Pig Health - Piglet Tail Necrosis
Mark White BVSc LLB DPM MRCVS
Dry necrosis of the tail of the young piglet is seen as an
occasional sporadic problem in the pig herd but has no
particularly significant adverse effects on the pig.
As well as being an aesthetic issue, it is most
significant when affecting pigs being sold under
conditions requiring an undocked tail, e.g. "green"
contracts, for weaners/growers and, in some cases,
breeding stock. Furthermore, tail necrosis can occur in
older growing pigs at any age as a result of systemic
infection or other insult. Occasionally the lesions can
trigger further damage from tail biting.
Description
The tail of the new born pig is highly variable in length;
the average length of a piglets tail is 9cm but the range
is from 5-13cm Necrosis (tissue death) of the tail can
occur within the first week of life, although there is no
data to link initial length with the onset of necrosis It
may appear as a constrictive ring of dead tissue at any
point along the tail, cutting off the blood supply to the
distal part of the tail, leaving a brown, hard, shrivelled
and brittle residue that will snap off easily. Alternatively, the tissue death can appear to start at the
tip of the tail - either its natural tip or more commonly
the tip left following amputation - and gradually
progress up the tail with the same result (Figure 1).
bacteria either from the biting piglet's mouth or from the
skin surface of the body.
3) Tail docking where clippers are contaminated, or
where no effort to cauterise or disinfect the wound is
made, bacterial infection gains entry to the cut tissues
and progresses up the tail (Figure 1).
Treatment
Where there is evidence that necrosis has started, the
tail should be amputated above the margin of
necrosis. By law, this can only be done, without
anaesthesia, up to 7 days of age. The cut surface
should be cauterised with heat or disinfected using
strong iodine.
Prevention
Prevention of tail necrosis depends upon identifying
and rectifying the underlying insult that allows infection
to gain entry.
a) Screeding of floors with a smooth finish (avoiding
excessive slipperiness) is essential. If not, then liberal
use of bedding (shavings, chopped straw, paper) will
act as a buffer between the pig and the concrete.
In most cases, the condition is associated with infection
into the skin of the tail by bacteria - most commonly
Staph hyicus - the usual cause of Greasy Pig Disease. As this organism penetrates into the skin, it causes
inflammation that may block the blood supply to the
extremities and without a blood supply tissue will die. The underlying cause of tail necrosis is, therefore,
damage to the tail and contamination. The primary
damage may be the result of:-
Early clipping of teeth using sharp clippers, individually
clipping the 8 needle teeth without shattering. Grinding
off the tips of the eyeteeth is a less traumatic
alternative. This should be done within 24 hours of birth
but only after 6hrs to avoid impeding colostrum intake.
Under UK law based on EU Directive, routine reduction
of the teeth is not permissible. However, it can be
performed under veterinary direction where there is
evidence to show that a failure to reduce teeth will
cause harm to the sows' udder or other pigs faces,
bodies and tails. Management and husbandry should
be reviewed prior to resorting to teeth reduction and
the necessity to reduce teeth at birth should be
continuously reviewed with the veterinary surgeon.
1) Abrasion on rough floors as the pigs scrabble to
find a teat. In this case, the abrasion may occur at the
tail head (Figure 2) or alternatively on the underside of
the tail 2-4cm from the base.
b) Fostering, evening up of litters and provision of
milk substitute should reduce the aggression at feeding
time and minimise damage between pigs (not just their
tails!).
2) Fight wounds - the earliest cases of tail biting! The needle sharp teeth of the new born pig can act as
an injecting needle, puncturing the skin and introducing
c) Avoid leaving residues of strong disinfectants on
floors, which will scald the skin of the newborn pigs
(rinse off and dry before re-stocking). Likewise, if lime
washing is used, ensure that the lime has fully cured
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(3-4 days) before stocking. (Uncured lime will
also cause severe ulcerative damage the sows'
udder).
d) Ensure tail docking equipment is kept clean
and is only performed by trained authorised
individuals. Clippers should be dedicated to the
tails (use different ones for teeth) boiled after use
and dipped in surgical spirit between piglets. Surgical spirit should be kept clean and regularly
renewed. Dip the cut tail in iodine dressing
immediately after docking.
Alternatively, dock tails with a thermocautery tool,
either gas or electrically powered and ensure it
operates at the correct temperature. If not hot
enough, it will not cauterise, if too hot it will cause
excessive tissue damage.
NADIS seeks to ensure that the
information contained within this document
is accurate at the time of printing.
However, subject to the operation of law
NADIS accepts no liability for loss, damage
or injury howsoever caused or suffered
directly or indirectly in relation to
information and opinions contained in or
omitted from this document.
To see the full range of NADIS
livestock health bulletins please
visit www.nadis.org.uk
As with teeth reduction, routine docking of tails is
not permissible but can be performed within 7 days
of birth by law (within 72hrs under Red Tractor QA
standards) where there is evidence to indicate that
a failure to do so is likely to result in damage to the
tail by biting. Management and husbandry should
be reviewed prior to resorting to docking and the
necessity to dock should be continuously reviewed
with the veterinary surgeon.
Tail necrosis in growing pigs
Necrosis of the extremities is a common sequel to
systemic infection as a result of arterial damage
restricting the blood supply or it can occur as a type
III
hypersensitivity
type
reaction
where
accumulation of antigen/antibody complexes blocks
terminal capillaries. The ear tips and tail are most
vulnerable but in extremes the lower limbs can be
affected. Tail docking at birth plays no part in the
later development of dry tail necrosis in growing
pigs.
Such lesions usually occur in the wake of a disease
outbreak and can be viewed as a recovery phase of
the disease. These types of lesions are seen in
association with Erysipelas, Haemophilus parasuis
and systemic salmonella infections but can also
occur as part of the Porcine Dermatitis Nephropathy
Syndrome, associated with Porcine Circovirus type
2 (PCVAD) infection.
Boehringer Ingelheim
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