How to treat diarrhea in piglets
Breeding animals for pork is a profitable, albeit troublesome, activity. The farmer must constantly monitor the health of the livestock, otherwise a massive death is possible. Young animals need special care. What causes diarrhea in piglets and how to deal with an unpleasant ailment? Let's take a closer look at the most common problems.
Piglets diarrhea
Causes of the disease
Digestive upset is a dangerous disease that can destroy an entire baby in half a day. Animals lose their appetite, and constant dehydration quickly leads to the death of the piglet. An additional disadvantage is a terrible smell in the barn and frequent hygienic treatment of the room.
A piglet has diarrhea for various reasons, but the most common are:
- Poor sanitary conditions in the barn. Untimely care of young animals, keeping in an untidy or cold building will certainly provoke intestinal problems.
- Water. Dirty, low-quality liquid instantly triggers a reaction of the body.
- Intestinal parasites. The smaller the animal, the more dangerous the helminths are for it.
- Infections. Pathogenic bacteria can be transmitted both through food and from an infected mother.
- Diseases of the digestive system. Liver, stomach and intestinal problems cause diarrhea in pigs.
- Poisoning. Any household chemicals found in modern human dwellings are poisonous to animals.
- Food. Omnivorous piglets eat dangerous and poorly digested substances. Rotten food, table waste, and foreign objects that enter the stomach cause problems.
- Disruption of metabolic processes. Poor nutrition or a sharp change in food, gluttony or hunger instantly provoke a reaction of the body.
Weaners and babies up to 1 month are considered by farmers to be at risk. The smaller the crumb, the more severe the disease progresses. During this period, the maximum mortality of young animals is observed. Saving lives often depends on the speed of first aid.
Signs
Treatment of piglet diarrhea should begin with a diagnosis. There are many manifestations that will quickly help determine the culprit of the problem, after which you can start therapy. Let's take a look at the most common ones.
If the frequency of bowel movements does not exceed 2 times a day, this may be a sign of mild inflammation in the intestines. A baby sore every 4 hours a day (or even more often) is a very serious problem. A musty sour smell indicates accelerated digestion, and putrid amber is a symptom of infection.
The consistency can also diagnose the culprit. If the piglets are vilified practically with water, then this is a sign of a serious illness. The presence of foam on the surface indicates bacterial pathologies.
Veterinarians recommend paying attention to the color of the stool.
- Green with yellow. Food passes through the digestive system very quickly, so the feces are colored in such shades.
- Light coloured. Changes in the liver result in little bile production.
- Grey.Minor bowel disturbance.
- Red or very dark. A symptom of the presence of bleeding in the digestive organs.
Diarrhea in daily crumbs is often accompanied by vomiting and fever. If animals have no appetite, there is discharge from the ears and eyes, then this can be a manifestation of both poisoning and an infectious disease. It is important not to delay with therapy and quickly start providing first aid.
Diarrhea in Vietnamese piglets has the same symptoms as in normal breeds. Before treating, it is necessary to identify the causes of the disease. Most often, they are the same for all representatives of this species.
Newborn treatment
Babies are still rarely weaned from their mother and are completely dependent on her milk. However, as soon as you wean from the breast or start feeding, problems immediately begin. Patients can be quickly identified in the general herd by periodic excretion of liquid feces from the anus.
Diarrhea in suckling pigs is a very dangerous disease. Rapid dehydration leads to increased mortality in the young. It is necessary to act immediately in order to have time to prevent a tragic outcome in the first 12 hours, so a call to the veterinarian is mandatory.
The water balance of newborns is treated with a solution of the drug "Regidron", prepared according to the instructions. If the funds are not at hand, it is recommended to give sugar and salt (1 tsp) diluted in a glass of boiled water. Until the specialist arrives, the animal can be watered with herbal infusions from:
- chamomile;
- oak bark;
- nettles.
The veterinarian conducts treatment of diarrhea in piglets after diagnosis. Amoxicillin or Akolan may be prescribed to stop dehydration from infection. It is important to restore natural water balance and adhere to a strict diet throughout the day. Then it is necessary to get rid of toxins in the digestive system, so they give sorbents (activated carbon, "Smecta").
Young growth therapy
Diarrhea in monthly piglets is as devastating as in suckers. Pigs are prone to overeating, which causes intestinal upset. An unbalanced diet and the use of fresh herbs often cause digestive problems. Before the procedures, be sure to find out the absence of infection. What to do?
It is necessary to find out what became the source of irritation, and only then resort to medication. If diarrhea started due to vegetation, it is worth removing it from the young stock menu. The best option would be dried hay.
Treatment of piglets for severe diarrhea begins with the drug "Regidron", which restores the water balance of the body. On the first day, they adhere to a strict diet, and they also intensively water the animals. As a liquid, folk remedies are suitable: infusions of medicinal herbs, rice broth.
Often, intestinal infections are transmitted to young animals from the mother. In this case, therapy begins with an adult animal, and only then goes to children. Veterinarians prescribe Tylosin injections to the sow. They work with young animals according to an individual program.
To speed up the treatment of small piglets for diarrhea, it is necessary to provide proper care. It is important to clean the barn regularly and keep the room warm. To prevent patients from being on the cold floor, experts advise making a comfortable heated bed made of hay.
General recommendations
Diarrhea in pigs rarely goes away on its own, so it is necessary to start therapy after detecting signs. The sooner first aid arrives, the easier the kids will get away from the disease. Medicines are given on an empty stomach, and after a few hours, they are given sorbents for toxins.
The very first thing to do is to remove any feedings as soon as you notice symptoms.
To stop diarrhea in a piglet helps the drug "Brovaseptol", which contains binding substances. It is sold in the form of a powder poorly soluble in water, and the agent is added to compound feed.
"Biovit" contains an antibiotic and vitamin B12. A powerful remedy that quickly helps in cases where a piglet has caught. Episodic diarrhea disappears after the first use, and neonatal diarrhea requires at least 7 days. The drug is very strong, so it is used once every 24 hours.
Antimicrobial agent "Brovaf" is able to cure complex digestive diseases caused by microorganisms. It is mixed into feed or diluted in clean water. Duration of admission is from 3 to 5 days. Piglets from diarrhea in 1 month any drugs are used only after appointment by a veterinarian.
Epizootic (epidemic) diarrhea of pigs is a very dangerous viral disease that kills both adults and babies. A poorly understood pathogen is difficult to treat, and with self-therapy, the death rate reaches 100%. There are no effective drugs yet, and for each specific case, specialists prescribe antibiotics that suppress the infection.
Folk remedies
Diarrhea in newborn piglets can be controlled with herbal medicine. Herbs and infusions are not independent drugs, but are used as an additional drug. A good result is obtained from infusions and decoctions of medicinal plants:
- oak bark;
- nettle;
- chamomile;
- chicory.
They try to stop green diarrhea in a little pig at home with an alcohol extract of needles. The recommended course is 5 days. However, folk remedies are not a panacea, so drug therapy is required.
Diarrhea in newborn piglets should not be treated with herbs alone. It is necessary to find out what is the source of the reaction, and only then prescribe drugs. By the way, rice water has enveloping properties, so it can help to cope with feces with blood.
Food
The main cause of pig diarrhea is inappropriate feeding. For babies with fragile immunity, any mistake can be fatal. The transition to green food or coarse food causes an immediate negative reaction in the piglet. The correct menu with the maintenance of the balance of microelements will be the key to good health.
It is forbidden to feed the young with the missing remains from the human table. Adults do not always react normally to rot, and the crumbs will quickly get sick. No matter what the "folk experts" say, they throw away the sour mash.
It is necessary to feed piglets for diarrhea in moderation. Animals of this species are prone to gluttony, which aggravates the condition. In some cases, fasting for 24 hours is recommended. During this time, they must be drunk with fresh water and herbal decoctions.
The cause of diarrhea in domestic pigs is iron deficiency. After the attacks have stopped, vitamin therapy is needed. Apply drugs in injections or drops. Milk, carrots and legumes are used as natural sources of vitamin A.
Prophylaxis
In order not to look for the culprit of diarrhea, it is important to take care of quality care in advance. It is easier to prevent a problem than to cure for a long time and disentangle the consequences of your own mistakes. After it was possible to figure out why diarrhea is dangerous in small pigs, you should immediately begin to act.
Any new product in the diet can lead to loose stools in the herd. All components are given gently, in small portions, keeping for several days. You need to feed at the same time.
To prevent bloody diarrhea in small piglets, large fractions should be avoided in food. The products are thoroughly chopped and mixed. It is forbidden to use feed with mold.
Careful hygiene in the barn is recommended. Lack of cleanliness and a cold room provoke illness even in the toughest animals. All troughs are regularly cleaned and washed in the pen. For the full development of the pig, a dry, warm climate is necessary.
Diarrhea in young pigs is an unpleasant and dangerous manifestation that is difficult to cure if the causes are not known. Our recommendations give a general idea of the disease and what needs to be done from the moment of detection. Among the list of techniques, you can find a suitable tool for your case.