**4. Tools and protocols after parturition**

After parturition, it is important to investigate whether the sow is at risk or suffers from puerperal disease. Sows at risk are, e.g., sows that had constipation or stress, are obese, had a prolonged parturition, experienced birth help, and gave birth to more than one stillborn piglets (**Table 6**) [3, 21, 35]. These sows need to be checked within 3 days after parturition whether the animals shows general symptoms or other clinical signs of PDS [77, 78]. Underlying causes for PDS can be constipation, endometritis/metritis, cystitis, and mastitis [12, 62]. The underlying cause needs to be diagnosed and immediately treated.
