What should you know about mastitis in pigs treatment?

In pigs, mastitis is inflammation of one or more mammary glands, often around farrowing or nursing. Affected glands may be firm, hot, red or painful. The sow may eat less, appear depressed or have a raised temperature, while piglets may become restless, nurse poorly or fail to gain as expected. This is an animal-health issue, not a diagnosis for a person with breast pain. A veterinarian must distinguish mastitis from injury, blockage, systemic illness or another cause of gland swelling.

Contact a veterinarian promptly and describe the sow’s stage of nursing, appetite, temperature if safely measured, affected glands and the condition of the litter. Keep the pen clean, dry and comfortably ventilated, and make water easy to reach. Follow the veterinarian’s instructions for examination, fluids, pain relief or antimicrobial treatment; never use leftover human or livestock medicine without direction. Ask how to support nursing piglets, whether they need supplemental feeding, and what medicine-withdrawal instructions apply before any animal products are used.

Seek urgent veterinary help when the sow is very weak, refuses water, has rapidly worsening gland swelling, dark or damaged skin, collapse, breathing difficulty or signs of severe illness. Prompt attention is also needed when piglets are cold, weak, repeatedly crying or unable to nurse. Separate handling should be guided by the veterinarian so welfare, nursing and infection control are considered together.

Which gland or glands are affected, and is there an abscess? What treatment is suitable during nursing? How should the piglets be fed and monitored? When should the sow be rechecked, and what withdrawal period applies to prescribed medicine?