Surgical Procedures in the Pet Pig

This section is provided for information only.  Your veterinarian will be able to advise you of the necessary procedures and techniques required for your pig.  Please always follow your veterinarian’s advice.

 

Preparation:

Remove pig from feed and water for 8 hours.  Clean pig.

 

Sedation

It may be necessary to sedate a pig prior to surgery, the veterinarian will make an appropriate choice.

 

Anaesthesia

Prior to most surgical procedures a degree of anaesthesia will be administered.  This can be given by injection and/or by gas.

There are many different combinations of medicines which can be used to achieve sedation or anaesthesia. 

For example:

Intramuscular injection of Telazol® - xylazine-ketamine mixture (“TKX”). Reconstitute powdered Telazol® with 250mg xylazine (2.5ml) and 250mg ketamine (2.5ml). Dose at 1ml/25-35kg

Alternative could be intramuscular injection of xylazine 0.5-2.2 mg/kg IM and Telazol® 3-6 mg/kg IM. 

Injection-i

Injection-i

Telazol, xylazine and Ketamine being administered to a pir

Inject intravenous sodium thiopental to effect into an ear vein.  These can be difficult to see in black pigs

 

Gas Anaesthesia

In many long operations gas anaesthesia is used as this is a very safe form of anaesthesia.  Owners can help their vet tremendously by training their pig to accept a mask over their face, particularly if you make it part of a game at 3-6 months.

Surgery gas 1

Surgery op anaethesia gross

Surgery intubation4

Anaethesia may be maintained using the mask taped to the pigs snout.

If gaseous anaesthesia is required, use intranasal intubation to administer the isoflurane.  Note pigs may be halothane sensitive resulting in PSS

In hospitals it is possible to intubate a pig, but special pieces of equipment are required as the pig’s throat is very long


Surgical issues

 

Introduction

Spay

Caesarian

Preputial removal

Castration - piglet

Castration – adult

Scrotal hernia repair

Fat blindness

Why should I spay my pig?