The Vietnamese dwarf pig was introduced as a zoo animal in the 1980s, but due to its affectionate and playful nature, it soon caused a lot of sympathy. It is currently considered a very widespread companion animal in the United States that has subsequently also begun to be adopted as a pet in Europe.
Contrary to what one might think, it is a very clean animal that stands out for its great intelligence and for having many concerns, since it is characterized by being very curious and exploring, although it can also be very stubborn and destructive, so for a Vietnamese pig to become an exemplary pet, it mostly takes time.
Like any animal, these cute pets are also susceptible to contracting multiple diseases, and so that you can notice the pathological symptoms as soon as possible, today we show you what are theMost common diseases of Vietnamese pigs.
Atrophic rhinitis
It is a common disease in pigs that is caused by a bacteria that colonizes the nasal mucosa, adhering to the walls of the itself, where it multiplies to produce a toxin that will cause inflammation and degeneration in the lining of the nostrils.
This is a pathology that affects pigs in the weaning phase, which manifest it through the following symptoms:
- Sneezes and snorts
- Purulent or bloody nasal discharge
- Slight fever
- Decreased food intake
The diagnosis is generally made through the clinical manifestation of the disease, although it can sometimes be confirmed by detecting the bacteria or the toxin produced by it in the nasal mucosa.
The treatment is carried out through the administration of antibiotics that control the infection as well as the symptoms, at a preventive level it can be subjected to the mothers to vaccination prior to childbirth.
Aujeszky's disease
Aujeszky's disease is another of the most common diseases of Vietnamese pigs, in this case it is viral in nature and is caused by the Alphaherpesvirus group, specifically by the pathogenic agent SHV- 1.
It can affect adult and young pigs, although in the case of young pigs this disease is lethal, with a mortality rate of 100% when the animal has not yet reached two weeks of age.
It manifests itself through the following symptoms:
- Abortion in pregnant sows
- Inflammation of the brain in piglets
- Seizures
- Falls and loss of balance
- Fever
- Loss of appetite
- Vomiting
- Tremors
- Cough
The diagnosis of this disease is made through the detection of the virus by laboratory techniques or through a serological analysis that demonstrates the presence of specific antibodies against this pathogen.
In this case the best treatment is prevention, since vaccines containing inactivated virus have been shown to be effective in controlling the infection.
Escherichia coli infection
Pigs are susceptible to infection by Escherichia Coli bacteria, which can also affect humans.
This is a bacterium that has fimbriae in its structure, which we could define as a kind of hooks that make it easier for it to adhere to various tissues in the pig's body, causing ainfection that can be intestinal or that can affect other tissues, such as the walls of the urinary bladder.
Depending on the area affected by Escherichia Coli, the pig may show some symptoms or others, such as the following:
- Diarrhea in suckling piglets
- Diarrhea after weaning
- Edemas under the skin
- Loss of appetite
- Apathy
- Breast swelling
- Dehydration
The diagnosis of this disease is made through the clinical signs observed in the animal, although determining the pH of the feces can help confirm the presence of this bacterium.
For the treatment of Escherichia Coli infection in Vietnamese pigs, broad-spectrum antibioticswill be used, that is, those that act on a large number of bacteria, although it may be necessary to change the treatment if we are dealing with strains of bacteria resistant to certain antibiotics.
Swine pleuropneumonia
Swine pleuropneumonia is an infectious disease caused by the bacterium Actinobacillus Pleuropneumoniae, so it can affect Vietnamese pigs if they are nearby of pigs.
It is a disease that, although it can become chronic, can also progress rapidly, which would cause the death of the animal in a short time. We can observe it through the following symptoms:
- Difficulty breathing
- Mouth Breathing
- Cough
- Suffocation
- Depression
- Loss of appetite
- Threw up
- Fever
- Cyanosis on the muzzle (blue discoloration)
The diagnosis of swine pleuropneumonia in Vietnamese pigs is usually made through a serological test that shows specific antibodies against this bacterium.
In the treatment antibiotics are used to control the infection and the symptoms, it is recommended to carry out an antibiogram, a test by which it identifies which antibiotics the bacteria is sensitive to, ruling out those to which it is resistant.
How to avoid the most common diseases of Vietnamese pigs?
To prevent the Vietnamese pig from contracting any of the diseases mentioned above, it is important that, like any other pet, go to regular veterinary check-upsand comply with the vaccination program that the veterinarian deems most appropriate, as this will depend in part on the animal's habitat.
Providing regular exercise, proper nutrition and optimal hygiene conditions will also help maintain their he alth and the competence of their immune system, thus preventing various diseases.
