Anesthesia in Swine

• no they are very strong
• a 40 pound pig is harder to handle Labrador retriever

because they have a higher body fat %

• IM for sedation followed IV or IM for induction
• IV is limited  and ears are really the only option

no, can not see the larynx so it is a blind intubation

• acute severe hyperthermia associated with anesthesia, exertion, transportation or other stress
• also called porcine stress syndrome

not frequently done due to conformation and high % body fat, but if we do do them then we do it the same way as we did for ruminants

• anticholinergics
• alpha 2 agonists
• acepromazine

• better at drying secretions in swine than in ruminants
• prevents/treats bradycardia
• GI stasis is not much of a concern in pigs

• xylazine
• dexmedetomidine (dexdomitor)

least sensitive and most resistant than other large animals so we use a higher dose

20 - 30 minutes

vomit

• thiobarbiturates (thiopental)
• dissociates (ketamine and telazol)
• GKX

ketamine because its cheaper than telazol

• 1/2 L bag of 5% guaifenesin, 5cc of ketamine, 5cc of xylazine
• administer about 1ml/kg for IV induction or give to effect then CRI for maintenance (2ml/kg/hr)
• we can put xylazine in the bag bc pigs aren't as sensitive to it as ruminants

• repeat doses of induction agents (1/2 initial dose of ketamine IM)
• CRI of GKX
• inhalants

• not held to the same economic concerns and can use more expensive drugs
• pre-meds followed by mask induction 
• can use propofol