Mini Pig First Aid
If you are having an emergency with your pig, you need to take your pig to the vet. Call you vet and let them know the situation and see what they'd like you to do. An emergency for a pig is a little different than an emergency for a human, pig emergencies can happen suddenly and typically need a vet's intervention immediately. A partial list of things that warrant an emergency include: inappetence (a pig that doesn't want to eat or drink is a sick pig), lameness, lethargy, fever above 103 F, broken bones, your pig not being able to defecate or urinate or straining to do so, infestation of foreign materials or items your pig shouldn't eat. There is a form you can use to help you answer questions your vet or vets staff may ask so they can prioritize the care your pig may need. Click here to view the form, there is a downloadable version (the mobile version will not format correctly on the website, but the printed version prints correctly)
First aid encompasses a lot of different things. What do you do for a pig that is vomiting, or a pig with a fever, how about a pig that's choking. This may be the single most important page to anyone who has a pig as a pet. There are many pages on the website that discuss different things about your pig including major diseases, but we included this page as a quick reference to common things you may find going on with your pig. Bookmark this page to quickly access it for any emergencies. Print them out and keep them in a binder for emergencies. Please check back though every so often, because we do update these pages quite frequently with new information as well as newly created pages for additional situations.
Please note the following list this was written by Cathy Zolicani, DVM, some things were added and modified by our team, but you should check with your own veterinarian before giving any medications. Call your vet and ask them what they recommend for particular situations. Ask them what they would recommend for the issues we address here and take notes so you're prepared should your pig have one of these situations occur.
ASPCA NATIONAL ANIMAL POISON CONTROL (available 24 hours a day) There is a fee, 65.00, so have credit card ready. 1-888-426-4435. https://www.aspca.org/pet-care/animal-poison-control
PET POISON HOTLINE (available 24 hours a day) This hotline also has a fee of 49.00. They will ask for your credit card when you call. 1-855-764-7661. http://www.petpoisonhelpline.com
Please contact your local ER vets BEFORE you have an emergency, so you know where to take your pig(s) if you need emergency care. Click here for a list of vets that see (or have seen) pigs. Click here to see a list of University Vet Hospitals. Click here to see our vet map. Click here for other links to help you connect with a vet in your area or surrounding area.
If your pig is sick, go to a veterinarian. Do not try to treat the pig yourself. Do not waste time online trying to find answers from people you do not know. People may represent themselves as "all knowing" or experts, but may be new to pigs themselves. You have no idea who you are talking to or getting advice from on Facebook, for example. It is not worth the risk to save 50.00 for visit to a veterinarian if you aren't sure what is going on with your pig. Don't risk your pigs life!! If someone else's advice kills your pig, that is because you carelessly took that advice. Your vet is the person whose advice you should be listening to.
Murphy’s law of veterinary medicine: Your pig will get sick at night, on a holiday, or after hours.
Reasons to go to the ER now:
To read how to do CPR, rescue breathing or the Heimlich on a pig, click here.
To read how to treat a pig with a fever, click here.
To read about basic wound care, click here.
To read how to handle a pig that gorges on food, click here.
To read how to handle a pig in shock, click here.
To read what to do about a pig that's suffered from water deprivation/salt poison, click here.
To read what to do if your pig is constipated, click here.
To read what to do if your pig suffers a fracture, click here.
To read what to do if your pig is suddenly paralyzed, click here.
To read what to do if your pig has diarrhea, click here.
To read what to do for a vomiting pig, click here.
First aid encompasses a lot of different things. What do you do for a pig that is vomiting, or a pig with a fever, how about a pig that's choking. This may be the single most important page to anyone who has a pig as a pet. There are many pages on the website that discuss different things about your pig including major diseases, but we included this page as a quick reference to common things you may find going on with your pig. Bookmark this page to quickly access it for any emergencies. Print them out and keep them in a binder for emergencies. Please check back though every so often, because we do update these pages quite frequently with new information as well as newly created pages for additional situations.
Please note the following list this was written by Cathy Zolicani, DVM, some things were added and modified by our team, but you should check with your own veterinarian before giving any medications. Call your vet and ask them what they recommend for particular situations. Ask them what they would recommend for the issues we address here and take notes so you're prepared should your pig have one of these situations occur.
ASPCA NATIONAL ANIMAL POISON CONTROL (available 24 hours a day) There is a fee, 65.00, so have credit card ready. 1-888-426-4435. https://www.aspca.org/pet-care/animal-poison-control
PET POISON HOTLINE (available 24 hours a day) This hotline also has a fee of 49.00. They will ask for your credit card when you call. 1-855-764-7661. http://www.petpoisonhelpline.com
Please contact your local ER vets BEFORE you have an emergency, so you know where to take your pig(s) if you need emergency care. Click here for a list of vets that see (or have seen) pigs. Click here to see a list of University Vet Hospitals. Click here to see our vet map. Click here for other links to help you connect with a vet in your area or surrounding area.
If your pig is sick, go to a veterinarian. Do not try to treat the pig yourself. Do not waste time online trying to find answers from people you do not know. People may represent themselves as "all knowing" or experts, but may be new to pigs themselves. You have no idea who you are talking to or getting advice from on Facebook, for example. It is not worth the risk to save 50.00 for visit to a veterinarian if you aren't sure what is going on with your pig. Don't risk your pigs life!! If someone else's advice kills your pig, that is because you carelessly took that advice. Your vet is the person whose advice you should be listening to.
Murphy’s law of veterinary medicine: Your pig will get sick at night, on a holiday, or after hours.
Reasons to go to the ER now:
- Your pig will not eat or drink
- Your pig will not move or respond to you calling its name/unresponsive
- Your pig is shaking violently, is stiff, or is moving in circles, pressing its' head against a wall.
- Your pig is having trouble breathing or gasping for air
- Your pig is vomiting blood or having bloody diarrhea
- Your pigs body temperature is below 98 or above 103
- Your pig has an obvious or suspected bone fracture
- Your pig is straining to urinate or defecate with no results
- Your pregnant pig has been pushing hard for 1 hour, you can see a piglet or part of a piglet in the vaginal canal, but the piglet is not coming
- Your pig has a substantial, unexplained injury and/or bleeding that you aren't able to control
- Your pig has a weak or rapid pulse
- Your pig seems to be suffering from heat stroke
- Your pig appears to be paralyzed or unable to move
- Your pig has suffered a loss of consciousness
To read how to do CPR, rescue breathing or the Heimlich on a pig, click here.
To read how to treat a pig with a fever, click here.
To read about basic wound care, click here.
To read how to handle a pig that gorges on food, click here.
To read how to handle a pig in shock, click here.
To read what to do about a pig that's suffered from water deprivation/salt poison, click here.
To read what to do if your pig is constipated, click here.
To read what to do if your pig suffers a fracture, click here.
To read what to do if your pig is suddenly paralyzed, click here.
To read what to do if your pig has diarrhea, click here.
To read what to do for a vomiting pig, click here.
Things to have on hand, to help your pig UNTIL you get to the veterinarian:
Links to some of these items can be found on our recommended product page which you can access by clicking here, but most can be purchased at local grocery or home good stores.
- Strawberry Koolaid (or any other flavor) – for pigs who do not want to drink, or have low blood sugar. Can be used to give some meds since it can mask the taste of a bitter compound.
- Gatorade (regular/original) or Pedialyte – balanced electrolyte solutions to replace fluid lost if vomiting or diarrhea occur.
- Low sodium chicken broth – can be used to replace fluid lost if vomiting or diarrhea occur.
- Campbell’s vegetable soup – many pigs will eat this when it is warmed up when they will not eat anything else.
- Canned pumpkin – high fiber to help if constipation or diarrhea occur.
- Applesauce – many pigs will eat this when they have poor appetite. Can be used to hide medication.
- Heating pad – for the cold pig. Set on low so piggie doesn't get burned. Also adds security for new pigs – they sleep better on those first nights home. NEVER use these long term or unsupervised.
- Karo syrup – a sugar source to help very cold or inappetant pigs, pigs with low blood sugar (hypoglycemia).
- Sugar – 1 teaspoonful in a cup of warm water can be put on gums to raise blood sugar of cold pigs. They do not have to drink it, it can be absorbed through the mucous membranes of the lips and gums.
- Instant oatmeal – many pigs will eat warm oatmeal when they do not eat anything else.
- A few syringes of different sizes or a turkey baster so that you can give liquids orally.
- A digital thermometer – to be used rectally (get one for only pig use).
- A fan for cooling.
- Ice packs (or frozen peas in a bag) for cooling and in case of a injury to a leg. Put a small towel between the ice pack and the skin.
- Honey – a sugar source for cold pigs – rub some on the gums. Can also be mixed in with canned pumpkin if they are reluctant to eat it.
- Full spectrum light (SAD light) – can be obtained online. Provides sunlight for pigs that are indoors only - needed so that Vitamin D can be produced and used. 10 minutes per day. Especially useful for piglets.
- Kwik Stop – a styptic powder to help bleeding hooves if you quick them during trimming. DO NOT USE ON SKIN because it can burn the tissue.
- Super glue – if you quick a claw during trimming, you can glue a cotton ball onto bleeding area and it will stop. Cotton will fall off or can be removed later.
- Q-tips & KY jelly – can be used to lubricate and moisten tissue. A small amount on a q-tip can be used to clean the outside of the ear and also lubricate a digital thermometer. Do NOT use Vaseline or Petroleum based products on your pigs otherwise, this leads to fungal infections.
- Handy bandage material (in case of a cut, scrape, etc) gauze, meriplex, even bandaids.
- Disposable diapers, reusable puppy pads (chucks) or sanitary napkins – clean absorbant material, easy to store and always have about.
- Masking tape (does not stick to skin, but sticks to bandage material)
- A couple of pairs of athletic socks or some boots made for dogs – to cover feet.
- 1 inch white bandage tape, rolled gauze and vet wrap.
- Penicillin G- having this on hand, especially for those who don't have easy access to a vet can easily save your pig life should your pig get sick and need an antibiotic. This must be given via injection and vet care should still take place, but having this on hand can give you a little time to get your pig to the vet. This can be purchased at most Tractor Supply Stores. You will also need to buy syringe and needles in order to give this injectable antibiotic.
- Bleach (multiple uses from injuries to sanitizing areas)
- Epsom Salt - epsom salt (magnesium sulfate) has many uses, but this is typically used for enemas or to relieve sore muscles.
Helpful over-the-counter drugs to have on hand:
For Upset Stomach (vomiting, not eating, diarrhea)
For Pain
For Constipation (they need high fiber diet)
For Itching / Hives / Swollen Eyes
For Weeping Eyes
To Kill Many Parasites (see parasite section for additional information)
For Coughing Pigs ( Click here to see reasons why your pig may be coughing. This needs to be differentiated from choking.)
For small scrapes/abrasions
For external bleeding due to trauma (Click here to see our wound care section)
For Pigs that have Ingested Poison (Click here to read more about items known to be toxic to pigs)
Call poison control 1-888-426-4435. https://www.aspca.org/pet-care/animal-poison-control (ASPCA National Animal Poison Control) - available 24 hours a day or Pet Poison Hotline 1-855-764-7661. http://www.petpoisonhelpline.com, also available 24/7.
There is a fee for either organization, so have credit card ready. Also, have the package, if applicable, with you when you make the call so you can tell them exactly what your pig ingested. If you don't know what your pig ate, neither do they. They cant give you instructions without knowing what your pig ingested.
- Omprazole/Prilosec - 5-10 mg once a day
- Famotidine/Pepcid - 0.25-0.5 mg per pound of body weight
- Ranitidine/Zantac - 150 mg twice a day
- Pepto Bismol - 1 cc per pound of body weight - may make the stool black
- Kaopectate - 1 cc per pound of body weight - may make the stool black
- Maalox liquid (for stomach gas) - 2 cc per 5 pounds of body weight
For Pain
- Buffered aspirin - 5 mg per pound of body weight twice a day. Must be buffered and given with food. Do not give if your pig is not eating and do not give for more than 3 days without seeing your vet. If there is a possibility of internal bleeding, Aspirin should NOT be used as this can lead to complications.
- Children's liquid Tylenol - 1 ml or cc (ml and cc are the same thing and used interchangeably) per every 6 lbs of body weight every 8 hours. (the usual concentration is 160 mg for every 5 ml of the suspension)
For Constipation (they need high fiber diet)
- Metamucil – start with 1 tbsp power in yogurt every 6 hours. Gradually build up to 1 packet every 6 hours
- DSS / docusate sodium (stool softener) - 200-240 mg per pig twice a day
- Fleet's enema
- Mineral oil (can be given orally or rectally) 1 tsp with a meal
- Hydration is VERY important, be sure your pig is drinking water
- Mobility- a pig that isn't moving around will have constipation issues
For Itching / Hives / Swollen Eyes
- Diphenhydramine / Benadryl - 1 mg per pound of body weight every 6-8 hours (maximum amount given should NOT exceed 75mg/three 25mg tablets)
- Natural tear eye drops. Be sure to look for foreign materials that may have gotten in the eye and remove is this is something easily removed. If you are unsure or the object is deeply imbedded, Do NOT try to remove this yourself because you can cause more damage to the eye.
For Weeping Eyes
- Terramycin ophthalmic ointment (available at feed store). Put a small amount in each eye twice a day
- Saline eye flush
- Vetericyn eye wash and eye spray
- Warm damp cloth to gently remove any debris
- Check for any kind of irritant that may have gotten in the eye. (This can be dirt or dust from straw, etc) If the weeping continues or your pig won't open its eyes, you may need to take your pig to the vet so they can use a special dye and special light to check for the presence of a foreign object or corneal abrasions.
To Kill Many Parasites (see parasite section for additional information)
- Ivermectin 1% injectable (for oral) 10 mg/ml . 0.1 – 0.2 ml per 10 pounds of body weight. Mix in yogurt or fruit juice and they will slurp it right down. This medication does NOT have to be injected, it can be given orally or mixed with something your pig will eat.
- Fenbendazole dewormer (for oral) Safegard for goats, 10% suspension (100 ml/ml) is an excellent choice.
For Coughing Pigs ( Click here to see reasons why your pig may be coughing. This needs to be differentiated from choking.)
- Children's cough syrup – (dextromethorphan 15 mg per 10 ml) – 10 ml per pig twice a day.
For small scrapes/abrasions
- Vetercyin wound and infection treatment (can be purchased online or at Tractor Supply Stores)
- Do NOT use peroxide as a cleaning agent, use soap and water to cleanse the wound before adding any kind of anti-infective.
For external bleeding due to trauma (Click here to see our wound care section)
- Apply pressure and elevate as much as possible. Trying to lift the area of injury (if you can safely do this) above the level of the heart can slow the bleeding down. If you are seeing "shooting blood" or you aren't able to control the bleeding, your pig needs to be seen by the ER vet.
For Pigs that have Ingested Poison (Click here to read more about items known to be toxic to pigs)
Call poison control 1-888-426-4435. https://www.aspca.org/pet-care/animal-poison-control (ASPCA National Animal Poison Control) - available 24 hours a day or Pet Poison Hotline 1-855-764-7661. http://www.petpoisonhelpline.com, also available 24/7.
There is a fee for either organization, so have credit card ready. Also, have the package, if applicable, with you when you make the call so you can tell them exactly what your pig ingested. If you don't know what your pig ate, neither do they. They cant give you instructions without knowing what your pig ingested.
***Warning – vomiting is not always good after a pig ingests a poison. Call poison control or your ER vet first***
- Hydrogen Peroxide 3% (in the brown bottle, for wounds) - can be given orally (by syringe) to induce vomiting. Dose: approximately 5 cc per 10 pounds of body weight
- Activated charcoal – Adheres to any toxin left in the digestive tract and prevents pig from absorbing it – get the liquid or powdered form (the tablets/granules are not nearly as effective). Watch out – this stuff is messy and will stain anything. Comes out in the stool and the stool will also stain everything. Dose: Adult pigs (over 30 pounds) - 0.5ml per pound of body weight. Young pigs (less than 30 pounds) - 0.1 ml per pound of body weight. Can be repeated in 8 hours. Click here to read more about using activated charcoal and the potential dangers.
- Mineral oil- will aid the stomach in digestion and/or limit the absorption of the toxic agent and facilitate movement through the digestive system.
- Oxytocin - 2-4 units subcutaneously (milk letdown, retained placenta, augment uterine contractions, agalactiasyndrome, post partum metritis)
- Calcium Gluconate 10% - 20 cc subcutaneously in several (4) different spots (augment uterine contractions) Colostrum substitute (such as Ultra-Start Colostrum) in case babies cannot nurse
- Goat’s milk or milk substitute in case babies cannot nurse
Updated 2016 by MPI team, originally written by Cathy Zolicani, DVM
Original Post https://www.facebook.com/groups/minipiginfogroup
Pet First Aid Tips
Do you know what to do during a pet emergency? Here are some common emergency tips:
- To determine if your pig is dehydrated, pull up on the skin between the shoulder blades. It should spring right back; if it stays tented this is a sign of dehydration. This may be harder to do on bigger pigs as their skin is usually right taunt. This is called "tenting" in human medicine and is used frequently to assess the level of dehydration. If you pinch the skin and move your fingers up so the skin is in the shape of a tent, it should flatten easily, if it "tents", your pig may be dehydrated.
- Signs of pet poisoning include bleeding externally or internally, dilated pupils, drooling or foaming at the mouth, seizures or other abnormal mental state or behavior.
- If your pet has a seizure, make sure your pig is in a safe place, but do not restrain the animal. Keep your hands away from its' mouth, as your pet may not know who you are during a seizure and could bite you.
- Signs of heat stroke or heat exhaustion include collapse; body temperature of 104 ºF or above; bloody diarrhea or vomiting; wobbliness/unsteady; excessive panting or difficulty breathing; increased heart rate; mucous membranes very red; and/or increased salivation. As you know, pigs do not sweat like other animals, so heat exhaustion or heat strokes can occur rapidly if they have no area to cool down like a mud pit or kiddie pool, or access to fresh water. If you see your pig "panting", this is an emergency. Your pig needs to be cooled down now. Do not submerge your pig in cold water, this is not an effective or safe method to bring the core body temperature down.
- Pets bitten by other animals need vet attention to prevent the wound from becoming infected and to check for internal wounds that you may not see with the naked eye. Never break up a fight using yourself as a barrier between 2 animals, as you could be bitten. (unless you have a sorting board to place between the two animals that protects you)
- If your pet is bleeding, apply direct pressure using gauze over the bleeding site. If blood soaks through, apply more gauze (do not removed soaked gauze) until you can reach a veterinary hospital. Click here for additional wound care information about basic wound care.
PIGS AND TICKS
This is a deer tick, a known carrier of Lyme's disease.
|
This is a western black legged tick, a known carrier of Lyme's disease.
|
Tick infested pig
Lyme's disease association guidelines for proper tick removal
Pigs can and do get ticks. During the hotter months when ticks are prevalent , a daily inspection should be done to ensure immediate removal of any visible parasite that may be feasting on your pig. Ticks carry the bacteria that Lyme's disease consists of. There are two different types of ticks that carry Lyme's disease. That is the deer tick and the Western black legged tick. The two look similar to each other, but they are two different types. My vet has ok'd the use of Frontline plus or Advantage plus for tick control, but asked that I use with caution paying special attention to the weight recommendations be to avoid overdosing.
(Please consult with your vet before using any products designed for another species of animal)
Pigs can contract Lyme's disease, there are several stages to this illness and not all animals, or people, have symptoms in all the stages. These symptoms can occur anywhere from weeks to months, but Lyme's disease that affects multiple organ systems within the body, so there are a multitude of symptoms that can accompany the disease during the various phases Generally, ticks cannot transmit Lyme's disease until they've been attached for at least 24 hours, so performing daily tick checks on your mini pig and removing them immediately can greatly reduce the chances of your pig contracting Lyme's disease as well. If there are any questions about whether or not the type of tick that you removed is one the types that's a carrier of Lyme’s disease, after removing it, place the tick in a plastic baggie and send it off for testing at an appropriate testing center.
(Please consult with your vet before using any products designed for another species of animal)
Pigs can contract Lyme's disease, there are several stages to this illness and not all animals, or people, have symptoms in all the stages. These symptoms can occur anywhere from weeks to months, but Lyme's disease that affects multiple organ systems within the body, so there are a multitude of symptoms that can accompany the disease during the various phases Generally, ticks cannot transmit Lyme's disease until they've been attached for at least 24 hours, so performing daily tick checks on your mini pig and removing them immediately can greatly reduce the chances of your pig contracting Lyme's disease as well. If there are any questions about whether or not the type of tick that you removed is one the types that's a carrier of Lyme’s disease, after removing it, place the tick in a plastic baggie and send it off for testing at an appropriate testing center.
Some common symptoms include- flu like symptoms, fever, usually a history of a tick bite, extreme fatigue, rash, neck and back pain, joint pain and swelling. But, these symptoms tend to happen in stages, so it may be up to you to notice subtle changes and alert your veterinarian.
Stage 1- you may have a rash, usually a circular rash that appears to look like a "bulls eye". During this stage, you may also notice a lack of energy or headache or stiff neck. Often times, the first stage is undetectable and there aren't any noticeable symptoms.
Stage 2- symptoms in people include memory loss/problems and weakness in the arms and legs.
Stage 3- symptoms may include swelling and pain (like arthritis) in the joints, the inability to control the facial muscles and numbness or tingling in the hands, feet or back.
The "bulls eye" rash is a classic sign of Lyme's disease, but this is NOT always present. Some of the symptoms are also presents in other illnesses, so diagnostic testing may need to take place to rule out other common illnesses. If you notice subtle signs of potential Lyme's disease, notify your vet as soon as possible so your pig can be started on treatment.
How to identify a tick with regions they're abundant
Click here to go to the tick identification site
You can read more about Lyme's disease in animals here.
Lyme's disease in animals
Mosquito Control
Avon skin so soft is usually the go to for mosquito control. Do not spray OFF or Deet products on your pig. There are several home remedies that you can try. But talk to your vet and se what they recommend before trying anything not piggy approved.
Rose P. Brown says : "I was told by a horse person who uses this recipe on horses...equal parts of (no alcohol) peppermint mouthwash mixed with apple cider vinegar and you can put a few drops of pure vanilla extract in spray bottle and spray on pets to repel mosquitoes."
Kathy Baldwin says: "I use the horse bug spray, on me too. My Elizabeth Ann went into convulsions after I sprayed her with deep woods off. I didn't make the connection because it was supposed to be safe for children. I called her vet, and she walked me through everything we did prior to to convulsions started. I called the # on the can, and they told me, they could only talk to my vet...ha, she was standing right there. Turns out it is a short term neurotoxin that was tested on pigs. Short term means if you wash it off, the convulsions will stop. We scrubbed her off, and problem solved...lesson learned."
Kimberly Preacher shared a post with the following information: It's summer! Time for camping, hiking and getting outside to play. Don't let those pesky annoying ticks stop you. Here's how with a simple homemade solution!
Repellent for your pets:
For pets, add 1 cup of water to a spray bottle, followed by 2 cups of distilled white vinegar. Ticks hate the smell and taste of vinegar, and will be easily be repelled by this ingredient alone. Then, add two spoonfuls of vegetable or almond oil, which both contain sulfur (another natural tick repellent).
To make a repellent that will also deter fleas, mix in a few spoonfuls of lemon juice, citrus oil, or peppermint oil, any of which will repel ticks and fleas while also creating a nicely scented repellent. Spray onto the pet's dry coat, staying away from sensitive areas including eyes, nose, mouth, and genitals. When outdoors for an extended period, spray this solution on two to three times per day.
Stage 1- you may have a rash, usually a circular rash that appears to look like a "bulls eye". During this stage, you may also notice a lack of energy or headache or stiff neck. Often times, the first stage is undetectable and there aren't any noticeable symptoms.
Stage 2- symptoms in people include memory loss/problems and weakness in the arms and legs.
Stage 3- symptoms may include swelling and pain (like arthritis) in the joints, the inability to control the facial muscles and numbness or tingling in the hands, feet or back.
The "bulls eye" rash is a classic sign of Lyme's disease, but this is NOT always present. Some of the symptoms are also presents in other illnesses, so diagnostic testing may need to take place to rule out other common illnesses. If you notice subtle signs of potential Lyme's disease, notify your vet as soon as possible so your pig can be started on treatment.
How to identify a tick with regions they're abundant
Click here to go to the tick identification site
You can read more about Lyme's disease in animals here.
Lyme's disease in animals
Mosquito Control
Avon skin so soft is usually the go to for mosquito control. Do not spray OFF or Deet products on your pig. There are several home remedies that you can try. But talk to your vet and se what they recommend before trying anything not piggy approved.
Rose P. Brown says : "I was told by a horse person who uses this recipe on horses...equal parts of (no alcohol) peppermint mouthwash mixed with apple cider vinegar and you can put a few drops of pure vanilla extract in spray bottle and spray on pets to repel mosquitoes."
Kathy Baldwin says: "I use the horse bug spray, on me too. My Elizabeth Ann went into convulsions after I sprayed her with deep woods off. I didn't make the connection because it was supposed to be safe for children. I called her vet, and she walked me through everything we did prior to to convulsions started. I called the # on the can, and they told me, they could only talk to my vet...ha, she was standing right there. Turns out it is a short term neurotoxin that was tested on pigs. Short term means if you wash it off, the convulsions will stop. We scrubbed her off, and problem solved...lesson learned."
Kimberly Preacher shared a post with the following information: It's summer! Time for camping, hiking and getting outside to play. Don't let those pesky annoying ticks stop you. Here's how with a simple homemade solution!
Repellent for your pets:
For pets, add 1 cup of water to a spray bottle, followed by 2 cups of distilled white vinegar. Ticks hate the smell and taste of vinegar, and will be easily be repelled by this ingredient alone. Then, add two spoonfuls of vegetable or almond oil, which both contain sulfur (another natural tick repellent).
To make a repellent that will also deter fleas, mix in a few spoonfuls of lemon juice, citrus oil, or peppermint oil, any of which will repel ticks and fleas while also creating a nicely scented repellent. Spray onto the pet's dry coat, staying away from sensitive areas including eyes, nose, mouth, and genitals. When outdoors for an extended period, spray this solution on two to three times per day.
A PIG MEDICATION CONTROL STUDY
A thorough review of the anesthetic and analgesic options currently available to the pig industry by Robert Friendship (University of Guelph) and George Charbonneau (Southwest Veterinary Services, Stratford Ontario), presented at the 2013 London Swine Conference.
Background
It is generally agreed that all mammals experience pain in a similar manner to humans. Some species such as pigs attempt to hide the effects of pain. Possibly in the wild this behavior was protective, because a pig showing signs of pain might attract the attention of a predator. Therefore, one problem in pig production has been the difficulty in detecting pain and assessing the severity of the pain.
A second challenge has been the scarcity of products licensed for use in food-producing animals that are effective in treating pain. This area of medicine has expanded greatly over the past decade but the pharmacological options approved for use in swine are still very limited. There are other potential reasons that have limited the advancement of pain control in the pork industry including economics and labor requirements. On the other hand, there are important reasons why we need to carefully examine this issue and determine where there are opportunities to improve pain control. In certain areas, pain management might improve productivity but more importantly, an on-farm program to minimize pain will be considered part of responsible animal husbandry by the general public.
A report1 from the French National Institute for Agricultural Research expert panel on pain in food-producing farm animals published in 2012 advocated using “the 3 S approach”. The 3 S’s refer to suppress, substitute and soothe.
Under the “suppress” category, they suggested that a first step would be to review a farming operation and eliminate any source of pain that brings no obvious advantage to the animals or the producers as well as sources of pain for which potential benefits are largely exceeded by the negative effects. Secondly, “substitute” refers to identifying a painful but necessary procedure and replacing it with a technique that is less-painful. And thirdly, “soothe” refers to administration of pain medication where appropriate.
There are opportunities on every farm to improve animal welfare and possibly increase productivity by carefully considering the 3 S approach. Unfortunately, the topic of pain associated with pig farming has been sensationalized by various groups who generate revenue through propaganda. This creates an environment of distrust and defensiveness that is counter-productive.
In this presentation, the authors aim to have an open and frank discussion to explore how as an industry we can implement improvements in pain control and how we might move forward with continuous assessment and change as techniques are developed to ease pain in livestock.
Examples of the 3s Approach
Suppress
On most farms at first glance, there does not appear to be anything obvious that is done that creates pain that is not necessary or beneficial but maybe, if everyone spent time carefully reviewing management procedures, examples will be found. For example, a large number of farms have discontinued clipping needle teeth. For the most part, removing the sharp tips of needle teeth provides a benefit in reducing cuts and possibly minimizing the occurrence of greasy pig disease but there are farms where the number of damaged gums and broken teeth outweighs the positive benefits. It is something that needs to be evaluated on each farm. Rather than eliminating a procedure like needle teeth clipping, a better solution might be to improve the technique or possibly replace the old side-cutters that are being used.
“The times, they are a changing!” All stakeholders need to face the fact that expectations are changing. Two decades ago, it was common practice to castrate 90kg-plus boars after they completed record of performance testing. This was done on most farms without any anesthetic or analgesic. Post-surgical infection was not uncommon and excessive areas of trim were a problem at the processing plant. Almost anyone would have agreed at the time that this did not seem right but the practice continued. The industry came together, in the absence of public pressure, and decided that this practice could no longer be justified based on animal welfare implications. The cost of marketing these animals as intact boars was absorbed as part of cost of production.
Substitute
Over the past few decades, the swine industry recognized that castration appears to be more painful when performed on older animals and so has substituted castration of pigs under 10 days of age for the more painful traditional practice of castration of weaned pigs. Likewise, on many farms, there has been a lot of thought put into moving pigs. For example, better design of loading areas has eliminated or reduced the use of prods and minimized pig injury.
Soothe
This is an area that hopefully will develop further over the next few years as new products become available to relieve pain.
There are several categories of drugs that can be of use in reducing pain and stress. In general, there are drugs that tend to block all pain sensation, the anesthetics (general and local), and there are drugs which suppress pain, often referred to as analgesics or pain killers. There are drugs that primarily reduce inflammation, which is a major source of discomfort - for example, corticosteroid drugs.
In general, the swine industry needs to consider incorporating the judicious use of anesthetics and analgesics into standard operating procedures as a way of improving welfare.
Pain Management Expectations
Pain is defined as an unpleasant sensory and emotional experience that is associated with actual or potential tissue damage.2 Procedures that are potentially painful include tooth clipping, tusk removal, ear notching, tail docking, castration, scrotal hernia repair, abdominal hernia repair, Caesarian section, vasectomy and epididymectomy. The use of anesthetic or analgesic prior to routine procedures creates a logistical problem and increases labor costs. Pigs must be visited multiple times for one procedure.
Other conditions that are apparently painful include vaginal prolapse, rectal prolapse, fractures, arthritis, infections, bitten tales, bitten vulvas, shoulder sores, lacerations and contusions. Where these conditions are caused by deficiencies in the safety of the facilities or management problems, every effort should be made to correct the problems as soon as possible so that pain can be prevented.
The Canadian Veterinary Medical Association (CVMA) holds that castration of piglets to prevent aggression and boar-taint in post-pubertal boars is a painful procedure at any age. The CVMA recommends that, “when castration of piglets is required, it should be performed between the ages of three to seven days with the use of appropriate analgesia. Non-surgical methods of controlling boar taint should be considered as technology develops.” These technologies could include marketing of light weight intact males but this may be cause a reduction in consumer demand. Immunocastration with Improvest® is another alternative.
A survey published in the Canadian Veterinary Journal in 2007 concluded that “veterinarians needed to give more consideration to pain management in livestock” and the authors further indicated that “the cost of pain relief in food animals should be incorporated into current food policy rather than remaining one of the many extrinsic costs of food provision.”3
Although it is relatively easy to make these pronouncements, it is difficult for producers or processors to pass these additional costs along to the consumer and profit margins are already very tight.
Pain Relief Tools
There are a wide variety of anesthetic and analgesic medications that are available for veterinary use.
An ideal anesthetic or analgesic must be effective, safe and practical. Measurement of cortisol levels, vocalization, trembling and suckling behavior can be used to measure a reduction of pain. Off-label use of approved products with a Drug Identification Number (DIN) and compounded products present meat residue questions. Anesthetics may make the pig drowsy and susceptible to trauma or crushing by the sow. Intravenous medications are impractical for routine procedures due to the difficulty of performing intravenous injections. Intramuscular, subcutaneous and oral medications are much easier to work with.
The question of cost-effectiveness always arises. Arguments based on cost of pain control usually fall on deaf ears when it comes to explaining these constraints to consumers or society in general.
Anesthetics- Click here to read about appropriate sedatives and anesthesia for mini pigs.
Anesthetics – general – thiopental e.g. Thiotol® (Label) (IV): An ultra short acting barbiturate. Perivascular injections are painful. Causes some respiratory depression; a poor muscle relaxant and a poor analgesic. Pre-operative and post-operative analgesic is recommended. A narcotic and is therefore a controlled drug. There is no withdrawal period on the label indicated for thiopental. However, if thiopental was to undergo the approval process today, the lack of depletion profiles, MRLs and human safety data would make it difficult to determine that the zero withdrawal is appropriate given that it is cleared from the system by depositing in fatty tissue.
Anesthetics - general – ketamine e.g. Ketaset® (Off label) (IM/IV): A dissociative anesthetic that is not licensed for food animals in Canada. Not compliant with Canadian Quality Assurance guidelines. Useful for surgical procedures such as vasectomy, epididymectomy when boars will not be directed to the food chain. Some issues with respect to human abuse and therefore must be strictly controlled. No withdrawal information for food animals.
Anesthetic – general – carbon dioxide (Off label) (Inhaled): Carbon dioxide is being used in some European Union countries. There is a measurable reduction in pain response. The product does, however, result in increased death loss associated with the procedure. No withdrawal.
Anesthetic – local – lidocaine e.g Lurocaine® (Label) (IM/SQ): Used for regional infiltration, epidurals, intra-testicular infiltration with diffusion into the spermatic cord.4 Often used in combination with a sedative in order to reduce stress and struggling during restraint. The withdrawal is five days.
Analgesic- NSAID – flunixin e.g Banamine® (Label) (IM): Label claim for flunixin in Canada for a reduction of fever in pigs with respiratory disease but like most Non-steroidal Anti-inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDS), flunixin does have good analgesic properties when used peri-operatively and for chronic musculoskeletal conditions. IM injection can cause some local tissue irritation. Flunixin has been shown to decrease plasma cortisol and pain induced behavior when administered before castration in four- to six-day-old piglets.5 The withdrawal is 13 days.
NSAID – ketoprofen e.g. Anafen® (Label) (IM): Label claim for reduction of fever and inflammation associated with respiratory infections. This product does an excellent job of reducing fever. Young piglets may have lower peak plasma concentrations than older piglets. Can be used as a peri-operative analgesic. The withdrawal period is seven days.
NSAID – acetaminophen e.g. Pracetam 20%® Tylenol® ( Label) (Oral): Label claim is for relief of fever and associated clinical symptoms in acute respiratory disease. Acetaminophen has some analgesic properties but generally less than some other NSAIDs.6 Uptake through the digestive tract is greater than 90 per cent. The withdrawal is three days.
NSAID – acetylsalicylic acid e.g. ASA boluses®, Aspirin® (Off label) (Oral): Approved for cattle. In other countries, this product is recommended for the reduction of fever in pigs. ASA has weaker analgesic properties than some other NSAIDs and is less effective in reducing perioperative pain. High doses (e.g. 100mg per kg) reduce fever in pigs.6 No label withdrawal for cattle but because of the association with Reye’s syndrome in children, the Canadian global Food Animal Residue Avoidance Database (CgFARAD) policy recommends at least a 24-hour withdrawal.
NSAID – meloxicam e.g. Metacam® (Off label) (IM): Approved in cattle but not in swine. Has a European Union label claim for anti-inflammatory and analgesia including non-infectious locomotor lameness. Pre-castration administration of meloxicam in four- to six-day-old piglets significantly reduce plasma cortisol levels and decreased pain associated behavior for one to four hours when compared to negative control piglets.2,7
Corticosteroids – isoflupredone e.g. Predef 2X®(Label) (IM): Labelled for alleviation of pain and lameness associated with generalised and acute localised arthritis. The withdrawal is five days.
Corticosteroids – dexamethazone e.g. Dexamethasone 5® (Off-label) (IM): Analgesia is associated with the anti-inflammatory effect. No label withdrawal available for swine.
Sedatives (they are not analgesic)
Sedatives – azaperone e.g. Stresnil®(Label) (IM): Fast onset within 10 minutes. Provides no analgesia and therefore not suitable for use by itself for surgical procedures. Can be used in combination with a local anesthetic and as a premedication for thiopental for surgical procedures. The withdrawal is one day.
Sedatives – acepromazine e.g. Atravet® (Label) (IM): Variable onset and effectiveness. Provides no analgesia and therefore not suitable for use by itself for surgical procedures. Can be used in combination with a local anesthetic and as a pre-medication for thiopental for surgical procedures. The withdrawal is seven days.
Sedatives – xylazine e.g. Rhompun® (Offlabel) (IM/IV): An alpha-2 agonist licensed for cattle. Provides good analgesic properties. Xylazine is commonly used in combination with ketamine for minor surgeries and this produces a good combination of anesthesia and analgesia. No withdrawal information for swine available.
Euthanasia
Euthanasia provides pain relief that is absolute. As part of the Canadian Pork Council Animal Care Assessment, all farms have specific, age-appropriate methods for humane euthanasia in place and these are clearly stated in the farm euthanasia plan.
What is less clear on most farms is exactly how the decision is made with respect to timeliness of euthanasia. This option must be considered where prolonged pain control is impractical and animals should not be transported to market.
Summary of Some of the Research Initiatives at Guelph
Three studies were carried out on a 600-sow commercial farm and involved 997 litters and 4,379 piglets by Ryan Tenbergen (MSc student).
1. A study was conducted to determine the effect of minimizing post-farrowing pain by routine injection of an analgesic after farrowing was complete. Sows were either given an IM injection of meloxicam (Metacam®, Boehringer-Ingelheim Ltd.; 0.4 mg/kg of bodyweight; n=149) or a similar volume of a placebo (n=140) after farrowing. There were no significant treatment effects for piglet weight gain or mortality. Studies elsewhere have shown that treatment with pain-killers to sows that had a difficult farrowing or were sick (MMA) results in improved productivity.
2. A study was performed to determine if the same pain killer (meloxicam) could be used to minimize the pain associated with processing piglets, i.e. castration and tail-docking. Both male and female piglets were alternately allocated to receive a single IM injection of 0.4 mg/kg of bodyweight of meloxicam (n=1,427) or a placebo (n=1,461) at least 30 minutes prior to processing. Mortality and growth rate were monitored and treatment was found to have no effect. Castrated piglets receiving meloxicam displayed significantly less tail-jamming behavior and tended to exhibit less isolating behavior than piglets receiving the placebo. These behavior results suggest meloxicam did reduce pain. Likewise, plasma cortisol, which rises when animals are stressed or suffer pain, was higher in the piglets receiving the placebo compared to the meloxicam treated piglets for the first few hours after castration.
3. A second piglet study was performed to evaluate a different pain killer, ketoprofen (Anafen®, Merial Canada Inc.). This study involved 1,491 male piglets, which were alternatively to receive either ketoprofen (3mg per kg of bodyweight; n=755) or similar volume of a placebo (n=736) at least 30 minutes prior to processing. Results were similar to the meloxicam study, with no difference in growth rate and mortality between pigs receiving a pain-killer and those pigs receiving the placebo but behaviour and cortisol levels suggested a positive reduction in pain during the first few hours after castration.
Another study was carried out by MSC student, Michelle Lam. She evaluated the use of a local anesthetic (lidocaine) injected into the testicle to reduce the pain associated with castration. She also looked at the combination of freezing the testicle and spermatic cord with lidocaine, and using a pain-killer, meloxicam. The local anesthetic helped block the acute pain caused by severing the spermatic cord and removing the testicle, and the combination lidocaine and meloxicam helped reduce behavioral changes up to 24 hours after castration. The negative aspects of this approach were that the animals had to be handled twice because the freezing needed about three minutes to take effect and lasted for about an hour, and testicular injections did cause some discomfort.
Conclusions
Progress in animal welfare, including pain management, is being made. Implementation and improvement will require continuous reassessment of management and an awareness of new developments.
References
http://www.thepigsite.com/pain-control
Background
It is generally agreed that all mammals experience pain in a similar manner to humans. Some species such as pigs attempt to hide the effects of pain. Possibly in the wild this behavior was protective, because a pig showing signs of pain might attract the attention of a predator. Therefore, one problem in pig production has been the difficulty in detecting pain and assessing the severity of the pain.
A second challenge has been the scarcity of products licensed for use in food-producing animals that are effective in treating pain. This area of medicine has expanded greatly over the past decade but the pharmacological options approved for use in swine are still very limited. There are other potential reasons that have limited the advancement of pain control in the pork industry including economics and labor requirements. On the other hand, there are important reasons why we need to carefully examine this issue and determine where there are opportunities to improve pain control. In certain areas, pain management might improve productivity but more importantly, an on-farm program to minimize pain will be considered part of responsible animal husbandry by the general public.
A report1 from the French National Institute for Agricultural Research expert panel on pain in food-producing farm animals published in 2012 advocated using “the 3 S approach”. The 3 S’s refer to suppress, substitute and soothe.
Under the “suppress” category, they suggested that a first step would be to review a farming operation and eliminate any source of pain that brings no obvious advantage to the animals or the producers as well as sources of pain for which potential benefits are largely exceeded by the negative effects. Secondly, “substitute” refers to identifying a painful but necessary procedure and replacing it with a technique that is less-painful. And thirdly, “soothe” refers to administration of pain medication where appropriate.
There are opportunities on every farm to improve animal welfare and possibly increase productivity by carefully considering the 3 S approach. Unfortunately, the topic of pain associated with pig farming has been sensationalized by various groups who generate revenue through propaganda. This creates an environment of distrust and defensiveness that is counter-productive.
In this presentation, the authors aim to have an open and frank discussion to explore how as an industry we can implement improvements in pain control and how we might move forward with continuous assessment and change as techniques are developed to ease pain in livestock.
Examples of the 3s Approach
Suppress
On most farms at first glance, there does not appear to be anything obvious that is done that creates pain that is not necessary or beneficial but maybe, if everyone spent time carefully reviewing management procedures, examples will be found. For example, a large number of farms have discontinued clipping needle teeth. For the most part, removing the sharp tips of needle teeth provides a benefit in reducing cuts and possibly minimizing the occurrence of greasy pig disease but there are farms where the number of damaged gums and broken teeth outweighs the positive benefits. It is something that needs to be evaluated on each farm. Rather than eliminating a procedure like needle teeth clipping, a better solution might be to improve the technique or possibly replace the old side-cutters that are being used.
“The times, they are a changing!” All stakeholders need to face the fact that expectations are changing. Two decades ago, it was common practice to castrate 90kg-plus boars after they completed record of performance testing. This was done on most farms without any anesthetic or analgesic. Post-surgical infection was not uncommon and excessive areas of trim were a problem at the processing plant. Almost anyone would have agreed at the time that this did not seem right but the practice continued. The industry came together, in the absence of public pressure, and decided that this practice could no longer be justified based on animal welfare implications. The cost of marketing these animals as intact boars was absorbed as part of cost of production.
Substitute
Over the past few decades, the swine industry recognized that castration appears to be more painful when performed on older animals and so has substituted castration of pigs under 10 days of age for the more painful traditional practice of castration of weaned pigs. Likewise, on many farms, there has been a lot of thought put into moving pigs. For example, better design of loading areas has eliminated or reduced the use of prods and minimized pig injury.
Soothe
This is an area that hopefully will develop further over the next few years as new products become available to relieve pain.
There are several categories of drugs that can be of use in reducing pain and stress. In general, there are drugs that tend to block all pain sensation, the anesthetics (general and local), and there are drugs which suppress pain, often referred to as analgesics or pain killers. There are drugs that primarily reduce inflammation, which is a major source of discomfort - for example, corticosteroid drugs.
In general, the swine industry needs to consider incorporating the judicious use of anesthetics and analgesics into standard operating procedures as a way of improving welfare.
Pain Management Expectations
Pain is defined as an unpleasant sensory and emotional experience that is associated with actual or potential tissue damage.2 Procedures that are potentially painful include tooth clipping, tusk removal, ear notching, tail docking, castration, scrotal hernia repair, abdominal hernia repair, Caesarian section, vasectomy and epididymectomy. The use of anesthetic or analgesic prior to routine procedures creates a logistical problem and increases labor costs. Pigs must be visited multiple times for one procedure.
Other conditions that are apparently painful include vaginal prolapse, rectal prolapse, fractures, arthritis, infections, bitten tales, bitten vulvas, shoulder sores, lacerations and contusions. Where these conditions are caused by deficiencies in the safety of the facilities or management problems, every effort should be made to correct the problems as soon as possible so that pain can be prevented.
The Canadian Veterinary Medical Association (CVMA) holds that castration of piglets to prevent aggression and boar-taint in post-pubertal boars is a painful procedure at any age. The CVMA recommends that, “when castration of piglets is required, it should be performed between the ages of three to seven days with the use of appropriate analgesia. Non-surgical methods of controlling boar taint should be considered as technology develops.” These technologies could include marketing of light weight intact males but this may be cause a reduction in consumer demand. Immunocastration with Improvest® is another alternative.
A survey published in the Canadian Veterinary Journal in 2007 concluded that “veterinarians needed to give more consideration to pain management in livestock” and the authors further indicated that “the cost of pain relief in food animals should be incorporated into current food policy rather than remaining one of the many extrinsic costs of food provision.”3
Although it is relatively easy to make these pronouncements, it is difficult for producers or processors to pass these additional costs along to the consumer and profit margins are already very tight.
Pain Relief Tools
There are a wide variety of anesthetic and analgesic medications that are available for veterinary use.
An ideal anesthetic or analgesic must be effective, safe and practical. Measurement of cortisol levels, vocalization, trembling and suckling behavior can be used to measure a reduction of pain. Off-label use of approved products with a Drug Identification Number (DIN) and compounded products present meat residue questions. Anesthetics may make the pig drowsy and susceptible to trauma or crushing by the sow. Intravenous medications are impractical for routine procedures due to the difficulty of performing intravenous injections. Intramuscular, subcutaneous and oral medications are much easier to work with.
The question of cost-effectiveness always arises. Arguments based on cost of pain control usually fall on deaf ears when it comes to explaining these constraints to consumers or society in general.
Anesthetics- Click here to read about appropriate sedatives and anesthesia for mini pigs.
Anesthetics – general – thiopental e.g. Thiotol® (Label) (IV): An ultra short acting barbiturate. Perivascular injections are painful. Causes some respiratory depression; a poor muscle relaxant and a poor analgesic. Pre-operative and post-operative analgesic is recommended. A narcotic and is therefore a controlled drug. There is no withdrawal period on the label indicated for thiopental. However, if thiopental was to undergo the approval process today, the lack of depletion profiles, MRLs and human safety data would make it difficult to determine that the zero withdrawal is appropriate given that it is cleared from the system by depositing in fatty tissue.
Anesthetics - general – ketamine e.g. Ketaset® (Off label) (IM/IV): A dissociative anesthetic that is not licensed for food animals in Canada. Not compliant with Canadian Quality Assurance guidelines. Useful for surgical procedures such as vasectomy, epididymectomy when boars will not be directed to the food chain. Some issues with respect to human abuse and therefore must be strictly controlled. No withdrawal information for food animals.
Anesthetic – general – carbon dioxide (Off label) (Inhaled): Carbon dioxide is being used in some European Union countries. There is a measurable reduction in pain response. The product does, however, result in increased death loss associated with the procedure. No withdrawal.
Anesthetic – local – lidocaine e.g Lurocaine® (Label) (IM/SQ): Used for regional infiltration, epidurals, intra-testicular infiltration with diffusion into the spermatic cord.4 Often used in combination with a sedative in order to reduce stress and struggling during restraint. The withdrawal is five days.
Analgesic- NSAID – flunixin e.g Banamine® (Label) (IM): Label claim for flunixin in Canada for a reduction of fever in pigs with respiratory disease but like most Non-steroidal Anti-inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDS), flunixin does have good analgesic properties when used peri-operatively and for chronic musculoskeletal conditions. IM injection can cause some local tissue irritation. Flunixin has been shown to decrease plasma cortisol and pain induced behavior when administered before castration in four- to six-day-old piglets.5 The withdrawal is 13 days.
NSAID – ketoprofen e.g. Anafen® (Label) (IM): Label claim for reduction of fever and inflammation associated with respiratory infections. This product does an excellent job of reducing fever. Young piglets may have lower peak plasma concentrations than older piglets. Can be used as a peri-operative analgesic. The withdrawal period is seven days.
NSAID – acetaminophen e.g. Pracetam 20%® Tylenol® ( Label) (Oral): Label claim is for relief of fever and associated clinical symptoms in acute respiratory disease. Acetaminophen has some analgesic properties but generally less than some other NSAIDs.6 Uptake through the digestive tract is greater than 90 per cent. The withdrawal is three days.
NSAID – acetylsalicylic acid e.g. ASA boluses®, Aspirin® (Off label) (Oral): Approved for cattle. In other countries, this product is recommended for the reduction of fever in pigs. ASA has weaker analgesic properties than some other NSAIDs and is less effective in reducing perioperative pain. High doses (e.g. 100mg per kg) reduce fever in pigs.6 No label withdrawal for cattle but because of the association with Reye’s syndrome in children, the Canadian global Food Animal Residue Avoidance Database (CgFARAD) policy recommends at least a 24-hour withdrawal.
NSAID – meloxicam e.g. Metacam® (Off label) (IM): Approved in cattle but not in swine. Has a European Union label claim for anti-inflammatory and analgesia including non-infectious locomotor lameness. Pre-castration administration of meloxicam in four- to six-day-old piglets significantly reduce plasma cortisol levels and decreased pain associated behavior for one to four hours when compared to negative control piglets.2,7
Corticosteroids – isoflupredone e.g. Predef 2X®(Label) (IM): Labelled for alleviation of pain and lameness associated with generalised and acute localised arthritis. The withdrawal is five days.
Corticosteroids – dexamethazone e.g. Dexamethasone 5® (Off-label) (IM): Analgesia is associated with the anti-inflammatory effect. No label withdrawal available for swine.
Sedatives (they are not analgesic)
Sedatives – azaperone e.g. Stresnil®(Label) (IM): Fast onset within 10 minutes. Provides no analgesia and therefore not suitable for use by itself for surgical procedures. Can be used in combination with a local anesthetic and as a premedication for thiopental for surgical procedures. The withdrawal is one day.
Sedatives – acepromazine e.g. Atravet® (Label) (IM): Variable onset and effectiveness. Provides no analgesia and therefore not suitable for use by itself for surgical procedures. Can be used in combination with a local anesthetic and as a pre-medication for thiopental for surgical procedures. The withdrawal is seven days.
Sedatives – xylazine e.g. Rhompun® (Offlabel) (IM/IV): An alpha-2 agonist licensed for cattle. Provides good analgesic properties. Xylazine is commonly used in combination with ketamine for minor surgeries and this produces a good combination of anesthesia and analgesia. No withdrawal information for swine available.
Euthanasia
Euthanasia provides pain relief that is absolute. As part of the Canadian Pork Council Animal Care Assessment, all farms have specific, age-appropriate methods for humane euthanasia in place and these are clearly stated in the farm euthanasia plan.
What is less clear on most farms is exactly how the decision is made with respect to timeliness of euthanasia. This option must be considered where prolonged pain control is impractical and animals should not be transported to market.
Summary of Some of the Research Initiatives at Guelph
Three studies were carried out on a 600-sow commercial farm and involved 997 litters and 4,379 piglets by Ryan Tenbergen (MSc student).
1. A study was conducted to determine the effect of minimizing post-farrowing pain by routine injection of an analgesic after farrowing was complete. Sows were either given an IM injection of meloxicam (Metacam®, Boehringer-Ingelheim Ltd.; 0.4 mg/kg of bodyweight; n=149) or a similar volume of a placebo (n=140) after farrowing. There were no significant treatment effects for piglet weight gain or mortality. Studies elsewhere have shown that treatment with pain-killers to sows that had a difficult farrowing or were sick (MMA) results in improved productivity.
2. A study was performed to determine if the same pain killer (meloxicam) could be used to minimize the pain associated with processing piglets, i.e. castration and tail-docking. Both male and female piglets were alternately allocated to receive a single IM injection of 0.4 mg/kg of bodyweight of meloxicam (n=1,427) or a placebo (n=1,461) at least 30 minutes prior to processing. Mortality and growth rate were monitored and treatment was found to have no effect. Castrated piglets receiving meloxicam displayed significantly less tail-jamming behavior and tended to exhibit less isolating behavior than piglets receiving the placebo. These behavior results suggest meloxicam did reduce pain. Likewise, plasma cortisol, which rises when animals are stressed or suffer pain, was higher in the piglets receiving the placebo compared to the meloxicam treated piglets for the first few hours after castration.
3. A second piglet study was performed to evaluate a different pain killer, ketoprofen (Anafen®, Merial Canada Inc.). This study involved 1,491 male piglets, which were alternatively to receive either ketoprofen (3mg per kg of bodyweight; n=755) or similar volume of a placebo (n=736) at least 30 minutes prior to processing. Results were similar to the meloxicam study, with no difference in growth rate and mortality between pigs receiving a pain-killer and those pigs receiving the placebo but behaviour and cortisol levels suggested a positive reduction in pain during the first few hours after castration.
Another study was carried out by MSC student, Michelle Lam. She evaluated the use of a local anesthetic (lidocaine) injected into the testicle to reduce the pain associated with castration. She also looked at the combination of freezing the testicle and spermatic cord with lidocaine, and using a pain-killer, meloxicam. The local anesthetic helped block the acute pain caused by severing the spermatic cord and removing the testicle, and the combination lidocaine and meloxicam helped reduce behavioral changes up to 24 hours after castration. The negative aspects of this approach were that the animals had to be handled twice because the freezing needed about three minutes to take effect and lasted for about an hour, and testicular injections did cause some discomfort.
Conclusions
Progress in animal welfare, including pain management, is being made. Implementation and improvement will require continuous reassessment of management and an awareness of new developments.
References
http://www.thepigsite.com/pain-control