CHAPTER VII 

 ANOMALIES AND DISEASES OF YOUNG PIGS 



PERSISTENT URACHUS 



The urachus is the communicating tube of the bladder and the 

 allantoic cavity during fetal life and closes under normal conditions 

 at the time of birth. Persistent urachus occurs most frequently in 

 males. It is evidenced by constant dribbling of urine from the 

 umbilicus. 



In treating such cases it is advisable to see that the urethra is 

 open. If portions of the umbilicus remain, a ligature may be ap- 

 plied and thus close the urachus. This simple treatment is usually 

 sufficient, providing there is no infection of the umbilical structures. 

 If the urachus has withdrawn into the body cavity a suture may be 

 passed around it by means of a curved needle and then ligated. 



ATRESIA ANI 



The absence of an anus is relatively common in pigs. The cause 

 of this condition is not known, but apparently is due to the failure 

 of invagination of the skin to unite with the distal end of the rectum. 



An artificial anus may be made in the majority of such cases by 

 making a crucial incision through the skin in the anal area, seeing 

 to it that the distal end of the rectum is also incised. The triangular 

 skin-flaps may be sutured to the flaps of the rectum, or they may be 

 removed, as granulation tissue soon unites the mucous membrane of 

 the rectum and the skin. 



OMPHALOPHLEBITIS, PYEMIC ARTHRITIS (NAVEL ILL) 



This is an acute infectious disease of recently farrowed pigs char- 

 acterized by inflammation of the umbilical tissues and suppurative 

 arthritis. 



Navel or joint ill has prevailed more or less extensively since the 

 dawn of history. In some years this disease is responsible for the 

 loss of a large percentage of the young pigs produced in certain coiri- 

 munities. The disease occurs enzootically and as an epizootic, spo- 

 radic cases being rare. 



