Swine Anesthesia

Question 1

How long should you fast your pig prior to anesthesia?

Answer 1

Fast for 12-24hrs

No water for 2-4hrs

Question 2

Intramuscular injections are required for chemical restraint in pigs. How and where do you administer them?

Answer 2

Long hypodermic needle
-hand dart / pole-syringe

Shoulder/neck, semimembranosus or semitendinsosis

AVOID thick fat deposits —> delay onset and prolong recovery

Question 3

T/F: most sedatives are very effective in swine

Answer 3

False

—> rather include ketamine for proper immobilization 
With... 
-midazolam 
-azaperone
-xylazine 
-medetomidine 
-ACP

Question 4

Where can you put a IV catheter in pig?

Answer 4

Auricular vein

Could try femoral/saphenous but not easily visualizable

Question 5

What agents can be used for induction in swine?

Answer 5

Ketamine (IM/IV) +/- Xylazine

Telzaol ( tiletamine and zolazepam)

Thiopentone

Inhalation by mask is last resort!

Question 6

What size of ETT tube is used in pig

Answer 6

6mm-16mm

Question 7

When should you intubate a pig?

Answer 7

When they are in plane III of anesthesia

—> risk of laryngospasm

Question 8

You shoudl turn the ETT about 180 degrees when you reach the ______________________ which will direct the tip of the tube into the trachea

Answer 8

Larygnotracheal junction curve

Question 9

What are ways of maintaining pigs under anesthesia ?

Answer 9

ISO/sevoflurane

Triple drip

Propofol based CRI

Question 10

Where can you place a Doppler on a pig?

Answer 10

Leg/tail

Question 11

For a direct BP measurement, you can used what artery in a pig?

Answer 11

Auricular artery

Question 12

When should you extubate you pig??

Answer 12

When swallowing reflex returns

Be careful of laryngospasms

Question 13

T/F: pigs are susceptible to hypothermia

Answer 13

True

-blanket or lamp

Question 14

What can be used for analgesia in pigs?

Answer 14

NSAIDS: flunixine, ketoprofen, carprofen, meloxicam

Opioids: butorphanol, morphine, fentanyl

Question 15

What is malignant hyperthermia ?

Answer 15

Life-threatening skeletal muscle pharmaco-genetic syndrome

Due to mutation in ryanodine gene —> dysfunctional release of Ca into sarcoplsm

Question 16

What species can develop malignant hyperthermia ?

Answer 16

Human
Pig
Horse

Question 17

What breeds of pigs most commonly get malignant hyperthermia ?

Answer 17

Large white type

• large white
• landrace
• spotted white
• hampshire
• pietrain
• Poland-china

Question 18

What type of inhalant most commonly causes malignant hyperthermia?

Answer 18

Halothane

Question 19

What are triggering factors for malignant hyperthermia?

Answer 19

Stress
Inhalation anesthetics
Depolarizing muscle relaxants

Question 20

What are signs of malignant hyperthermia?

Answer 20

Sweating 
Tachypnea 
Tachycardia 
Hypertension 
Muscle rigidity and twitching 
Myoglobinuria
Death

Question 21

How can you prevent malignant hyperthermia?

Answer 21

Minimize stres
Pre-treat susceptible pigs with dantrolene
Used injectable anesthetic vs inhalant

Question 22

What is the treatment of malignant hyperthermia?

Answer 22

Stop inhalation anesthetic 
Dantrolene
Water/ice bath 
Cold Iv fluid
ACP for vasodilation 
Na bicarb for acidosis 
TLC