Stooling in Weaner Pigs. What Is True, What Is Risky, and What Actually Works

[Henlus]

I want to clarify some common advice going around about stooling (diarrhea) in weaner pigs, especially the use of Sulphanor, tetracycline, Flagyl, and LA injections.
This is important because wrong treatment can worsen losses.

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1. Is stooling in weaners normal?
Yes.
Stooling in weaners is very common, especially after:

• Weaning stress
  
• Feed change
  
• Poor hygiene or wet pens
  
• Cold or fluctuating temperatures
  
• Heavy or poorly balanced rations
  

It is not always caused by infection.

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2. Are Sulphanor, tetracycline, or Flagyl the drug of choice?
No.
They are not first-line treatments unless the cause is confirmed.
Blind use of antibiotics can:

• Destroy beneficial gut bacteria
  
• Worsen diarrhea
  
• Increase drug resistance
  
• Waste money
  

Flagyl especially is often misused in pigs.

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3. What about LA injection (Oxytetracycline LA)?
Oxytetracycline LA can help only if the diarrhea is bacterial.
However, the advice “give 1 ml every 72 hours” is risky because:

• Dosage must be based on body weight
  
• Fixed dosing can lead to underdosing or overdosing
  
• It does not address dehydration or feed-related causes
  

LA injection is not a cure-all.

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4. What is missing in most advice
Most people skip the most important steps:

• Electrolytes to prevent dehydration
  
• Temporary feed withdrawal
  
• Feed quality and formulation check
  
• Hygiene and warmth in the pen
  
• Probiotics after antibiotics
  

Without these, drugs alone may fail.

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5. Feed-related issue (very important)
Heavy PKC-based diets can cause diarrhea in weaners.
Weaners have sensitive guts.
Too much PKC, sudden feed changes, or poor mixing can trigger stooling even without infection.

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6. Safer general approach to weaner diarrhea

• Withdraw feed for 12–24 hours
  
• Provide clean water plus electrolytes
  
• Keep pens dry, warm, and stress-free
  
• Review feed composition and mixing
  
• Use antibiotics only if there is fever, blood in stool, or weakness
  
• Always dose drugs according to body weight
  
• Introduce probiotics after treatment
  

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Conclusion
The advice to just inject LA and wait is partly true but incomplete and risky if followed blindly.
Successful control of weaner diarrhea requires:

• Correct diagnosis
  
• Feed management
  
• Electrolytes
  
• Hygiene
  
• Careful drug use
  

Drugs alone are not the solution.