If your pigs have pot bellies, rough coats, and are growing slower than expected, the most likely cause is internal parasites. Roundworm (Ascaris suum) prevalence in Philippine backyard herds runs as high as 25–60% based on UPLB studies, and mange affects 30–50% or more.
The good news: deworming is cheap and simple. And the payoff is huge. Research shows parasites can reduce weight gain by up to 40%. A single deworming that costs ₱25–₱55 per pig can recover that lost growth. We've seen pigs visibly improve within 2 weeks of a proper ivermectin dose — coat gets shinier, belly goes down, and they start putting on weight again.
"Pagpa-deworm na, laki na man." (Time to deworm, it is already big.)
How to Tell If Your Pig Has Worms
Not every wormy pig looks obviously sick. But these signs, especially 2-3 together, almost always mean parasites:
- Pot belly with visible ribs — the classic worm belly. The pig eats but the worms take the nutrients.
- Rough, dull coat — healthy pigs have smooth, slightly shiny skin. A dry, bristly coat is a red flag.
- Slow growth — if your pig is eating well but not gaining weight, parasites are the first thing to rule out.
- Coughing or "thumps" — Ascaris larvae migrate through the lungs before reaching the gut. Heavy infection causes a persistent dry cough, especially in young pigs.
- Pale skin or gums — indicates anemia from blood-feeding parasites or poor nutrient absorption.
- Worms visible in manure — adult roundworms (15–30 cm long, white/pink) sometimes pass in feces. If you see them, the infection is heavy.
- Diarrhea without fever — loose stool that doesn't respond to antibiotics often points to worms, not bacteria.
If piglets under 8 weeks are coughing and have poor condition, don't just deworm — consult your municipal vet. Heavy Ascaris larval migration in young piglets can cause fatal pneumonia. The BAI recommends treating the sow before farrowing to prevent piglet infection in the first place.
Deworming Products Available in the Philippines
| Product | Type | Targets | Administration | Withdrawal Before Slaughter |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ivermectin (Ivomec and generics) | Injectable (1% solution) | Roundworms, lungworms, mange, lice | Subcutaneous (under skin), 1 mL per 33 kg | 18 days (injectable), 5–7 days (oral) |
| Albendazole | Oral | Roundworms, whipworms, liver flukes | Oral drench or mixed in feed, 5–10 mg/kg | 7–14 days |
| Fenbendazole (Safe-Guard) | Oral | Roundworms, whipworms | Oral, 5–10 mg/kg | None at recommended dose |
| Doramectin (Dectomax) | Injectable | Roundworms, mange, lice | Intramuscular, 1 mL per 33 kg | 35 days |
| Levamisole | Injectable or oral | Roundworms, lungworms | Per label dosing | 7–14 days |
For most backyard farmers, ivermectin is the best first choice — it treats both internal and external parasites (mange, lice) in a single injection. Generic ivermectin is widely available and affordable.
What It Actually Costs
| Product | Package | Price (₱) | Cost per 50 kg pig | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Agmectin (Metrovet) sachets | 5g sachet | ₱25–₱55 | ₱25–₱55 | Most common in vet supply stores, powder form |
| GenVet Ivermec (UNAHCO) | Injectable | ₱35–₱80/dose | ₱35–₱80 | Ready-to-inject, widely available |
| Ivomec (branded) | 50 mL bottle | ₱800–₱1,200 | ~₱30 | More expensive but lasts 30+ pigs |
| Albendazole oral | 1 liter | ₱400–₱600 | ~₱15–₱25 | Cheaper per dose but doesn't treat mange |
At ₱25–₱55 per pig per treatment, deworming is one of the cheapest interventions in pig farming. Compare that to the ₱2,000–₱4,000 in lost growth a wormy pig represents over a growing cycle. Sus, there's no excuse to skip it.
Correct Dosing
Under-dosing is the most common mistake. It does not kill all the worms and promotes drug resistance.
Ivermectin 1% injectable: 1 mL per 33 kg bodyweight, injected subcutaneously (under the skin behind the ear).
| Pig Weight | Ivermectin Dose |
|---|---|
| 10 kg | 0.3 mL |
| 20 kg | 0.6 mL |
| 33 kg | 1.0 mL |
| 50 kg | 1.5 mL |
| 66 kg | 2.0 mL |
| 100 kg | 3.0 mL |
Injection site: Behind the ear, subcutaneous. Use a clean needle for each pig to prevent infection spread.
Albendazole oral: 5–10 mg/kg bodyweight. Mix the powder in a small amount of feed to ensure the pig eats the full dose.
Weigh your pigs before dosing — even a rough estimate helps. Under-dosing is the #1 mistake and it breeds drug resistance. If you don't have a scale, use a weight estimation tape or the heart girth formula. When in doubt, dose for the heaviest pig in the pen. For proper injection technique, see our pig injection guide.
Deworming Schedule
In warm tropical climates like the Philippines, deworm more frequently than temperate guidelines recommend because parasite egg survival is higher in warm, moist conditions.
| Animal | When to Deworm |
|---|---|
| Piglets | First deworming at 6–8 weeks (after weaning) |
| Growers / fatteners | Every 3–4 months |
| Sows | 2 weeks before farrowing (critical — reduces piglet infection) + after weaning |
| Boars | Every 3–4 months |
| Newly purchased pigs | On arrival, during quarantine period |
The most important single deworming is the sow 2 weeks before farrowing. Piglets get parasites from the sow during nursing and from contaminated pen surfaces. Deworming the sow dramatically reduces piglet worm load.
After Deworming: Clean the Pen
Deworming kills worms inside the pig, but parasite eggs survive in the environment for weeks. If you deworm and put the pig back in a contaminated pen, reinfection happens quickly.
After deworming:
- Clean the pen thoroughly. Remove all manure and bedding.
- Scrub floors and walls with lime solution (apog dissolved in water).
- Let the pen dry in sunlight before returning the pig — UV kills many parasite eggs.
- Replace bedding with fresh material.
Mange Treatment
If your pig has crusty, thickened skin (usually starting at the ears), intense scratching, and hair loss, it likely has sarcoptic mange.
Ivermectin treats mange, but you need two doses 10–14 days apart to kill mites at different life stages. A single dose is not enough for mange — the second dose catches newly hatched mites.
For severe cases, supplement with amitraz spray or pour-on directly on affected areas.
Avoiding Drug Resistance
If you use the same dewormer every cycle for years, parasites eventually develop resistance. The AASV (American Association of Swine Veterinarians) recommends rotating between drug classes:
- Cycle 1-2: Ivermectin (macrocyclic lactone class)
- Cycle 3: Albendazole or fenbendazole (benzimidazole class)
- Cycle 4: Back to ivermectin
This rotation uses two different drug classes that kill worms through different mechanisms. Most backyard farmers in Visayas and Mindanao use ivermectin exclusively because it also handles mange. That's fine for a few cycles, but if you notice deworming seems less effective (pigs still showing worm signs 2 weeks after treatment), switch to albendazole for a round.
Where to Buy in the Philippines
- Veterinary supply stores — available in every major town, usually near the public market. In Cebu City, the Carbon market area and V. Rama vet supply shops carry Agmectin and GenVet Ivermec. In Davao, check Bankerohan or Agdao vet supply.
- Agricultural supply stores — carry dewormers alongside feeds and fertilizers. Agrilife Philippines and other chains stock most brands.
- Municipal/City Veterinary Office — many LGUs provide free deworming during organized livestock health campaigns. In Leyte and Bohol, the provincial vet office runs regular barangay-level deworming drives. Ask your MAO (Municipal Agriculture Office) when the next one is.
- Online: Lazada and Shopee carry Agmectin sachets at ₱25–₱55 per sachet, shipped nationwide.
Always check the expiration date. Store injectable products in a cool, dark place (not in the sun, not in your pocket). A warm ivermectin injection loses potency.
Bisaya / Cebuano
Para sa mga mag-uuma
Unsaon pag-deworm sa baboy:
- Gamita ang Ivermectin injectable — 1 mL per 33 kg, inject sa luyo sa dalunggan
- Deworm kada 3–4 ka bulan
- Ang pinaka-importante: deworm ang anay (sow) 2 ka semana bago manganak
- Human sa pag-deworm, limpyohi ang tangkal — kuha sa tanan hugaw, lagay og apog
- Para sa galis (mange), kinahanglan duha ka dose — balik inject after 10–14 ka adlaw
"Gikutlan og ulod ang baboy" (The pig has worms) — kini ang pinaka-kasagaran nga rason ngano hinay motubo ang baboy sa backyard. Barato ra ang tambal pero daghan ang maayo nga resulta.
Related Reading
- Pig diseases in the Philippines: symptoms and treatment
- Why is my pig not gaining weight? — parasites are cause #1
- How to inject pigs properly — injection technique and needle selection
- Pig vaccination schedule — deworming is not vaccination, you need both
- Cost to raise a pig in the Philippines — include deworming in your budget
- Signs your pig is sick — when to deworm vs when to call the vet
Sources
- MSD Veterinary Manual: Ascaris suum in Pigs — roundworm biology, symptoms, and treatment
- CDC: About Ascaris in Pigs — zoonotic risk and lifecycle
- pig333: Ascariasis — prevalence and production impact
- ThePigSite: Mange in Pigs — sarcoptic mange diagnosis and treatment
- UNAHCO: GenVet Ivermec — Philippine ivermectin product data
- Pork Information Gateway: Managing Feed Waste — parasites and feed efficiency
- UPLB College of Veterinary Medicine parasitology studies (Ascaris prevalence in Philippine backyard herds)
- FAO Farmer's Handbook on Pig Production (deworming schedules for tropical conditions)
- Polley & Mostert 1980 (parasite effects on weight gain: up to 40% reduction)
