7 Surgical Procedures These are a sequel to: bites, burns, cuts or haematomas. Often the original cause is not apparent and they may even be a sequel to haematogenous spread of bacteria to a damaged area. A diagnosis should be established by cleaning the area and carrying out a paracentesis with a 14 gauge needle. If pus is found in the needle the diagnosis is confirmed. It is very important that practitioners do not lance a haematoma, granuloma or a tumour. Abscesses need to be drained with a bold incision large enough to allow digital palpation of the inside of the abscess after washing out any diseased contents with warm saline. Antibiotics should be given with regard to meat withhold times in pigs near to slaughter weights. These are caused by: • Fighting between sows. Wounds often occur on the vulva. • Fighting between boars. Wounds will be deep and occur on the body. • Over-aggressive sexual foreplay by boars. • Biting of nipples by piglets. • Fighting between piglets. Wounds which occur on the face become infected. Bites should be treated with injectable antibiotics which can be continued with water medication. If bites are severe, pigs should receive injectable NSAIDs which may be continued with water medication. Bites should be treated locally with either topical application of antibiotic sprays or with oily cream containing acriflavin and benzene hexachloride (BHC). Bites however severe should not be sutured because they will be contaminated, the sutures will break down and healing will be delayed. These are caused by direct heat from heat lamps which have been positioned wrongly too close to the pigs. Heat lamps should always be secured with chain, not bailer twine, to prevent actual fires, which can be devastating in pig accommodation. White pigs may become sunburnt. This should be avoided by always supplying shade and wallows. Burns should be treated with injectable antibiotics which can be continued with water medication. If burns are severe, pigs should receive injectable NSAIDs which may be continued with water medication. Burns should be treated topically with an oily cream containing acriflavin and BHC. If burns are too extensive, i.e. the burnt area is greater than 20% of the pig’s total surface area, euthanasia should be carried out promptly. Sunburnt pigs should be treated topically with an oily cream containing acriflavin and BHC. In severe cases NSAIDs should be given. These are often caused by sharp edges of metal on damaged gates. Boars may cut sows or other boars with their tusks. These can be removed (see below). Cut pigs should receive injectable antibiotics which can be continued with water medication. They should also receive injectable NSAIDs. Depending on the severity of the wound these can be continued with water medication. As a general rule cuts should not be sutured unless they are very large as pigs heal very well by second intention. If suturing is to be attempted then a GA is recommended. Cuts can be covered by topical antibiotic sprays or with an oily cream containing acriflavin and BHC. These normally occur in the ears of lop-eared breeds as a result of continuous shaking of the head, which is caused by mange mites. It is very important that the underlying cause, i.e. the mange, should be treated with injectable ivermectins. Pigs with haematomas should receive injectable antibiotics which can be continued with water medication and injectable NSAIDs, which also can be continued with water medication. Ear cleansers prepared for dogs can be instilled into the ears. Draining the haematoma is not recommended as the haemorrhage will be profuse. Full aseptic surgery under GA could be attempted but is not recommended, as healing will occur with time without surgery, leaving a not painful ‘cauliflower ear’. Skin tumours are rare in pigs. The need to remove them would not be justified in a commercial situation. Owners may request their removal from pet pigs. The tumour and the drainage lymph nodes should be examined before surgery is agreed. If there is any evidence of metastatic spread then surgery should be declined on welfare grounds. If surgery is carried out then the tumour with a good margin should be removed under GA. A slice of the tumour and normal skin should be sent for histological examination. This is the most common cause of acute lameness in adult animals (Fig. 7.1). It may readily become a chronic condition (see below). Prompt aggressive antibiotic treatment is required. Poulticing the affected digit is worthwhile (Fig. 7.2). Pain relief with NSAIDs is mandatory. Fig. 7.1. A hoof abscess about to break out at the coronary band. Arthrogryposis can cause acute lameness in baby pigs. Welfare is paramount and so euthanasia is normally the correct course of action as such joints will not repair and will cause constant pain. Fig. 7.2. An abscess on the left medial claw. This condition is part of the Teschen/Talfan disease syndrome (see Chapters 11 and 14). Pigs may show acute lameness. Pigs suffering from this deficiency will have damaged or weakened horn tissue in the soles of their feet and hence the most important presenting sign is lameness. Erysipelas rhusiopathiae can affect the joints and cause acute lameness. If fractures are below the knee or the hock in pet pigs they can be cast but normally euthanasia is indicated. If they are above the elbow or stifle euthanasia should always be carried out. The most obvious sign of this disease is lameness (see Chapter 13). Haemophilus spp. will invade the joints of growing pigs and cause lameness. This will start as an acute lameness and unless treated aggressively will become chronic. Oxytetracycline is the antibiotic of choice, supported by a NSAID (see Chapter 9). Acute lameness is caused by Mycoplasma hyorhinitis and Mycoplasma hyosynoviae. These should be treated with tylosin or oxytetracycline by injection; both of these antibiotics can be given as a follow-up by water medication. These are painful conditions in pigs causing acute lameness and should be treated with NSAIDs. Clinicians should reassess cases after treatment to make sure there has been an improvement. If there has been no improvement euthanasia should be carried out. This would be thought to be a chronic condition but often the condition is manifest as an acute lameness. It may even account for sudden death. The bones become very weak from problems with calcium, phosphorus and vitamin D. There may be spontaneous fractures resulting in damage to a main artery, e.g. the femoral artery. This is a condition mainly seen in young boars. The aetiology is unknown but it may be the result of osteochondritis. Euthanasia is recommended. This is a condition of newborn piglets of un-known aetiology. If the piglets can manage to reach a teat, normally they will survive and improve slowly. If not then euthanasia is indicated. Streptococcus suis type 1 will cause fibrinous polyarthritis in piglets between 3 and 6 weeks old. They will show neurological signs of shaking, ataxia and recumbency. Equally they may just show signs of general malaise, some lameness and respiratory signs. This is a condition of boars. The deformity of a joint will cause chronic lameness. Welfare is an issue. If practitioners are in any doubt the animal should be destroyed. Obviously any inflammation in a bursa will potentially cause lameness. The most common to be affected in the adult pig is the bicipital bursa on the point of the shoulder. This normally occurs as a result of trauma from an animal trying to rush through a narrow opening. Lameness may well last for 6 weeks. NSAIDs are helpful. This can be caused by a very wide variety of arthritis pathogens. The best treatment is with high doses of antibiotics backed up with NSAIDs. It is important that the correct antibiotic is used from the efficacy standpoint. If there is no improvement the antibiotic should be changed. A prolonged course is likely to be necessary. Hoof abscesses are painful and a difficult condition to treat. They may be due to sand cracks or they may have no obvious aetiology. Drainage should be established if possible. If not a gauze dressing impregnated with magnesium sulfate poultice should be applied. This should be covered by waterproof gutter tape and kept on for several days. The animal should be treated with antibiotics and NSAIDs. If drainage has been established the poultice can be removed, but if not a new poultice should be applied. If the infection has tracked into the distal phalangeal joint normally euthanasia should be advised. In rare cases with much loved pet pigs, removal of the affected digit can be carried out. The pig should be given a GA (see Chapter 6). The leg should be thoroughly cleaned and a tourniquet applied above either the tarsus or the carpus. Embryotomy wire should be placed between the digits at an angle so that when the cut is complete the second phalanx of the affected digit is cut in half. With rapid sawing movement the diseased digit should be removed. The stump of the wound should be covered with a suitable antibiotic-impregnated dressing and the whole foot bandaged up. The bandage should then be covered with several layers of gutter tape. The pig should receive antibiotics and NSAIDs by injection. These should be continued for 10 days by water soluble medication. The bandage should be changed at weekly intervals until a clean granulation bed is totally covering the bony stump. Topical antibiotic spray can then be continued until total healing is accomplished. Pigs do not actually get laminitis. Very fast-growing heavy hogs may get a coritis which will look like laminitis in that all four feet will be hot and painful. The amount of food should be reduced and they should be given NSAIDs. Care should be taken to stick to the meat withhold times. Obviously some ligamental damage will cause severe lameness. Treatment with NSAIDs can be tried but if there is no response, euthanasia is indicated. This is a condition of backyard pigs of poor genetic conformation which do not receive sufficient exercise on a concrete surface (Fig. 7.3). Normally they can be trimmed without sedation in a pig crate. Old boars can have their feet trimmed while they are serving a sow. This is a specific condition of heavy sows or boars kept on concrete with insufficient bedding. It used to be very common when sows were kept in tethers. The animal must be given a soft bed and NSAIDs. Antibiotics are only required if there is sepsis. This is very rarely required in commercial pigs. However with pet pigs claws will become overgrown (Fig. 7.3). Often the cause of this is poor genetic conformation rather than lack of movement on an abrasive surface, e.g. concrete. This is particularly common in pigs which have been bred for a long back to increase bacon production. Recumbency can be caused by a space-occupying lesion in the vertebral canal, e.g. an abscess, a haematoma or a tumour (Fig. 7.4). Treatment with antibiotics and NSAIDs can be tried but if unsuccessful euthanasia is indicated. Fractured vertebrae will cause recumbency but they are extremely rare in pigs. Euthanasia is indicated. Trauma to the back or pelvis at mating or from fighting is common. NSAIDs can be tried but if not successful euthanasia is indicated.
Surgical Procedures Related to the Skin
Abscesses
Bites
Burns
Cuts
Haematomas
Neoplasia
Surgical Procedures Related to the Locomotory System
Acute lameness
Abscess in the foot
Arthrogryposis
Benign enzootic paresis
Biotin deficiency
Erysipelas
Fractures
Foot and mouth disease
Haemophilus arthritis
Infectious mycoplasma
Osteochondrosis and epiphysiolysis
Osteomalacia
Slipped epiphysis of the femoral head
Splay leg
Streptococcal arthritis
Chronic lameness
Arthrosis deformans
Bursitis
Chronic septic arthritis
Heel ulceration
Laminitis
Ligamental damage
Overgrown hooves
Tarsitis
Hoof trimming
Recumbency
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