Common Diseases of Farm Animals

by Robert Alexander Craig

Age is an important predisposing factor. Young hogs are most susceptible to cholera, and this susceptibility can be greatly increased by giving them crowded, filthy quarters. Infection with lice, lung and intestinal worms, the feeding of an improper ration and sudden changes in the ration lower the natural resistance of a hog against disease. Pampered hogs usually develop acute cholera when exposed to this disease.

Hog-cholera is more virulent or acute during the summer and fall months than it is during the winter and spring months. After the disease sweeps over a section of country, it becomes less virulent and takes on a subacute or chronic form. Outbreaks of hog-cholera usually last two or three years in a neighborhood. This depends largely on the number of susceptible hogs that were not exposed to the infection the first season, and the preventive precautions observed by the owners.

PERIOD OF INCUBATION.—The length of time elapsing between the exposure of the hog to the cholera virus, and the development of noticeable symptoms of hog-cholera, varies from a few days to two or three weeks. The length of this incubation period depends on the susceptibility of the animal, the virulence of the virus and the method of exposure. An acute form of hog-cholera indicates a short period of incubation, and a chronic form, a long period.

SYMPTOMS.—The symptoms of hog-cholera may differ widely in the different outbreaks of the disease. The symptoms may be classified under the following forms: Acute, subacute and chronic. The acute form of hog-cholera is the most common. The early symptoms are tremors, fever, depressed appearance, marked weakness, staggering gait, constipation and diarrhoea, labored breathing and convulsions. Death may occur within a few hours or a few days. Recovery seldom occurs. In the subacute form, the symptoms are mild and develop slowly. Recovery may take place within a few days, or after extending over a week or ten days it may assume the chronic form. Very often in outbreaks of subacute cholera a large majority of the herd does not show visible symptoms of the disease. In the chronic form, marked symptoms of pleuropneumonia and chronic inflammation of the intestine are common. Ulcers and sores form on the skin and the hair may come off. Large portions of the skin may become gangrenous and slough. Young hogs are usually stunted and emaciated.

The first symptom of disease is an elevation of body temperature.

At the beginning of any outbreak of hog-cholera the body temperatures of the apparently healthy animals may vary from 105\260 to 108\260 F. After a few days, animals that are fatally sick or recovering from the disease may show normal or subnormal body temperature.

Loss of appetite is the first symptom of disease usually noted by the person in charge of the herd. The hog may show a disposition to eat dirt. The sick hog is usually found lying in its bed, or off by itself in a quiet place. It presents a rather characteristic appearance. The back is arched, the hind feet are held close together, or crossed, the abdomen is tucked up and the hog appears weak in its hind parts. Diarrhoea or constipation may be present. The color of the diarrhoeal discharges varies according to the character of the feed, and it may be more or less tinged with blood and have a disagreeable odor. The urine is highly colored.

The respirations and pulse beats are quickened and abnormal in character. Thumps sometimes occur. When the mucous membranes lining the throat and anterior air passages are thickened, the respirations are noisy and difficult. The animal may cough on getting up from its bed and moving about. There is at times a noticeable discharge from the nostrils. When the lungs are inflamed the respirations are quickened and labored. In case the pleural membrane is inflamed, the respiratory symptoms are more severe, and the hog shows evidence of pain when the walls of the chest are pressed on. The pericardium may be inflamed. In such cases the hog staggers and falls when forced to walk.

The central nervous system may be involved by the inflammation. The usual symptoms occurring in inflammation of the brain and its coverings are then present. A sleepy, comatose condition may end in death, or the animal dies in a convulsion.

The secretions of the skin and mucous membranes are abnormal. The skin in the regions of the ears, inside of the thighs and under surface of the body is moist, dirty or discolored red. Just before death the skin over the under surface of the body becomes a purplish red. In the chronic form, a dirty, thickened, wrinkled skin is commonly observed. At first the secretion from the eyes is thin and watery, but it becomes thick, heavy and pus-like, causing the margins of the lids to adhere to each other.