ULCERS IN SHOW PIGS

One of the topics that always come up are ulcers in show pigs.  There are some infectious diseases that cause vomiting along with scours and certain mycotoxins can cause vomiting.  With those exceptions when you see a show pig vomiting they almost certainly have a gastric ulcer. 

So what are the causes of gastric ulcers? 

    1. Anything that makes pigs go off feed.    

    2. Feed that is too small particle size. (Ground too fine)

    3. Vitamin E/ Selenium deficiency

    4. Copper toxicity

    5. Significant parasite load 

Helicobacter pylori is often found in the mucus lining of the pig stomach and is believed to be an infectious component of gastric ulcers in pigs.

Of the five common causes we listed by far the most common one is anything that makes a pig go off feed.  In studies that were meant to measure the effect of out of feed events in finishing pigs they found that about 80% of otherwise healthy pigs that were out of feed for 24 hours developed ulcers. When they extended the out of feed time to 48 hours 100% of the pigs developed ulcers. That’s one reason we don’t just wait out a case of cracked back / dippity pig. It can keep a pig off feed for days.

How do I tell if my pig might have an ulcer?

The cardinal clinical sign in a pig with an ulcer is vomiting.  But some more subtle signs can be observed by the attentive feeder.  The pain associated with an ulcer will often cause pigs to roach their back while eating.  Those pigs might also eat a little and then go back and forth to drink water or eat a bite or two and stop and lie down. If the pig is bleeding a lot they’ll have dark tarry stools and may appear pale or “bleached out.” Just keep in mind not all ulcers bleed enough to cause dark stools or anemia.  

How do you prevent ulcers?  

The number one answer is to keep them eating. That’s where a supplement like TrueGlo Turbo comes into play.  We haven’t found any supplement that stimulates appetite as well as “Turbo.”  There are also some plant based supplements that are claimed to help prevent ulcers.  If a pig gets sick and goes off feed get them treated ASAP and get them back on feed.

Ok it looks like my pig has an ulcer. What do I do now? 

Work with your veterinarian not only will they help you make the correct diagnosis. You will need your veterinarian for treatment because a number of the treatment options are either prescription or extra label.

Over the years we’ve settled on our own solution for our show pig clients. We’ve shared that ulcer protocol with lots of folks over the years and we’ll share it again here. It is a 14 day treatment protocol. 

On day 1 

Treat the underlying cause of them going off feed. Often it will be a respiratory or other infection that will require antibiotics and perhaps anti-inflammatory medication.

Start UlcerGard (it is a horse label product for prevention of ulcers so using it to treat ulcers in pigs requires your veterinarian to prescribe it as an extra label treatment) We try to give around 40 mg of omeprazole per day for a finishing pig. The whole tube contains 2280 mg of omeprazole so the dose for a pig is about 1/57 th of a tube. It’s a tiny amount.  Pigs, like horses, require a small amount of sodium bicarbonate (baking soda)  along with the omeprazole for good absorption.  The UlcerGard has sodium bicarbonate in its formula but if you choose to use another formulation of omeprazole you’ll want to feed a small amount of baking soda with it. 

Start giving Bismuth subsalicylate. We will give one or two ounces depending on the size of the pig. This product isn’t labeled for pigs so it also requires your veterinarian to prescribe it extra label.   We use this because, in addition to its antacid properties, there is  data suggesting that bismuth reduces the population of Helicobacter.  One word of caution, because of the similarity of subsalicylate molecule to aspirin it can cross react resulting in a failed drug test if used close to a show. Here is a link to Bismusol from Priority Care. You can buy it at many animal health suppliers or from your veterinarian.

Give a Vitamin B12 injection.

Administer a BoSe injection. 

Feed something they like such as straight oat groats, S’more Fill, or the like. 

Day 2-14 

Add regular feed back to their diet as soon as they start eating.  By 2-3 days of treatment they should be back to eating normally. 

If they aren’t eating by 2-3 days talk with your vet. They may want to switch from omeprazole to sucralfate for the treatment protocol.  Don’t use sucralfate and omeprazole together they do not play well with each other. We have to do this with a few every year that don’t respond to omeprazole.

If they have resumed eating continue the UlcerGard and Bismuth subsalicylate.

Frequently asked questions about ulcers in show pigs

What are the signs of an ulcer in a show pig? Vomiting is the big one. Outside of a few infectious diseases and some mycotoxins, a show pig that is vomiting almost certainly has a gastric ulcer. The quieter signs are worth watching for at every feeding: a pig that roaches his back while he eats, eats a little and then goes back and forth to the waterer, or takes a bite or two and lies down. If he is bleeding much, his manure turns dark and tarry and he can look pale or bleached out. Not every ulcer bleeds enough to show that.

What causes ulcers in show pigs? By far the most common cause is anything that takes a pig off feed. In research on finishing pigs, about 80 percent of otherwise healthy pigs that went 24 hours without feed developed ulcers, and at 48 hours it was 100 percent. The other usual causes are feed ground too fine, vitamin E and selenium deficiency, copper toxicity and a heavy parasite load. Helicobacter, a bacterium often found in the stomach lining of pigs, is believed to play a part too.

Can I give my pig UlcerGard? Only through your veterinarian. UlcerGard is omeprazole labeled for preventing ulcers in horses, so using it to treat a pig is extra label and your vet has to prescribe it, including how much to give. A pig needs only a tiny fraction of a tube. Pigs also need a little sodium bicarbonate with omeprazole to absorb it. UlcerGard already has it in the formula. With other omeprazole products, add a small amount of baking soda.

Is there an over the counter treatment for ulcers in pigs? Not really. Most of the treatment options for a pig with an ulcer are prescription or extra label, including the ones you can buy over the counter for people or horses. That is why your veterinarian needs to be part of it from the start, both to confirm it is an ulcer and to prescribe the treatment.

Can bismuth subsalicylate cause a failed drug test at a show? It can. Subsalicylate is close enough to aspirin that it can cross react and turn up as a failed drug test if it is given close to a show. We still use it in our protocol, extra label through your veterinarian, because it is an antacid and there is data suggesting bismuth reduces Helicobacter. If a show is coming, plan the timing with your vet.

My pig is drinking but not eating. Could it be an ulcer? It could. A pig with an ulcer often eats a little and then goes back and forth to the waterer, or takes a bite or two and lies down. Going off feed can also cause an ulcer on its own, so do not wait it out. Take his temperature, call your veterinarian, treat whatever took him off feed, and get him eating again as fast as you can.

How do you prevent ulcers in show pigs? Keep them eating. Since being off feed is the number one cause, anything that keeps a pig on feed is your best prevention, and that is where a supplement like TrueGlo Turbo comes in. If a pig gets sick and goes off feed, get him treated right away and back on feed. Make sure his feed is not ground too fine and that vitamin E and selenium are covered.

How long does it take a show pig to recover from an ulcer? Our protocol runs 14 days. Most pigs are back to eating normally within two to three days of starting treatment, and you add their regular feed back as soon as they start eating. If a pig is not eating by day two or three, talk with your vet. Some switch from omeprazole to sucralfate, and those two should not be used together. Once he is eating, stay with the protocol through day 14.