The six most common pig skin problems in the Philippines — mange (galis), sunburn (kugang), erysipelas, greasy pig disease, lice, and ringworm — are treatable for under ₱150 per pig if you catch them early and get the diagnosis right. The expensive mistake is calling everything "galis" and dosing Ivermectin on what is actually sunburn or erysipelas.
"Dili tanan galis, usahay kugang, usahay sakit sa dugo." (Not everything is mange. Sometimes it is sunburn, sometimes a blood disease.)
Here is how to tell the common pig skin conditions apart.
Quick Visual Guide
| What You See | Where on the Body | Itching? | Most Likely Cause |
|---|---|---|---|
| Thick, crusty, gray wrinkled skin | Starts at ears, head, neck → spreads | Severe | Sarcoptic mange |
| Red, hot, blistered, peeling skin | Back, ears, snout (white pigs) | Mild | Sunburn |
| Diamond-shaped red or purple patches | Body sides, back | No | Erysipelas |
| Brown, greasy, flaky skin | Starts at face/ears → whole body | Mild | Greasy pig disease (Staph) |
| Dark brown insects visible on skin | Behind ears, neck, inner legs | Yes | Lice |
| Circular white/gray hairless patches | Anywhere | Mild | Ringworm (fungal) |
Sarcoptic Mange (Galis)
This is the most common skin disease in Philippine backyard pigs, affecting an estimated 40–60% of herds. Caused by the Sarcoptes scabiei mite, a microscopic parasite that burrows into the skin. The Merck Veterinary Manual's page on mange in pigs carries the clinical description and the treatment protocol.
Signs: Intense scratching, rubbing against walls, crusty and thickened skin (usually starting at the ears and spreading), hair loss, and in severe cases, a thick gray "elephant skin" appearance.
Treatment: Ivermectin injection, 1 mL per 33 kg, subcutaneous. Give two doses, 10–14 days apart. A single dose kills adult mites but not eggs. The second dose catches newly hatched mites.
For severe cases, supplement with amitraz spray or pour-on applied directly to affected areas.
"Tuslokon og Ivermectin, duha ka beses, dili usa lang." (Inject Ivermectin, twice, not just once.)
Important: Treat ALL pigs in the pen, not just the visibly affected one. Mange spreads by direct contact, and untreated pen mates will re-infect the treated pig.
Sunburn (Kugang)
Commonly overlooked because farmers do not expect pigs to get sunburned. But white-skinned breeds (Large White, Landrace) are very susceptible.
Signs: Red, hot, painful skin on the back, ears, and snout. In severe cases: blistering, peeling, and secondary infection. Pigs seek shade constantly and refuse to eat.
Treatment: Move the pig to shade immediately. Apply coconut oil or zinc oxide cream to burned areas. Provide cool water. Severe burns may need antibiotic ointment to prevent secondary infection.
"Buyag sa init, ang puting baboy dali ra mapaso." (Damaged by the sun, white pigs get burned easily.)
Prevention: Provide shade. This is the simplest and most important measure. No white pig should be in direct sun for extended periods.
Erysipelas (Diamond Skin Disease)
A bacterial infection (Erysipelothrix rhusiopathiae) that causes characteristic diamond-shaped red or purple lesions on the skin. It can be fatal if untreated. Merck's swine erysipelas page sets out the diagnosis and says penicillin is the usual treatment.
Signs: High fever, diamond-shaped raised red patches on body sides and back, lameness, not eating. In chronic cases: heart damage and arthritis. No itching. This distinguishes it from mange.
Treatment: Penicillin injection (Pen-Strep, ₱50-₱120 per dose) is highly effective if started in the first 24-48 hours. A combined Erysipelas + Parvovirus vaccine (₱120-180 per dose) is the standard preventive for breeding gilts and sows, given pre-breeding and boostered annually. Ask your municipal vet or check with INFARMCO and Lloyd Vet supply for current availability.
This is a veterinary emergency if acute. Contact your municipal vet if you see diamond-shaped lesions plus fever.
Greasy Pig Disease (Exudative Epidermitis)
A bacterial skin infection caused by Staphylococcus hyicus. Most common in young piglets (1–6 weeks).
Signs: Brown, greasy, flaky skin that looks like the pig was painted with dirty oil. Starts on the face and behind the ears, spreads to the entire body. The skin feels moist and slippery.
Treatment: Amoxicillin injection (systemic antibiotic). Wash affected areas with chlorhexidine soap. Improve pen hygiene.
Lice (Kuto sa Baboy)
Pig lice (Haematopinus suis) are large enough to see with the naked eye, dark brown insects found behind the ears, on the neck, and on the inner legs.
Treatment: Ivermectin treats both lice and mange simultaneously. One injection covers both parasites.
Treatment Cost Summary
| Condition | Treatment | Product | Cost per Pig | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mange | Ivermectin SC ×2 | GenVet Ivermec, WormVet | ₱30-₱50 (2 doses) | Treat ALL pigs, not just affected ones |
| Sunburn | Coconut oil + shade | Lana sa lubi | ₱5-₱10 | Prevention (shade) is free |
| Erysipelas | Penicillin injection | Pen-Strep, generic penicillin | ₱50-₱120 | Vet consult recommended, may need 3-5 days |
| Greasy pig | Amoxicillin + wash | Amoxicillin injectable + chlorhexidine | ₱80-₱150 | Vet consult for severe cases |
| Lice | Ivermectin SC | GenVet Ivermec | ₱15-₱25 | Same injection as mange, one dose usually enough |
| Ringworm | Topical antifungal | Tincture of iodine | ₱20-₱40 | Apply daily for 7-10 days |
Most skin problems are treatable for under ₱150 per pig if caught early. The expensive part is when you wait and the condition spreads to the whole pen. One pig with mange costs ₱30-₱50 to treat. Ten pigs with mange costs ₱300-₱500 plus 2-4 weeks of lost growth.
Wet-Season Skin Problem Surge
Skin conditions multiply during rainy season (June-November). High humidity and wet pen floors create ideal conditions for fungal infections, bacterial skin disease, and parasite reproduction. If you are reading this in July or August, expect 2-3x the skin problems versus dry season. The wet floor itself is the cause, not just a contributor.
A few specifically wet-season patterns:
- Greasy pig disease spikes in farrowing pens during typhoon weeks. Piglets get wet, get cold, and the staph infection takes hold within 48 hours. Keep farrowing pens dry, raise creep areas, and have amoxicillin on hand.
- Ringworm circular hairless patches appear most often July-September on pigs in damp pens. Treats with topical iodine, but the real fix is reducing pen moisture.
- Foot rot combined with skin lesions on the lower legs is a flooded-pen signature. See pig farming in rainy season for drainage and ventilation fixes that prevent this.
If you are seeing skin problems in 30%+ of the herd in any single month, the issue is environmental, not parasitic. Treating individuals will not fix it. Fix the pen.
When to Call the Vet
Most skin problems can be handled at the farm level with the treatments above. But these warrant a vet call within 24 hours:
- Diamond-shaped lesions plus fever (acute erysipelas can kill in 3 days)
- Skin lesions plus refusal to eat for 24+ hours
- Sudden onset of crusty, bleeding lesions in multiple pigs simultaneously (could be early ASF or classical swine fever, both reportable)
- Skin condition that spreads to a pen mate within 48 hours despite treatment
- Any open wound with green or black discharge or bad smell (necrotic infection)
Your municipal agricultural office can usually dispatch a livestock inspector or refer you to the nearest BAI-accredited vet. Keep their contact in your phone before you need it.
Common Mistakes
- Calling everything "galis." Not all skin problems are mange. The treatment for mange (Ivermectin) will not fix sunburn, erysipelas, or greasy pig disease. Identify the condition first.
- Using motor oil or grease on skin. An old-school remedy that is toxic. Motor oil is absorbed through the skin and damages the liver. Use proper antiseptics and antibiotics.
- Treating only one pig. Mange and lice spread by direct contact. Treat every pig in the pen, even those without visible signs.
- Only one dose of Ivermectin for mange. Mite eggs survive the first dose. Always give a second injection at 10-14 days.
- No shade for white pigs. Sunburn is 100% preventable with proper shelter design. Galvanized iron alone gets too hot. Use shade cloth (₱150/m²) or natural cover above the GI roof.
- Skipping pen disinfection after treatment. Mange mites can survive 2-3 weeks off the pig. Spray Virkon S (1:200 dilution) or 1:32 chlorine on walls and floor, otherwise the herd reinfects itself.
Bisaya / Cebuano
Mga Sakit sa Panit: Unsaon Pag-ila ug Pagtambal
Galis (mange)
Gakurog kaayo ang baboy, gakinahas sa pader. Baga ug maputi/gray ang panit, nagsugod sa dalunggan.
Tambal: GenVet Ivermec o WormVet, 1 mL matag 33 kg, DUHA ka beses (10-14 ka adlaw ang layo). Tambalan ang TANAN nga baboy, dili lang ang naay galis. Gasto: ₱30-₱50 matag ulo.
Kugang (sunburn)
Pula ang panit sa puting baboy (Landrace, Large White). Makita sa likod ug dalunggan.
Tambal: Lana sa lubi sa napaso. Pero ang tinuod nga tambal: butangi og landong ang tangkal. Walay puting baboy nga pwede walay shade.
Diamond skin (erysipelas)
Diamond-shape nga pula sa kilid sa lawas. Hilanat, dili mokaon. DILI gakurog (lahi sa galis).
Tambal: Penicillin injection. Tawagi ang vet, delikado kini. Gasto: ₱50-₱120 plus vet fee.
Kuto (lice)
Dako og brown nga insekto sa luyo sa dalunggan. Makita sa mata.
Tambal: Ivermectin injection, usa ka dose. Parehas sa galis ang tambal.
Importante: Dili tanan sakit sa panit galis. Kung Ivermectin ang gihatag pero kugang diay, usik lang. Tan-awa pag-ayo ang ilhanan bago tambal.
| Sakit | Ilhanan | Tambal | Gasto |
|---|---|---|---|
| Galis | Gakurog, baga ang panit | Ivermectin ×2 | ₱30-₱50 |
| Kugang | Pula, init, puting baboy | Landong + lana sa lubi | ₱5-₱10 |
| Erysipelas | Diamond pula, hilanat | Penicillin | ₱50-₱120 |
| Kuto | Brown insekto sa dalunggan | Ivermectin ×1 | ₱15-₱25 |
Learn More
- Pig diseases in the Philippines, complete disease guide including internal diseases
- How to deworm pigs, Ivermectin also treats mange and lice
- Signs your pig is sick, broader health symptom guide
Sources: FAO Animal Health Manual (Skin Infections), pig333.com Skin Diseases, Merck Veterinary Manual: Mange in Pigs, Merck Veterinary Manual: Erysipelas, Merck Veterinary Manual: Exudative Epidermitis, BAI Animal Disease Reports (accessed May 2026).
