Common Causes and Solutions for Vomiting in Pigs
Why do pigs frequently vomit, and what should be done about it?
(1) Primary gastric ulcers: mainly caused by moldy feed, poor-quality raw materials, and overly fine grinding of sow feed, especially a deficiency of unsaturated fatty acids, vitamin E, B vitamins and selenium in the feed, and irregular feeding with uneven hunger and fullness, which causes digestive system dysfunction and induces gastric ulcers.
(2) Secondary gastric ulcers: mostly caused by swine fever, erysipelas, red roundworm, and copper poisoning, resulting in gastric congestion, bleeding, erosion and ulcers.
[Key points for diagnosis:]
(1) The pig is in good spirits, vomits yellow undigested feed, and eats again after vomiting.
(2) Shows abdominal pain, restlessness, teeth grinding, periodic anorexia, passes black feces, and occasionally has diarrhea.
(3) When gastric bleeding and ulceration occur, the body surface appears pale, appetite decreases, there is occasionally blood in the vomit, dry feces, and low body temperature.
(4) Necropsy
Acute type: gastric bleeding is visible, the stomach is distended, and there are blood clots in the stomach.
Subacute: there is a large amount of yellowish-brown contents in the stomach, mostly watery, with a fermented odor; after rinsing with clean water, erosive spots are scattered in the folds of the pyloric region and the gastric fundus, along with clearly demarcated ulcer lesions.
[Prevention and control methods:]
(1) To reduce pain and prevent the ulcer from progressing, chlorpromazine hydrochloride can be injected intramuscularly, or astragalus polysaccharide + penicillin can be injected intramuscularly for anti-inflammation.
(2) Neutralize gastric acid: aluminum hydroxide and magnesium silicate raise the pH of the stomach contents, while oral tannic acid protects the stomach; 0.2% baking soda can also be added to the feed to neutralize gastric acid.
(3) For cases with severe bleeding, inject calcium gluconate + vitamin C intravenously, and add vitamin K to the feed or diet.
(4) Usually pay attention to whether the feed is moldy, and clean the trough promptly; ensure the feed is nutritionally complete, with a moderate grind particle size, not smaller than 3.5 mm; pay attention to herd health care, prevent swine fever and swine erysipelas well, and periodically add Huanglian Jiedu San + amoxicillin + cod liver oil to the feed to improve immunity, repair the gastrointestinal mucosa, and reduce the incidence of gastric ulcers.