobia, vomiting, diarrhea and swelling appear. The animal's gait becomes wobbly.

Causes of occurrence

Not much is known about the causes of edematous disease in pigs. Since the development of the disease provokes one of the types of bacteria that are constantly in the intestines, it is logical to say that the cause of the disease is a decrease in immunity. In this case, the pathogenic microflora will multiply in the young organism in the first place.

The following factors can provoke the development of the disease:

• stress due to weaning;
• early weaning, in which the intestines have not yet fully developed, and the protective functions of the young body are weak;
• inappropriate containment conditions;
• violation of the diet or the wrong diet;
• lack of conditions for walking.

Even the transfer of a pig from one place to another causes severe stress, which entails a decrease in immunity. Active bacteria can be spread by a sick pig, so such animals should not be kept in a common pen. If the first symptoms of the disease become noticeable, then the animal should be immediately transferred to a separate pen and protected from contact with other piglets.

Key Features

The incubation period for edematous disease in piglets is only a few hours. The exact time depends on the rate of reproduction of bacteria, the number of which at a temperature of +25 ° C doubles every day. The body temperature of pigs is higher, and therefore the rate of reproduction of pathogenic microorganisms is greater.

The first symptom indicating the development of the disease is an increase in body temperature up to 40.5 °C. A few hours later it drops back to normal. At home, such an alarm signal is easy to miss. After some time, the following alarming symptoms appear:

• puffiness appears;
• animal wobbly gait;
• diarrhea or constipation occurs;
• piglet loses appetite and vomits;
• photophobia appears;
• small hemorrhages on the mucous membranes become noticeable.

Edematous disease got its name from the fact that fluid accumulates in the subcutaneous tissue. Eyelids, frontal part, snout, nape can swell. If the disease is started, then the nervous system is affected, and the following signs become apparent:

• muscle trembling;
• strong excitability;
• walking in circles;
• head twitch;
• assume the sitting dog pose;
• convulsions;
• leg twitching while lying on side.

The stage of excitement lasts only about half an hour, after which depression sets in. It is characterized by lack of response to stimuli, paralysis, bruising.

After that, the piglet dies. Even if the pig can be saved at the initial stage and prevent the disease from worsening, the animal will lag behind in development in the future.

Shapes

Edematous disease of piglets is characterized by three main forms: acute, fulminant and chronic. Lightning got its name due to the fact that animals die suddenly, and there is virtually no time to take measures to save them.

Lightning fast

The fulminant form of edematous disease is different in that even in the evening, he althy piglets may die over the next day. Most often, weaned pigs at the age of two months suffer from the disease. This form of the disease occurs mainly on farms. From suddenly dead pigs, stronger brothers can catch an infection and get swelling and damage to the nervous system.

Spicy

This form is the most common. Piglets live with her for up to a day, and the mortality rate is slightly lower, at about 90%. Animals die from asphyxia, because the nervous system loses the ability to conduct signals from the respiratory center of the brain.Before death, the pulse rises to 200 beats per minute. The heart is trying to compensate the body for the lack of oxygen that has stopped flowing from the lungs, speeding up the pumping of blood.

Chronic

This form of the disease is typical for piglets older than 3 months. Symptoms are:

• poor appetite;
• depression;
• deposit.

The chronic form is different in that it can heal itself. However, ill piglets lag behind in development, they show lameness and curvature of the neck.

Diagnostic Methods

Diagnosing edematous disease in piglets is very difficult. According to external signs, it has similarities with other diseases, therefore the veterinarian cannot always correctly diagnose. It is possible to give an accurate conclusion only after pathoanatomical studies.At autopsy, edema of the subcutaneous tissue, edema of the submucosa of the stomach are often found. Venous congestion is observed in the liver and kidneys. Edema is more common in slaughtered piglets than in piglets that have died on their own.

How to treat edematous disease in piglets

Because edematous disease in piglets is caused by bacteria, it is treated with antibiotics. Suitable preparations of the penicillin and tetracycline groups. At the same time, it is recommended to use sulfa drugs. Some veterinarians find aminoglycoside antibiotics more effective.

The names of antibiotics that are used to treat edematous disease of piglets may be different, but they must belong to one of the named groups.

Concomitant therapy with calcium chloride 10%. Piglets are given daily intravenous injections or taken orally.Antihistamines are also administered. The dosage and method of application depend on the form of release and the type of medication used. If piglets have heart failure, then Kordiamin should be injected subcutaneously 2 times a day. As soon as the healing process begins, probiotics are prescribed to restore the intestinal flora.

During the treatment period, all errors in feeding should be eliminated and the diet of pigs should be adjusted. On the first day of the disease, animals are kept on a starvation diet. In order to clear the intestines as soon as possible, they are given a laxative to drink. If the piglets survive, on the second day they are fed easily digestible food: potatoes, reverse or beets. Vitamins B and D can be injected instead of feeding.

Prevention measures

The main prevention of edematous disease is compliance with the rules for keeping and feeding piglets. The correct diet is necessary for pregnant pigs, so that at the stage of intrauterine development, the offspring receive all the necessary components for normal development and strengthening of immunity.From the third day of life, young animals begin to be fed with vitamins, and in the warm season they are released for walking.

In no case should piglets be weaned early from the sow. Feeding concentrates also negatively affects the he alth of young animals. When the animals reach two months of age, they are fed probiotics. The course of admission begins before weaning from the sow, and ends after it. The room and equipment for maintenance must be disinfected periodically. In order to prevent edematous disease, it is recommended to vaccinate with the Serdosan vaccine. The first injection should be done already on the tenth day of life. After 14 days, the procedure is repeated.

What is the danger of edema in piglets

Edematous disease of piglets is dangerous because it is difficult to recognize it at first. It flows quickly, and sometimes the owner does not even have time to take measures to save the animal. Mortality in the fulminant form of the disease is 100%, and in chronic 80%. Animals with strong immunity have a chance to survive.

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