ThePigSite Pig Health
Anaemia - Iron Deficiency
(352) The piglet is born with limited supplies of iron and if it had been born in the wild would depend on supplementation to its diet from iron bearing soils. Indoors the pig has no access to iron other than to the sows' milk (which is deficient) until it starts to eat creep feed. It is necessary therefore to give extra iron either by mouth or by injection. The pig is born with a normal level of haemoglobin in the blood of 12-13g/100ml and this rapidly drops down to 6-7g by 10 to 14 days of age. A shortage of iron results in lowered levels of haemoglobin in the red cells, (anaemia), a lowered capacity for the carriage of oxygen around the body and an increased susceptibility to disease.Clinical signs
Piglets appear pale from 7 days onwards, sometimes but not always with a slight check in growth. The colour of the skin may take on a slight yellow or jaundiced appearance. In severe cases breathing is rapid particularly with exercise and there may be a predisposition to scour.
Diagnosis
This is based on the clinical signs, the lack of any supplemental iron and the haemoglobin level in the blood. If this is less than 8g/100ml the piglet is becoming anaemic.
Treatment
Management control and prevention
