Swine respiratory disease (SRD) remains a significant challenge for hog farmers, impacting herd health and productivity. Dr. Jeff Okones, DVM, a technical service veterinarian at Pharmgate Animal Health with 40 years of experience in the swine industry, shares his expertise on managing this complex condition.

Understanding swine respiratory disease

SRD is often a multifactorial disease involving various pathogens.

"Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae is frequently involved as the organism that sets up the infection for other bacteria to come in," says Okones. “Other culprits include Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae and Bordetella bronchiseptica. These pathogens can pave the way for secondary bacterial infections, such as Glaesserella parasuis and Pasteurella multocida.”

Exposure to these organisms, coupled with stress factors like weaning and environmental changes, can trigger SRD.

Early detection of SRD symptoms can significantly improve treatment outcomes. Common signs include inactivity, inappetence, gauntness, labored breathing (thumping) and elevated temperature. Thumping, characterized by heaving ribs and gasping for breath, is particularly indicative of acute SRD, often associated with Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae infections. Accurate diagnosis often requires submitting fresh tissues to a diagnostic lab for culture and antibiotic sensitivity testing.

Photo submitted by Pharmgate Animal Health

Prevention, management and treatment

Preventing SRD hinges on robust biosecurity and management practices. Key strategies include maintaining cleanliness, water quality, air quality, temperature control, practicing all-in all-out management and ensuring sanitary conditions. Vaccinations, where applicable, and the use of medicated feed or water medications can also serve as preventative measures.

Once SRD is confirmed, Okones recommends working with your herd vet to determine the treatment plan that will be most effective. Antibiotics play a critical role in treatment, especially when secondary bacterial infections follow viral outbreaks. The choice and method of antibiotic administration depends on the specific pathogens involved and the disease's incidence and severity.

“If you treat early, you may reduce the incidence of the bacteria in that pen, and ultimately the barn,” says Okones. “When the infected animal coughs, it’s shedding the bacteria to the pigs around it, which is how it can quickly spread throughout the barn.”

In cases of active clinical symptoms, a fast-acting and reliable injectable antibiotic like Tenotryl^® (enrofloxacin) injectable solution, Tulissin^® 100 (tulathromycin injection) injectable solution and Tulissin^® 25 (tulathromycin injection) injectable solution will provide the most immediate response.

Good record-keeping helps track treatments and identify treated animals. Monitor clinical signs in treated animals to gauge treatment effectiveness and know when additional measures are needed.

Treating SRD requires a multifaceted approach, combining good husbandry, effective biosecurity and strategic use of antibiotics. By working with a herd veterinarian and Pharmgate Animal Health, hog farmers can enhance their herd management practices and mitigate the impact of swine respiratory disease.

For more information on managing SRD and other swine health issues or to contact a representative, visit Pharmgate.com/usa.

Swine Important Safety Information: Tenotryl^® (enrofloxacin) 100 mg/ml Antimicrobial Injectable Solution: Not for use in humans. For intramuscular or subcutaneous use in swine. Federal (USA) law restricts this drug to use by or on the order of a licensed veterinarian and prohibits the extra-label use of this drug in food producing animals. To assure responsible antimicrobial drug use, enrofloxacin should only be used as a second-line drug for colibacillosis in swine following consideration of other therapeutic options. Animals intended for human consumption must not be slaughtered within 5 days of receiving a single injection dose. The effects of enrofloxacin on swine reproductive performance, pregnancy and lactation have not been adequately determined.  The long-term effects on articular joint cartilage have not been determined in pigs above market weight. Subcutaneous or intramuscular injection in swine can cause a transient local tissue reaction and may result in trim loss of edible tissue at slaughter. Quinolone-class drugs should be used with caution in animals with known or suspected Central Nervous System (CNS) disorders. For full prescribing information, click here.

Swine Important Safety Information: Tulissin^® 25 (tulathromycin injection) injectable solution: Ensure a pre-slaughter withdrawal time of five (5) days in swine. The effects of tulathromycin on swine reproductive performance, pregnancy and lactation have not been determined. Do not use in animals known to be hypersensitive to the product. For full prescribing information, click here.

Swine Important Safety Information: Tulissin^® 100 (tulathromycin injection)injectable solution: Ensure a pre-slaughter withdrawal time of five (5) days in swine. The effects of tulathromycin on swine reproductive performance, pregnancy and lactation have not been determined. Do not use in animals known to be hypersensitive to the product. For full prescribing information, click here.

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