Question: My pigs spend a lot of time rubbing against the sides of the pen, and the skin becomes red and sore. Some of them aren’t gaining weight or growing well, although they’re still eating. What causes this problem? Pigs rub against solid objects to relieve itchiness, which is caused…
In a previous article we looked at the symptoms of sheep scab and mange on goats. In this article we look at solutions, medication and dips. When working with chemicals, use your common sense. Always treat chemicals with care. Follow the mix and dosage instructions on the label or the…
Mites are ectoparasites that feed on the skin of the host animal and cause severe itching. This leads to scratching, rubbing and biting which, in turn, damages the skin, the wool and the hide. Stripped of hair and wool, bare patches of inflamed skin are crusted with weeping wounds and…
Mange is caused by a mite, Sarcoptes scabiei, that lives in tunnels in the pig’s skin. It feeds on skin cells as it tunnels into the pig’s epidermis. Adult mites burrow into the skin and lay eggs, and develop through stages from larvae to nymphs and adults. Pigs are infected…
