Bolsover Hospital

This chapter presents an overview of pig husbandry, tracing the origins of domesticated pigs, describing global breeds and discussing practical management aspects. It explains that pigs were domesticated independently in western Eurasia and East Asia, with the species becoming culturally significant in Southeast Asia. It catalogues major pig breeds worldwide, detailing their origins, physical traits and uses, and highlights the importance of genetic diversity in modern breeding. It outlines methods of handling and restraint, housing systems and welfare standards, emphasizing hygiene, space and the avoidance of tethering. It also discusses herd health planning, disease control and record keeping, underscoring the veterinarian’s role in maintaining productivity and welfare. It explains waste management, environmental considerations and welfare monitoring through abattoir data. A significant section addresses the management of pet pigs, covering feeding, disease prevention, exercise, environment, legal requirements and handling. Moreover, behavioural issues such as tail biting and urine drinking are examined alongside environmental and nutritional causes. This chapter concludes with detailed guidance on farrowing management, enrichment, herd recording and productivity indices including farrowing rate and preweaning mortality. Humane handling, strict biosecurity, careful record keeping and adherence to welfare legislation are stressed to ensure healthy pigs, efficient production and responsible pig keeping in both commercial and smallholder contexts.

This chapter explores diseases that affect multiple organ systems simultaneously, often leading to complex clinical presentations and high morbidity. These conditions are particularly significant in veterinary and agricultural contexts due to their impact on animal health, productivity, and zoonotic potential.

This chapter details the principles and practical aspects of sedation, analgesia, anaesthesia and euthanasia in pigs, emphasizing welfare, legality and safety. It explains that azaperone is the only sedative licensed for pigs in the UK and describes its dosage, administration routes and various applications, such as preventing fighting, easing transport stress and assisting obstetric procedures. This chapter reviews the main non-steroidal antiinflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) licensed for pigs (flunixin, ketoprofen, meloxicam and tolfenamic acid), highlighting their interchangeable use, dosage forms and application under the cascade principle. It discusses anaesthetic protocols for piglets, growing pigs and adults, including both inhalational and injectable combinations, stressing accurate dosing, careful monitoring and the importance of owner consent when using non-licensed drugs. Euthanasia methods are addressed according to age and size, covering physical and chemical approaches, operator competence and humane handling, with guidance for on-farm slaughter under welfare regulations. This chapter concludes with a summary of relevant UK legislation governing pig welfare during handling, transport and slaughter, including the Animal Welfare Act 2006, the Welfare of Animals (Transport) Regulations 2006 and the Welfare of Animals (Slaughter and Killing) Regulations 1995, reinforcing the veterinarian’s role in ensuring ethical and compliant practice.

This chapter focuses on disorders affecting the brain, spinal cord, and peripheral nerves, particularly in companion animals and livestock and addresses diseases impacting bones, joints, muscles, and connective tissues, with emphasis on their effects in agricultural settings.

The reader will be aware how closely these two systems are linked. However, the conditions and treatments for these two species are different. Therefore, the two species have been largely separated in this chapter.

This chapter describes the veterinary problems that affect sheep and goats, which are both ruminants. The causes and treatments are described in depth.

The veterinary medicines licensed in the UK for sheep are very limited. They are almost nonexistent for goats. This chapter helps the reader to understand what medicines are not only licensed, but also available using the cascade principle. Where medicines are possibly toxic to goats, or where different doses might be used, is pointed out in the text.

This chapter tries to link sedation, pre-anaesthetic guidelines and anaesthetic difficulties in these two challenging species. Many goats are well-loved pets and pet sheep are becoming more common. The problem of euthanasia is discussed in this chapter.

Knowing what is normal for both sheep and goats is vital for veterinarians as well as for the animal’s owners and keepers. This chapter covers these problems extensively.

This chapter is very important, not only for veterinary treatments, but also for welfare considerations. The veterinary practitioner and the owners must consider individual animals as well as the group. The conditions are described for individuals, but blanket treatments are also described in detail.