Stockperson’s clinical signs of an unwell pig

Know what is normal about your pigs

– if you don’t know what is normal how can you recognize abnormal?

Before entering the pen
Look	Pig not eating	Pigs generally love food and a change in their eating patterns should always be a cause of further investigation
	Change in behaviour	Depending on the group size pigs individual behaviours may be known or the group has its own behaviour patterns
		Ideally the stockperson will know all the pigs personally, however, even in a large group; individual pigs tend to stand out, whereas the mass, sadly are unknown. The pigs that do standout are the extremes – the top social order pigs, the lower social pigs and perhaps a few others who have unusual body markings – wolf pig, leopard spotted etc.
	Group behaviours
	Lying patterns	Try to observe the known pigs and note their lying patterns and position within the group. A sow standing at 2.00 in the afternoon, while all her companions are asleep may be in heat. She is exhibiting an unusual behaviour
	Individual being different	Look for pigs who are separate from the group
		Note groups of pigs gathered around a drinker or a feeder
Listen	Note noises coughing or sneezing	On entry to the room notice the sounds of greeting made by the pigs. Pigs with Swine Influenza are often very quiet and reluctant to get up as you enter. Well managed pigs should be pleased to see you.
		As the pigs move around, note any coughing or sneezing
Smell		Become familiar with the normal body odours of pigs. Swine Dysentery and Swine Fever may cause malodorous smells.
Enter the pen and walk the pigs
Look		Look for the individuals, give them memorable names.
	Movement	Ensure all the pigs get up.
		Note pigs can be stiff or rising, but within 5 to 10 strides the stiffness should walk off
		Walk over to any pigs who fail to rise or walk off any stiffness
	Urination	When pigs rise, particularly in the morning they will urinate within 5 minutes. Note the colour of the urine and the posture of the pig urinating.
	Blood	Look for any blood on the floor or walls.
	Floor	Look at the floor for the consistency of the stools.
Listen		As the pigs move around note any coughing or sneezing
Smell		Smell the air – if a pig has died the first indication may be a smell

Individual pig behaviour
This includes any pig placed in a compromised/hospital pen.
Pigs housed in small numbers should all be given names. This should include artificial insemination centres and adults on farms of less than 50 sows.
Know	Behaviour	Know the pig’s normal behaviour and note any sudden or progressive change in behaviour
	Feed	Know what food the pig likes and dislikes.
	Reproduction	Know what stage of reproduction the pig is at and note if the expected oestrus behaviour patterns fails to materialise
		Note changes in males (even when castrated) can occur in the presence of receptive females
Look		Loss of appetite – pigs should beg for food
		Changes in behaviour – aggressive/less aggressive
		Changes in head/ear posture
		Changes in eye’s brightness
		Change in skin colour or hair position
		Locomotor changes – reluctance to get up, do normal tricks
		Dirty anal/tail area – diarrhoea. Changes in the stools. Signs of vomit
Listen		Coughing, sneezing, wheezing and breathing depth
Feel		Presence of a lump – may be felt rather than seen

Once you have identified that there may be a problem, examine the pig in more detail.

Stockpeople basics

Normal and Abnormal Clinical Signs

Normal expected signs

Signs which should raise concern