Farm Animals

Pig Acute Disease Recognition: When to Call the Vet

Recognising the signs of acute disease in pigs and knowing when to call a vet can mean the difference between life and death. Stockpeople trained in disease recognition provide better welfare outcomes.

Key Facts

Acute systemic disease signs include collapse, shivering, laboured breathing, and failure to rise
High rectal temperature above 40.5C indicates significant infection in pigs
Porcine epidemic diarrhoea (PED) can cause 100% mortality in neonatal pigs
African Swine Fever (ASF) is a notifiable disease requiring immediate reporting
Delay in veterinary treatment significantly worsens outcomes in most acute conditions
Stockpeople spending more time observing animals identify problems earlier

Welfare Considerations

Acute disease causes rapid deterioration in welfare - pigs experiencing sepsis, respiratory failure, or neurological disease suffer intensely. The difference between early and delayed treatment can be the difference between recovery and death, or between pain of hours versus days. Stockpeople who know what normal looks like and are empowered to call veterinary support early prevent significant suffering.

What You Can Do

Train all staff in abnormal clinical signs that require immediate veterinary contact
Establish a 24-hour vet contact protocol for acute emergencies
Keep a clinical thermometer accessible in all pig buildings
Know your notifiable disease signs - African Swine Fever, FMD, Swine Vesicular Disease
Document and date all disease events to identify patterns and priorities