Hypothermia in Baby Piglets

Hypothermia occurs when pigs experience low environmental temperatures and cannot maintain their body temperature at 38.5-39°C (101.5-102.5°F). It is most serious in piglets aged 0-7 days, but can occur in pigs of any age and can even kill adults of particular breeds in certain circumstances.

Clinical signs——–

Piglets in low temperatures huddle under lights or against the sow, and older pigs huddle together. Single older pigs attempt to bury themselves in bedding if available. Piglets suffering from hypothermia, have an erect hair coat, they shiver and develop signs of hypoglycaemia such as uncertain gait, supporting themselves by placing their noses on the ground and spreading their hind limbs. More severely affected pigs rest on their abdomens but eventually fall on their sides and develop convulsions which are accompanied by slowing of the heart to 80 beats/minute, a decline in rectal temperature, shivering and dullness. Death normally occurs 24-36 hours after the commencement of the signs. Hypothermia in older pigs is less likely to lead to death, but in all cases there is an increase in appetite, less live weight gain per kg of feed, an increase in the length of the hair coat and a reduction in body condition and fat thickness. Chilling may lead to failure to show oestrus in sows and gilts, a decline in bodily condition which results in lower litter sizes and to bluish ears and extremities. Vietnamese pot-bellied pigs may die of hypothermia if maintained on high roughage diets and not protected from sudden cold.

Huddling behaviour of piglets and older animals suggests that chilling is occurring, and burial in bedding and their appearance (bluish extremities, erect hair coats) may support the presence of hypothermia.

Treatment and prevention——-

Hypoglycaemia treatments can also be useful for neonatal piglets with hypothermia. Affected animals should be given intraperitoneal injections of 15 ml of 5% glucose solution every 4-6 hours or oral glucose by stomach tube and kept at a minimum of 30-35°C (85-95°F).

If the sow is unable to feed them, an artificial sow milk replacer should be given by stomach tube initially or they should be fostered onto another sow.

Reduction in draughts and the provision or dry bedding and additional heating (either from heat lamps, from underfloor or from heat pads) will also improve their chances of survival.

Orphaned or surplus piglets may be maintained in small groups in incubators.

In all cases, the environmental temperature should be raised to the level appropriate to the age group.

Where this cannot be done for the whole pen or house, dry bedding will improve the pig environment .

Weaned pigs should be given more food or food of higher energy density until the effects of hypothermia on body condition are corrected.