Diseases of the farrowing period

The female – sow and gilt

Abscess Common, require drainage. Can be very large – 10 litres plus	Agalactia The lack of milk production can be due to many causes – ergot as one is shown	Atrophic rhinitis Adults carry the causal organism. Distortion will be life long
Atresia ani Uncommon, but may be discovered in gilts at point of farrow.	Aujeszky’s Disease Pseudorabies, may be non clinical in adults. Reproductive problems	Clostridial disease Clostridium novyi results in severe hepatic degeneration with sudden death and gas bubbles in the liver
Constipation Common condition, associated with poor water supply training and nutritional problems	Cystitis and pyelonephritis A common cause of death in adult sows. Catarrhal haemorrhagic cystitis, ureterovesical necrosis and active chronic pyelonephritis associated with chronic urinary reflux.
Eclampsia Uncommon – sow presents with heavy rapid breathing pre and post farrowing	Electrocution Sudden death, particularly multiple deaths at any stage of production. H2S is a differential	Endometritis May be found at post-mortem – not cause of death but will reduce reproductive efficiency
Erysipelas Sudden death. Acute cases present with diamond lesions on skin, chronic – arthritis - endocarditis	Fractures Associated with osteroporosis or acute trauma, more typical immediately post-weaning	Fat sow A fat sow is a medical problem, she will not eat and look after her piglets as well as a fit sow
Feet problems Often present in the farrowing house as the feet can be easily examined	Gastric ulcer Common. Occurs after period of not eating, cause of anaemia, abdominal pain, sudden death	Haematoma Differential from an abscess, swelling full of fluid.
Jaw and snout deformities Common associated with poorly designed accommodation	Intestinal Torsions Abdominal disasters – torsion of stomach, spleen, small and large intestine and liver lobes are common causes of sudden death in the sow. Review feeding routines
Leukaemia In gilts and young sows a common differential cause of unresponsive thin sows	Mammary development Many sows have poor mammary development – associated with poor water supply, feed intake or fostering routines. Ensure sufficient piglets are suckling to stimulate milk flow. Note ergot - hyoplasia
Mange Common. Infestation results in chronic irritation for the sows and boars	Mastitis – acute Acute mastitis affects sows at the point of farrowing – Enterobacteriae common cause	Mastitis – chronic Generally occurs at or after weaning more often associated with Actinobacter pyogenes
Metritis Common – generally fatal associated with retained placenta or piglets	Peritonitis Numerous causes, perforation of the intestines by foreign bodies	Pneumonia/pleurisy Pneumonia uncommon in adults, can be a cause of sudden death
Porcine Epidemic Diarrhoea Causes severe diarrhea in adults and in Asia severe mortality	Porcine Parvovirus SMEDI virus – stillborn, mummified, embryonic death and infertility.	PRRSV Early farrowing and production of weak pre-mature piglets
Porcine Stress Syndrome Sudden death, Pietrains (shown) particularly sensitive	Prolapse of the bladder Uncommon. Generally results in death.	Prolapse of the rectum Common. Requires fixation. Review flooring
Prolapse of the uterus Uncommon, generally results in the death of the sow	Prolapse of the vagina and cervix Common, review flooring	Salmonellosis Uncommon in adults. S. cholerae suis can kill adults
Savaging of piglets Common in gilts farrowing together. Reduce stress at farrowing	Shoulder sores Common, particularly in thin sows from the farrowing house	Skin lesions Associated with trauma – rough paint on crate. Above caused by nesting behaviour
Swine dysentery Uncommon, but in an outbreak can kill adult sows	Swine influenza Common. Sneezing, nasal discharges and abortions	Thin sow syndrome Many reasons, poor feed management and bullying
Teat disorders Congenital and acquired – blind teats for example. Common, associated with poor flooring and overgrown sharp toes. Watch teeth clipping and milk availability
Thin sow Poor feeding in gestation. Also note leukaemia as a cause.	Torsions Abdominal disasters – torsion of stomach, spleen, small and large intestine and liver lobes are common causes of sudden death in the sow. Review feeding routines
Udder oedema Seen pre-farrowing. Post-farrowing reduce milk availability. Review gestation feeding	Vulva oedema Can become very large. Can haemorrhage if traumatized.	Vomiting sow Common – often of no real consequence, review food hygiene also not TGE and PED
Vulva Haematoma Can be very large and can cause death if no rupture	Vulval discharge Normal, but note metritis and sick sow	Worms and parasites May increase in periparturient period – Ascaris suum shown