Pigs always get sick for no apparent reason? Check whether they've been poisoned by these toxins.
Livestock Farming0 views
Pigs always get sick for no apparent reason? Check whether they've been poisoned by the following toxins.
Pigs always get sick for no apparent reason. We should consider whether they've been poisoned by the following toxins. Are you up to standard on the issues that need attention in pig farm management?
1. Mycotoxin poisoning
Symptoms: reduced feed intake, lower feed conversion efficiency, diarrhea, disrupted reproductive cycles and abortion in sows, false estrus and pseudopregnancy in gilts, vulvovaginitis, prolapse and swelling of teats, crusted necrosis of teats, and agalactia in sows. Lesions: anemia, jaundice, hemorrhagic diarrhea, yellowing and fibrosis or even hardening of the liver, gastric ulcers, pulmonary edema, etc.
Mycotoxins can contaminate feed ingredients, transport equipment, feeding equipment, etc., and the symptoms after poisoning are not clear-cut; poisoned pigs show only very mild abnormal behavior, making diagnosis very difficult. Large silos and feed lines require particular attention, as the risk of mycotoxin contamination is very high. Warm, humid environments cause molds to produce toxins, and if silos and feed lines are not cleaned regularly, toxins can easily accumulate in these places. A lack of protein, selenium, and vitamins in the diet is a predisposing factor for mycotoxin poisoning, and moldy feed is the root cause of this type of poisoning.
In recent years, ergot toxins have been particularly prominent. If ergot is found in crops at harvest, it can enter feed and bedding. Some large feed companies check for it during storage, and some growers check for it at harvest. If pigs consume this ergot, dry gangrene may appear at the extremities such as the ears, tail, and hooves, along with skin crusting.
Zearalenone poisoning is also a relatively common type of mycotoxin poisoning; its structure is similar to estrogen, making it very difficult to distinguish in pregnant sows. Swelling of the genitalia, splayed legs, and poor muscle development in newborn piglets are clear signs of zearalenone poisoning. In sows, zearalenone can cause uterine and rectal prolapse after farrowing. Zearalenone poisoning is also the main cause of rectal prolapse in growing pigs.
A large dose of vomitoxin can cause pigs to become ill (vomit) within 10 minutes of eating, while a small dose reduces the pig's appetite. When pigs show anorexia, it is very likely a mycotoxin infection.
Measures: choosing high-quality feed ingredients, or changing the feed, is the only effective measure; as a preventive measure, high-quality mold inhibitors (or mold removers) can be used. 2. Feed additive or drug poisoning
Poisoning by phenylarsenic compounds (arsenic preparations such as arsanilic acid)
Symptoms: ataxia followed by hindquarter paralysis and quadriplegia, with no obvious anatomical lesions.
Measures: remove the arsenic preparations from feed and drinking water as soon as possible.
Sulfonamide poisoning
Symptoms: kidney disease and uremia;
Causes: excessive content in feed, excessive dosage, or insufficient drinking water can cause poisoning.
Measures: stop feeding the medicated feed, or simultaneously add baking soda and increase the water supply.
Poisoning by conventional drugs or vaccines
Causes: drugs themselves undergo very strict testing before approval and have a relatively high safety level. What often causes animal poisoning is the inappropriate use of drugs and vaccines, such as overdose or improper storage.
Measures: follow medical advice, pay attention to the rational use of drugs and vaccines, and stagger the action times of drugs.
3. Salt poisoning
Symptoms: in the early stage, affected pigs have poor appetite, listlessness, flushed mucous membranes, increased thirst, constipation or diarrhea, followed by vomiting, excessive salivation, foaming at the mouth, limb spasms, muscle tremors, difficulty breathing, pacing in circles or charging around, impaired hearing and vision, and no response to stimuli; severely affected pigs have paroxysmal spasms, hold the head and neck high in a sitting-dog posture, and show obvious neurological symptoms in the head. In the later stage, pigs show tonic opisthotonus, lie on one side, and twitch with limbs in a swimming motion, dying within 1-2 days. Chronic salt poisoning often occurs suddenly after water restriction is lifted and the pigs drink excessively, with symptoms such as constipation, thirst, and itchy skin.
Causes: salt poisoning or dehydration is caused by pigs not drinking enough water, which may be due to an insufficient water supply or excessive salt content in the feed. Liquid feeding requires particular attention, because some ingredients may contain relatively high levels of salt without this being known. In addition, if there is no separate water line, and if high temperatures are encountered, meningitis-like symptoms may very likely be caused, because the central nervous system is affected. In cases of salt poisoning, rehydration must be carried out slowly; if rehydration is too rapid, it may cause more severe symptoms, or even death.
Measures: feed poisoned pigs thin paste-like feed or give small amounts of water multiple times. Intravenously inject 60-100 milliliters of 10% calcium gluconate, or administer 1% copper sulfate 50-100 milliliters orally to induce vomiting, then give 150-200 grams of white sugar.
4. Toxic gas poisoning
Ammonia
Symptoms: excessive tearing, shallow breathing, runny nose.
Causes: pig manure decomposing on solid floors with poor ventilation.
Hydrogen sulfide
Symptoms: local inflammation of the moist mucous membranes of the eyes and respiratory tract; in severe cases, pulmonary edema may occur.
Causes: poor ventilation around liquid manure pits.
Carbon monoxide
Symptoms: non-infectious abortion in sows or death of newborn piglets.
Causes: poor ventilation in farrowing rooms with stoves burning.
Coal tar
Symptoms: acute and chronic liver damage, accompanied by jaundice, ascites, and anemia, and even death.
Causes: some coal tar extracts such as phenol and cresol are widely present in paints and disinfectants; after pigs accidentally ingest these items, they can damage the liver and even cause death.
Measures: while maintaining suitable temperatures in the pig house and carrying out disinfection and purification measures, increase ventilation.
5. Pesticide poisoning
Causes: the pesticides most likely to cause pig poisoning include organophosphates, carbamates, and chlorinated hydrocarbon insecticides. The main reasons are insecticides being accidentally mixed into feed, scattered in pig houses, or applied in excess during spraying and pouring, or being licked.
Organophosphate and carbamate poisoning
Symptoms: salivation, defecation, vomiting, unsteady gait, and then difficulty breathing and muscle tremors. Lesions: no characteristic lesions; large amounts of fluid in the respiratory tract and pulmonary edema are usually seen.
Measures: intravenously inject atropine sulfate at a dose of 0.5 milligrams per kilogram of body weight; in severe cases, oral activated charcoal can be given as well.
Chlorinated hydrocarbon insecticide poisoning
Symptoms: excessive excitement and tonic-clonic convulsive seizures. Lesions: only mechanical injury is shown.
Measures: no specific antidote, but long-acting barbiturates can be used to sedate the pigs. (Auxiliary measures: if contact occurred through the skin, wash with warm soapy water; if ingested orally, a suspension of activated charcoal and water can be given by gavage; avoid oil-based laxatives; in severe cases, intravenously inject glucose and administer fluids.)
6. Mineral poisoning
Copper poisoning
Symptoms: jaundice, anemia, hemoglobinuria, and nephritis.
Causes: the normal requirement in the diet is 5-6 milligrams per kilogram, and the maximum tolerance is 250 milligrams per kilogram; excessive.
Iron poisoning
Symptoms: reduced feed intake and weight gain, along with rickets; if poisoning is caused by injected iron dextran, cardiovascular-origin shock is shown, with death within a few hours, and pigmentation occurs at the injection site, liver, and kidneys.
Causes: the normal requirement in the diet is 40-150 milligrams per kilogram; excessive.
Selenium poisoning
Symptoms: anorexia, hair loss, cracking of the hoof shell from the coronary band, and degeneration of liver and kidney tissues; sows may show prolonged gestation, stillbirths, and weak piglets.
Causes: the normal requirement in the diet is 0.1-0.3 milligrams per kilogram; excessive.
Measures: adjust the mineral content in the diet or temporarily stop feeding that type of feed.
7. Rodenticides
Anticoagulant rodenticides
Symptoms: lameness, lethargy, deep tar-colored feces. Lesions: hematoma, joint swelling, intermuscular hemorrhage, anemia, melena.
Measures: inject vitamin K.
Strychnine
Symptoms: severe tonic convulsions, sensitivity to external stimuli, death possible within 1 hour. Lesions: no obvious lesions; the strychnine content of stomach contents can be detected.
Measures: long-acting barbiturate salts and other muscle relaxants to control spasms.
Once poisoning occurs, urgently stopping pigs from ingesting or contacting the toxic substance is the first measure, andsymptomatic treatmentcan reduce losses, but standardized breeding management and preventing pigs from coming into contact with substances that may cause poisoning are the best and most effective methods.