Sick Pig

[Kelsey]

We have two weaner pigs (~3 months old) that had some respiratory issues a couple weeks ago.
Older thread here. (Posted April 30)
(I cut and pasted the info at the bottom for more info.)

Both piglets were coughing and snotty. Wormed with Ivermectin and then decided to treat with antibiotics (Naxcel) because it didn't seem like worms would make them be so snotty/coughing. Treated 3 days, last dose was 2 days ago (Thurs).

The one piglet has been much better all along, growing ok, and now does not have respiratory issues.
The other piglet is now losing weight, and today for the first time doesn't really want to eat. Coughing is much worse just today, heaving sides in between coughing fits.

I don't know if it's a virus, lungworm, or pneumonia or other illness.
I do have a bottle of Excede - labeled for cattle but online it is labeled for pigs.
What should I do - treat with Excede?
I'm mad at myself for not treating right away, but their symptoms were so mild that I thought it was worms or a cold, and they would improve for a few days before the coughing returned. But the one looks really sick now.
Thanks!

We picked up two weaner pigs 11 days ago (rather small ~25#, GOS females, 2 months old). Several days later (8 days ago) they were really snotty and one or both was coughing. I immediately thought pneumonia, so I called the vet and got Naxcel for them. However, by the time my husband came home from work to help give the shots, I realized that I was probably overreacting (they came from a very muddy place unfortunately - the sow had destroyed her house - so I was almost expecting them to get sick after coming home).

So I never gave the antibiotics, but have been observing. No more snot until today, and it's just one of the piglets - she coughs very occasionally - just a few coughs, and not every time I'm watching. There have been days where I don't see her cough, but the last two days I observed more coughing. It's not linked to eating.

Otherwise they are totally normal - good appetite, rooting around the pasture all day, tussling with each other, etc. Definitely not sick looking. (I have not taken temps, and not sure how I would do that)

So - thinking it's either mild pneumonia, a cold she can't get over, or more likely, lung worm?
I was planning on worming them after they settled in, this week, but put it off because I thought I'd be giving the antibiotics.
So... what would you do? Worm for lungworm (looks like Ivermectin is effective)?

I guess I'm just not very familiar with pig ailments so not sure if it's lungworm or an illness.
Thanks!

[Kelsey]

I will attempt to take a temperature when I go out to milk shortly.

I don't want to call my vet on the weekend if it's not a true emergency as I've been bugging him so much lately...

[Deleted]

Oh no! I'm sorry the one isn't getting better. I have used excede on a sow with metritis before. You'll have to look up a dose, it's been a few years. All that coughing doesn't sound good. I've never dealt with respiratory issues, but a friend just had Actinobacillus pleuropneumonia (App) go through their herd.

[Kelsey]

It's a little confusing, but it looks like the Cattle Excede is 200 mg/ml (Excede 200) and Swine Excede is half that - 100 mg/ml. So the dose will be half of a normal pig dose.
I hope that's the only difference...

[Deleted]

Administer by intramuscular injection (IM) in the post-auricular region of the neck as a single dosage of 2.27 mg ceftiofur equivalent (CE)/lb (5.0 mg CE/kg) body weight. This is equivalent to 1.0 mL per 44 lbs (20 kg) body weight (BW). No more than 2.0 mL should be injected in a single injection site.

As with all drugs, EXCEDE® for Swine should not be administered to pigs known to be hypersensitive to cephalosporins or penicillins. Following label use as a single treatment, a 14-day pre-slaughter withdrawal period is required.

From
www.zoetisus.com/products/pork/excede-for-swine.aspx

[Deleted]

I'd round up to 0.3mL IM in the neck.

[Nonesuch Melissa]

Stat the antibiotics and worm again. A bad case of roundworms can migrate to the liver and lungs producing a cough with weight loss and will take a repeat dose to get under control.

Keep the pig somewhere Goldilocks would be comfortable. Offer high calorie foods (tasty ones) and be sure to monitor fluid intake.

[Nonesuch Melissa]

May 13, 2017 20:30:03 GMT -5 @amyp said:

I'd round up to 0.3mL IM in the neck.

I've just got to say I love that you did this. Seems like the times I'm trying to calculate a dosage is when I'm also doing every-other-thing for a sick animal and am stressed out...my math is not the strongest then and I've administered meds and then had stress attack while I went back to double check that I did it right.

[briarrose]

I have found pigs to be funny creatures when it comes to antibiotics. Personally I still use Pennicilian with mine as it is such a broad spectrum drug. On a pig that age I would use 5cc's for 3-5 days. They feel like a pin cushion when I get done but they live and do well. If the pig is seriously congested and coughing it will not eat and will loose weight fast. Also I offer warm water with Bounce back in it. They love the taste and it keeps them from dehydrating and puts the vitamins and minerals back into their systems. I have also given the Vit B complex oral gel daily dose for up to a week or they are back on their feet eating well again.

[jerseyrose]

May 13, 2017 20:13:25 GMT -5 Kelsey said:

It's a little confusing, but it looks like the Cattle Excede is 200 mg/ml (Excede 200) and Swine Excede is half that - 100 mg/ml. So the dose will be half of a normal pig dose.
I hope that's the only difference...

A little late to the party, but we use Excede for swine in our nursery's and I give our pigs 1 cc when they reach 35-45 pounds ( at that time they are like 8 weeks old).

Is he doing any better?

[Kelsey]

Sorry I haven't updated!
No real change (though both piglets are eating fine and not coughing as bad) and I waited until this morning to put a call into our vet. I talked to the breeder yesterday and she recommended Nuflor instead and so I wanted to talk to our vet rather than treating with the Excede immediately. Because Excede and Naxcel are the same class abx I was doubting if that was a good choice.
Anyway, I hope to hear from him soon and will see what he suggests.
Either way I will do another round of Ivermectin today as well.

I'm giving them yeast and probiotics and they're eating barley soaked in clabber.

@amyp Thanks so much for checking the dosage for me! It's true - when your animals are sick you always start doubting your drug calculations so it's nice to have second opinion.

[Deleted]

I was hoping you'd give an update! I'm glad they are eating.

[Kelsey]

Going to pick up a bottle of Nuflor right now.
Hope this does it!

[brigitte]

Good luck. I second the idea of Penicillin. It has worked best for piglets here that didn't arrive with a mortal flaw.

[Deleted]

Kelsey how's your pig?

[Kelsey]

Thanks @amyp for checking in!
I think she's finally on the mend after the Nuflor treatments. We haven't heard any coughs the past couple days and she's finally back to rooting and exploring versus sleeping all the time.

This can be removed from 911.
Thanks again!