Dissecting Animal Diseases with the Animal and Plant Health Agency

A case of lameness and recumbency in breeding sows

• Claire • Season 1 • Episode 1

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0:00 | 35:17

In this episode, Claire Scott, APHA's Pig Expert Group lead, and Chris Burns, Veterinary Investigation Officer (VIO) at Thirsk Veterinary Investigation Centre (VIC), discuss completion of a diagnostic investigation into a case of lameness and recumbency in breeding sows.

Please note that this podcast includes pathological descriptions of injuries and animal disease which some listeners may find upsetting. 

This episode was recorded in June 2025. 

Useful links: 

Find out how vets can submit farm animals in England and Wales for a post-mortem examination and check if the submission is eligible for free carcase collection. 

Find your nearest Veterinary Investigation Centre (VIC) or surveillance pathology partner.

Find out how vets can submit samples from farm animals in England and Wales for diagnostic submissions. 

This case was also described, with a picture, in the disease surveillance in England and Wales (April 2025) report which is published in the Vet Record. 

 A previous case was described in the disease surveillance in England and Wales (June 2020) report which is published in the Vet Record. 

Another interesting case of hindlimb paresis in sows is described from page 5 of the Great Britain pig quarterly report for quarter 2 of 2025.

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