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Twenty animals were identified as lame. Sows were observed while loading into farrowing crates or while in gestation pens. Lameness was graded as 1 (not lame), 2 (lame), or 3 (unable to ambulate). Controls (n = 9) were treated with lincomycin systemically (11 mg/kg intramuscularly on 3 consecutive days) and treatment sows (n = 11) were treated with 100 mg lincomycin via regional intravenous limb perfusion (RLP), with the tourniquet left in place for 30 minutes, on 3 consecutive days.
Among animals in the farrowing barn treated with RLP, lameness in 59% improved to Grade 1 by day 7, and 83.3% of animals showed the same improvement from day 14 onwards. Among animals in the farrowing barn administered systemic treatment, 80% improved to Grade 1 by day 7 and 100% by day 14. In gestation, no improvement in lameness grade was noted in the animals administered systemic treatment until day 14, when one of four was Grade 1, and three of the four improved to Grade 1 by day 21. Among the RLP group in gestation, 60% and 80% of animals had improved to Grade 1 by day 7 and day 21, respectively. Two animals treated by RLP in gestation had improved to Grade 1 by day 21, but were culled for reproductive reasons prior to the end of the study. Univariable logistic regression analysis demonstrated a trend toward placement in a farrowing barn promoting resolution at 7 days (P = .08). At 14 days, housing in a farrowing barn significantly promoted resolution of lameness compared to housing in gestation (P = .04). No other factor (route, leg affected, bodyweight, or parity) was significant in univariable analysis.
This study has revealed that RLP is a feasible method of treating lameness in individual animals. While often placed without visualization of the vein, the butterfly catheter was easily placed in the dorsal common digital vein with the aid of a tourniquet. The results indicate that in some situations, RLP may provide more rapid resolution of septic causes of lameness, and may be a useful alternative for treatment of lameness in individual animals.
Dominguez BJ, Duckworth LA, Jones ML. Comparison of regional limb injection to systemic medication for the treatment of septic lameness in female breeding swine. J Swine Health Prod. 2016;24(2):93–96.
