Pantothenic Acid Deficiency in Baby Pigs

Abstract

Pantothenic acid deficiency in the young pig is characterized by poor growth, loss of appetite, scours, lachrymation, dermatitis, coughing, loss of the sucking reflex, a dark brown exudate around the eyes, spastic gait, "goose-stepping", alopecia, and low urinary excretion of pantothenic acid. The daily feeding of one mg. of calcium pantothenate resulted in an improvement of appetite and growth and cessation of scours. There was no great improvement of the other symptoms. This was probably due to the severe depletion of the animals since they were unable to respond completely to the administration of calcium pantothenate.However, the daily supplementation of 10 to 20 mg. of calcium pantothenate resulted in complete recovery and great improvement of appetite and growth.