Pig Sedation

Re: Pig Sedation

bob lehner — Thu, 07 Mar 2013 10:48:28 GMT

Don't overlook the fact that even a 'pet' pig is classed as a 'food producing animal' and you have to abide by the Cascade requirements for FPAs - quite pertinent in the present climate ...!

Re: Pig Sedation

mariette asselbergs — Thu, 07 Mar 2013 06:47:38 GMT

Maybe not very helpful this, but, at Uni we had a teacher in ambulatory clinic who was a master in handling animals. He (tried to) teach us how you can get a pig to stand for an injection by making sort of " oink?" noises to them. It takes some practice but its worth trying out. The trick is the question mark, it must sound like you are asking something. You know when you get it right when you see the pig paying attention and becoming curious. Try differrent tone heights. People often think you are mad or a dotty woman when you do this, but it does work and you can easily inject them behind the ear in the soft skin, injection needle goes in like butter and they do not react.

The other thing is of course the noose around the upper jaw behind the canines. It doesn't have to be brutal at all, not a wire snare, just some soft rope. If done quietly the pig will just pull back in sort of a trance and you can inject.

Mariette

Re: Pig Sedation

krob3457@hotmail.com — Thu, 07 Mar 2013 00:53:55 GMT

Thanks very much that was really helpful! We have midazolam but not fentanyl never considered in the intranasal route. Just going to have to suck it up and chase it around the house a few times and try and get a jab in it! I thought some althernatives must have been tried before by somebody!!! Pet pigs eh!

Re: Pig Sedation

Aurelia Verdin — Wed, 06 Mar 2013 15:16:00 GMT

I had to sedate a similar sized pig also for foot trimming, it was a rescue pig that would sit and beg with it's mouth open for treats but unfortunately was in a field with no way of restraint! It also had very thick skin and I could not get a needle in by itself and with the syringe attatched could get a needle in but the syringe would snap off in the hub. This combined with me chasing it round a large sloping field pretty much ruled out injectable sed. After a few attempts I tried a torbugesic and domitor (I think, bit fuzzy now) banana sandwich which lead to some drowziness but not enough. After about 3 visits intranasal midazolam and fentanyl (hypnorm and hypnovel) did the trick, I did top up with im ketamine but don't hink this was really necessary. From what I remember of my research oral meds aren't as successful for things like sed as the hard palate does not absorb very well in pigs. I had tried to get one of my other collegues to see this pig whilst I was on holiday but for reasons best known to her the owner decided that she would wait for me to come back!

Re: Pig Sedation

Michael Woodhouse — Wed, 06 Mar 2013 12:47:22 GMT

I have used Stresnil in similar circumstances to good effect. Have owner corner pig before you get there. In with a board, inject quickly then get out. Go for a 20 minute cup of tea leaving pig 100% alone.

If still not sleepy enough you can always top up with other drugs (not more Stresnil).

Stresnil is licensed and does work quite well. Try it first.