Water Deprivation /Salt Poisoning

Causal agent	None. Management mistake. May be associated with salt (NaCl) levels in water in excess of 7000 ppm.
Age group	All. Classically will be seen in the nursery
Clinical signs
Before water source restored	Often found with a couple of dead pigs
	Pig dog sites, staring into space. The pig will often have twitching which develops into a seizure every 5 minutes. Pigs may walk aimless and frequently fall over. Pigs appear blind and may head press. Pigs may be very dirty especially if building hot. Drinking supply off or at least inadequate.
Water source restored	Pigs crowd around drinkers. Drinking can be excessive
	Pigs suddenly fall over, tremor and fit. Several pigs may die.
Drinker not working		Dead pig Pigs crowding around drinker
Infectivity
	None
Transmission
	None
Post-mortem Lesions
	No gross lesions may be seen at postmortem
Diagnosis
	Histological examination of the brain
	Demonstration of eosinophilic meningoencephalitis
	NaCl concentrations in excess of 1800 ppm in wet brain
Treatment
	Restoration of the water supply – but slowly.
	Corticosteriods may help to reduce brain swelling
Common differentials
	Meningitis, Glässer’s Disease. Aujeszky’s Disease, Classical Swine Fever, Oedema disease, Enterovirus and other viral infections. Other poisons.