Clinical signs

These progress from an animal laid on its belly, shivering and becoming very cold to eventually lying on its side, paddling, frothing at the mouth and becoming comatosed. The eyes are sunken and the head bent backwards.

Diagnosis

Hypoglycaemia occurs in the first 12-24 hours of birth and the clinical picture is characterised by the symptoms. Examine the eyes to see that there is no evidence of lateral movements (nystagmus) which would indicate meningitis.

Treatment

• The condition must be recognised early if treatment is to be successful.
• Immediately remove the piglet to a warm draught free environment to achieve 30ºC. A box well bedded in shavings with an infra-red lamp above is ideal.
• Feed the piglet with sow or alternatively cows colostrum or 20% dextrose solution by syringe or stomach tube every 20 minutes until it has returned to normal. Then introduce the piglet to a newly farrowed sow.

Management control and prevention

• Identify potential piglets at birth and treat as describe under Poor viable piglets in the Stillborn Piglets section in chapter 8.
• The following table provides a background to piglets with poor viability