Title: Farm Health Online – Animal Health and Welfare Knowledge Hub – Piglet Diarrhea
Headings: 
Pig Diseases
Piglet Diarrhea
Also known as: Scours. Including Post-weaning Diarrhea
What Causes Piglet Diarrhea?
Pre-Weaning in Piglets
Post-Weaning Diarrhea in Piglets
Porcine Epidemic Diarrhea Virus (PEDv)
Control and Prevention of Piglet Diarrhea
Maintenance of Disease Resistance
Maintenance of disease resistance can be enhanced in two ways:
Reducing Exposure of Piglets to Infection
Good Sow and Piglet Feeding Practice
Treating Piglet Diarrhea
Piglet Diarrhea and Welfare
Good Practice Based on Current Knowledge

Content: and
By ensuring good antibody development in the sow before farrowing. The development of active immunity in sows against the prevalent pathogens can be enhanced by controlled exposure of maiden gilts to dung from the farrowing unit in the introduction/acclimatization paddock before mating. If weaner gilts are bought into the unit, they should be introduced to the herd as early as possible after an appropriate period of isolation, to allow immunological acclimatization. There are several vaccines available that will incur protection against multiple strains of both E.Coli and Clostridial disease, for vaccination of sows and gilts before farrowing in order to enhance active immunity and production of antibodies in milk. See Colibacillosis for more details. Reducing Exposure of Piglets to Infection
Build-up of infectious agents that cause piglet diarrhea in farrowing huts can be avoided by cleaning and disinfection between litters and regular provision of dry clean bedding. Exposure of piglets to pathogens that cause diarrhea is linked to hygiene practises and bacterial growth and survival in the immediate environment of the piglet. Poor hygiene will allow bacteria and other pathogens to proliferate. Initial infections can be greatly reduced by a good level of hygiene and farrowing accommodation management. In farrowing paddocks, huts should be disinfected between litters, and bedding in each hut kept fresh, clean and dry.