Vetdle Archive Case #149: Swine Parakeratosis

Clinical Clues

Growing pigs develop rough thickened skin with a dull coat and poor growth rates.
Lesions are most obvious over the abdomen, legs, and behind the ears.
The skin is dry and crusty rather than greasy.
The ration history suggests mineral imbalance affecting zinc availability.
No mites are found on skin examination.
Parakeratosis is a nutritional skin disease of pigs commonly linked to zinc deficiency.

Diagnosis

Swine Parakeratosis

This case is most consistent with Swine Parakeratosis because the pigs have dry hyperkeratotic skin disease with a ration history suggesting zinc deficiency. The most important clues are the crusting pattern and absence of mites, which make mange less likely.

Learning review

Review the case evidence

Use the paired clues to explain how the evidence in this pig case supports the provided diagnosis, Swine Parakeratosis, then compare your reasoning with the case explanation.

Evidence checkpoints

Clues 1-2

Clue 1: Growing pigs develop rough thickened skin with a dull coat and poor growth rates.
Clue 2: Lesions are most obvious over the abdomen, legs, and behind the ears.

Clues 3-4

Clue 3: The skin is dry and crusty rather than greasy.
Clue 4: The ration history suggests mineral imbalance affecting zinc availability.

Clues 5-6

Clue 5: No mites are found on skin examination.
Clue 6: Parakeratosis is a nutritional skin disease of pigs commonly linked to zinc deficiency.

Self-review prompts

After clues 1-2, what evidence from this pig case shaped your initial interpretation?
When you compare clues 3-4 with clues 1-2, what changed in your reasoning about Swine Parakeratosis?
How do clues 5-6 align with the case explanation for Swine Parakeratosis?

Educational Use

Vetdle archive cases are educational veterinary games for diagnostic reasoning practice. They do not provide veterinary advice, diagnosis, treatment, or professional medical guidance.