Important Pig Diseases That You Should Watch Out For - Keeping Pigs Healthy

While pigs are generally very healthy creatures,
they can still get sick. You should consult with
your veterinarian for a vaccination program that
will prevent most common pig diseases from
developing. Below are some pig diseases that
your swine should be routinely inoculated
against when you are raising pigs.

Atrophic rhinitis is a common disease
characterized by inflammation of the pig's nasal
tissues. When infected, the turbinate bones in
the nose are damaged and may shrink or atrophy.
In the mild form of the disease, the
inflammation does not progress and the turbinate
bones eventually return to normal. When the
disease becomes serious, however, inflammation
is progressive and the nose becomes distorted,
causing respiratory disease to develop. Female
pigs should be vaccinated before farrowing so
they will pass on immunity to their piglets
through their milk. Pigs should also be
vaccinated twice before they are weaned.

E. Coli is a bacteria that causes diarrhea in
piglets and is usually caused by fecal
contamination of the living environment.
Pregnant females should be vaccinated before
farrowing.

Erysipelas is one of the most prevalent pig
diseases, since it is caused by bacteria that
are commonly found in most pig farms that pigs
excrete through their saliva or waste products.
This disease can cause death or compromise the
health of the pig by causing heart infections or
chronic arthritis. It can also stunt the growth
of surviving pigs. Pregnant females should be
inoculated before breeding. You should also
vaccinate newly-bought feeder pigs if you are
unsure if they have been inoculated.

Leptospirosis is a bacteria-borne disease that
can easily spread throughout the herd if steps
are not taken to prevent it. Infected vulnerable
female pigs can spontaneously abort their
litters. You can protect females from these pig
diseases by vaccinating gilts before they are
first bred and sows at every subsequent weaning.

Porcine Parvovirus is a virus that can multiply
within the pig's intestine without showing
outward symptoms. It is a leading cause of
reproductive failure through spontaneous
abortion of the fetus. The parvovirus is
difficult to eliminate from the pig's
environment because it resists most
disinfectants and can survive outside the pig
for long periods of time. Pregnant sows should
be protected by vaccination before breeding.

Other common pig diseases that you should watch
out for but not necessarily routinely vaccinate
against, because it may not be cost-effective to
do so, are Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae, which
causes pneumonia that cause sudden death or
retard growth; Salmonella, which can give pigs
severe pneumonia or diarrhea; and Streptococcus
suis, which causes nervous system disease that
can result in chronic arthritis, stunting and
heart infection.

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So remember these points in mind. You will
discover that learning about common pig diseases
does not need to be difficult when you're
learning from someone who have experienced. If
you would like more tips on keeping healthy pigs
and raising pigs correctly, take a look at
http://www.howtoraisepigs.com

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