Ten observation points for sick pigs, so pig farmers can quickly identify swine diseases

At present, for rural farmers @#@227@#@, in terms of feeding and management, some people pour feed into the pig trough and turn around and leave, rarely paying attention to observing the pigs' growth and development or whether they show signs of illness. As a result, they do not know when a pig gets sick, and by the time the pig is down in the pen, it is too late and difficult to treat. To prevent disease before it occurs and treat it early when it does, symptoms must be discovered in time. Observation can be made from the following ten aspects.

1. Look at demeanor. Healthy pigs are spirited, with tails raised and swinging freely, while sick pigs are listless, slow to move, prefer lying still, and have drooping tails.

2. Look at appetite. Healthy pigs have a strong appetite. If appetite suddenly decreases, eating habits become abnormal, or they even stop eating, this is a sign of illness. If appetite decreases and they like to drink water, it is mostly a febrile disease.

3. Look at skin and coat. Healthy pigs have smooth skin and coat, and the skin is elastic. If the skin and coat are dry, rough, messy, and lusterless, it is malnutrition or illness. If red patches or red spots appear on the skin, it may be infectious diseases such as swine fever, swine erysipelas, swine pasteurellosis, or swine paratyphoid. If the skin is thickened, rough, scaly, and itchy, it is mostly mange and eczema. If there is abnormal hair loss and baldness, it is often a chronic disease or skin disease.

4. Look at the eyes. Healthy pigs have bright, spirited eyes. Sick pigs have dull eyes, tears, eye discharge, and congested, reddened conjunctiva.

5. Look at nasal discharge. A pig without disease has no nasal discharge. A sick pig with clear nasal discharge mostly has wind-cold common cold. Thick, sticky nasal mucus is a sign of heat in the lungs. Nasal discharge containing foam indicates diseases such as pulmonary edema or chronic bronchitis.

6. Look at the nose tip. A clear, clean, smooth, and moist snout is a sign of a pig without disease. If it is dry or cracked, it is mostly a sign of high fever and severe dehydration.

7. Look at body temperature. The body temperature of a healthy pig is generally 37.5°C-38.5°C. If the temperature is too high, it is mostly an infectious disease; if too low, it may be malnutrition, anemia, parasitic disease, or the dying stage.

8. Look at feces. Healthy pig feces are soft and moist, cone-shaped, and have no special odor. If the feces are dry, hard, and small in amount, it is mostly a febrile disease. If the feces are thin like water or like thin mud, the frequency of defecation increases markedly, or there is fecal incontinence, it is mostly enteritis or intestinal parasite infection. If piglets pass grayish-white, grayish-yellow, or yellow-green watery feces with a fishy odor, it is piglet white scour. In infectious diseases such as swine fever, swine erysipelas, and swine pasteurellosis, the feces often contain mucus, pus, and blood.

9. Look at urine. Healthy pig urine is colorless and transparent, with no abnormal odor. Sick pig urine is scanty, yellow, and thick.

10. Look at sleeping posture. Healthy pigs generally sleep on their sides, with relaxed muscles and even breathing rhythm. Sick pigs often press their whole body against the ground, lying prone in exhaustion. If breathing is difficult, they may also sit like a dog.