Chapter 11 Miniature pigs
TABLE 11-1 Antimicrobial Agents Used in Miniature Pigs.a
| Agent | Dosage | Comments |
|---|---|---|
| Amoxicillin | 10 mg/kg PO q819-12h28 | |
| Amoxicillin/clavulanate (Clavamox, Pfizer) | 11-13 mg/kg PO q1219-24h9 | |
| Ampicillin | ||
| 10-20 mg/kg IV q6-8h11 | ||
| 6.5 mg/kg IM q24h9 | ||
| Apramycin (Apralan, Elanco) | 10-20 mg/kg PO q12-24h9 | |
| Ceftiofur (Naxcel, Pfizer) | 1.1-2.2 mg/kg IM q24h × 7 days5 | |
| 3-10 mg/kg IM q24h9 | No more than 2 mL/injection site | |
| 5 mg/kg IM q5-7d23 | ||
| Ceftriaxone | 50-75 mg/kg IM, IV q24h28 | |
| Cephalexin | 30 mg/kg PO q8-12h19 | |
| Cephradine (Velosef, Bristol-Myers Squibb) | 25-50 mg/kg PO q12h28 | |
| Clindamycin | 11-33 mg/kg q12h PO19 | Tusk abscesses |
| Enrofloxacin (Baytril, Bayer) | 2.5-5 mg/kg IM q24h23,32 | Extra-label use prohibited in food-producing animals |
| Florfenicol (Nuflor, Intervet) | 20 mg/kg PO q12h or IM, IV q6-8h16 | |
| 400 mg/gal drinking water q24h × 5 days23 | ||
| Gentamicin | 5 mg/kg PO q24h9 | |
| 1.1-2.2 mg/kg for 3 days in drinking water23 | Colibacillosis and swine dysentery | |
| Lincomycin | 10 mg/kg IM q24h9 | Mycoplasma |
| 11 mg/kg IM q12-24h23 | ||
| 8.4 mg/kg q24h in drinking water × 5-10 days23 | Swine dysentery | |
| Metronidazole | 20 mg/kg PO q12h15 | Prohibited in food-producing animals |
| Neomycin | 10 mg/kg PO q6h9 | |
| Penicillin G, procaine | 15,000-25,000 U/kg IM q24h23 | |
| 20,000-45,000 U/kg IM q24h9 | ||
| 20,000-60,000 U/kg IM q24h11 | ||
| Spectinomycin (Spectam, Merial) | 6.6-22 mg/kg IM q24h11 | |
| Tetracycline | 10-20 mg/kg IM q24h9 | |
| 20 mg/kg IM q48h9 | ||
| Trimethoprim/sulfadiazine | 5 mg/kg IM q24h28 | |
| 25-50 mg/kg PO q24h28 | ||
| Tylosin (Tylan, Elanco) | 9 mg/kg IM q12-24h9 |
a Not to be used in animals for human consumption.
TABLE 11-2 Antiparasitic Agents Used in Miniature Pigs.a
| Agent | Dosage | Comments |
|---|---|---|
| Dichlorvos | 20 mg/kg PO2,25 | |
| Doramectin | 0.3 mg/kg IM13 | Use same as ivermectin |
| Fenbendazole | 3 mg/kg PO q24h × 3 days13 | Whipworms |
| 10 mg/kg PO q24h × 3 days5 | ||
| Ivermectin | 0.3 mg/kg PO, SC, IM5,13,25 | Repeat in 10-14 days for sarcoptic mange; PO dosing ineffective for treating sarcoptic mange |
| Levamisole | 10 mg/kg PO2 | |
| 8 mg/kg in drinking water23,25 | ||
| Piperazine | 200 mg/kg PO2 | |
| 110 mg/kg in drinking water23 | ||
| Pyrantel pamoate | 6.6 mg/kg PO, repeat prn5 | |
| 22 mg/kg in feed, once23 | Can give ½ of this dose initially if suspect high parasite burden; in 7-10 days, repeat with full dose19 | |
| Sulfadimethoxine (Albon, Pfizer) | 25 mg/kg PO2 |
a Not to be used in animals for human consumption.
TABLE 11-3 Chemical Restraint/Anesthetic Agents Used in Miniature Pigs.a
| Agent | Dosage | Comments |
|---|---|---|
| Acepromazine | 0.03-1.1 mg/kg IM5 | Tranquilization |
| Atipamezole | For IM dose, see comments | Reverses medetomidine and dexmedetomidine, and potentially other α2-adrenergic agonists; actual volume is same as volume used for medetomidine (1 mg/mL) or dexmedetomidine (0.5 mg/mL)19 |
| Atropine | — | See detomidine for combination |
| 0.04 mg/kg SC, IM, IV5,7 | Preanesthetic; reduces bradycardia and hypersalivation | |
| Azaperone (Stresnil, Schering-Plough) | 0.25-0.5 mg/kg IM5 | Relaxation, sedation, without ataxia |
| 2 mg/kg IM5 | Sedation, with ataxia | |
| Butorphanol | — | See detomidine, ketamine, medetomidine, tiletamine/zolazepam for combinations; see Table 11-4 for analgesic doses |
| Detomidine (Dormosedan, Pfizer) | — | See detomidine combinations below; see tiletamine/zolazepam for combination |
| Detomidine (De)/butorphanol (B) | (De) 0.02-0.06 mg/kg + (B) 0.2-0.4 mg/kg IM20 | Anesthesia with analgesia |
| Detomidine (De)/butorphanol (B)/midazolam (Mi)/atropine (A) | (De) 0.125 mg/kg + (B) 0.3 mg/kg + (Mi) 0.3 mg/kg + (A) 0.06 mg/kg IM7 | Anesthesia; reverse detomidine with yohimbine or atipamezole, and reverse butorphanol with naloxone; can reverse midazolam with flumazenil, if needed |
| Dexmedetomidineb (Dexdomitor, Pfizer) | — | May replace medetomidine in all combinations; use approx half of the dose as medetomidine19 |
| Diazepam | — | See ketamine for combination |
| 0.1-0.5 mg/kg PO22,32 | Calming for car trip or veterinary exam | |
| 0.5-1.5 mg/kg IV29 | Sedation | |
| 0.5-8.5 mg/kg IM7 | Sedation | |
| Fentanyl/droperidol (Innovar-Vet, Schering-Plough) | 1 mL/10-14 kg IM34 | Sedation; maximum effect in 20 min |
| 1 mL/12-25 kg IM5 | Tranquilization; minor procedures | |
| Flumazenil | 1 mg/10-15 mg midazolam IM7 | Midazolam reversal; use with caution if ketamine is only other agent being used |
| Glycopyrrolate | 0.005-0.01 mg/kg SC, IM, IV7 | Preanesthetic; bradycardia; hypersalivation |
| Guaifenesin (G)/ketamine (K)/xylazine (X) | 0.5-1 mL/kg IV to effect12,34 | Combination prepared using (G) (5%) with (K) (1-2 mg/mL) and (X) (1 mg/mL); induction; maintain at 2.2 mL/kg/hr |
| Isoflurane | 4%-5% induction5,8,14 or to effect29 | Recommended for sick or debilitated pigs and for those <8 wk of age |
| Ketamine | Use only in combination | Ketamine combinations follow; see guaifenesin, tiletamine/zolazepam for combinations |
| — | Used alone gets poor muscle relaxation, poor visceral analgesia, and rough recovery, especially IM; use with other agents; increases sympathetic tone which is very useful in pig anesthesia5,19 | |
| Ketamine (K)/diazepam (D) | — | Short-term anesthesia; prolong with (K) 2-4 mg/kg IV prn; no analgesia; smoother recovery than ketamine alone5 |
| (K) 10-18 mg/kg + (D) 1-2 mg/kg IM34 | ||
| (D) 1-2 mg/kg IM, then (K) 12-20 mg/kg IM5 | ||
| Ketamine (K)/midazolam (Mi) | (K) 3-5 mg/kg + (Mi) 0.1-0.3 mg/kg IM20 | |
| Ketamine (K)/xylazine (X) | (K) 1-2 mg/kg + (X) 0.5 mg/kg IV12 | Tranquilization; sedation |
| (K) 5-20 mg/kg + (X) 1-2 mg/kg IM7 | Anesthesia; rough recovery | |
| (X) 2.2 mg/kg IM, then (K) 12-20 mg/kg IM5 | Short-term anesthesia; prolong with (K) 2-4 mg/kg IV prn | |
| Ketamine (K)/xylazine (X)/butorphanol (B) | (K) 11 mg/kg + (X) 2 mg/kg + (B) 0.22 mg/kg IM7 | Anesthesia; butorphanol enhances analgesia |
| Lidocaine | Topical17 | Spray onto larynx 2 min before intubation to prevent laryngospasm |
| Lidocaine/prilocaine (EMLA cream, AstraZeneca) | Topical17 | Apply to skin at time of premedication to ease intravenous access; may take 20-30 min to take effect |
| Medetomidinec (Me)/butorphanol (B)/midazolam (Mi) | (Me) 0.04-0.07 mg/kg + (B) 0.15-0.3 mg/kg + (Mi) 0.08-0.3 mg/kg22 | May use lower doses in calm animals; medetomidine is no longer commercially available, but can be obtained through various compounding services; see dexmedetomidine |
| Midazolam (Versed, Roche) | — | See detomidine, ketamine for combinations |
| 0.1-0.5 mg/kg28 IM | Sedation | |
| 0.2-0.4 mg/kg intranasal19 | Sedation | |
| Naloxone (P/M Naloxone, Schering-Plough) | 4 mg total dose IV7 | Narcotic reversal; given to effect prn |
| Nitrous oxide | — | Nitrous oxide and oxygen at equal levels (1-2 L/min) before isoflurane induction; may help calm animal during mask induction29 |
| Pentobarbital | 10 mg/kg IV to effect20 | Anesthesia with some analgesia |
| Promazine hydrochloride | 0.4-1 mg/kg IV12 | Tranquilization |
| 0.5-2 mg/kg IM12 | Tranquilization | |
| Thiamylal | 1.5-2.5 mg/kg IV12 | Induction |
| Tiletamine/zolazepam (Telazol, Fort Dodge) | — | Tiletamine/zolazepam combinations follow |
| — | Poor muscle relaxation; may cause rough recovery;5,7 avoid using as sole agent | |
| Tiletamine/zolazepam (T)/detomidine (De)/butorphanol (B) | (T) 0.6 mg/kg + (De) 0.12 mg/kg + (B) 0.3 mg/kg IM22 | Anesthesia with good analgesia |
| Tiletamine/zolazepam (T)/ketamine (K)/xylazine (X) | — | Reconstitute (T) (500 mg) with 2.5 mL (K) (100 mg/mL) and 2.5 mL (X) (100 mg/mL), instead of sterile water; mixture has 50 mg/mL each of tiletamine, zolazepam, ketamine, xylazine; rough recovery |
| 0.006-0.013 mL/kg IM14 | Tranquilization; sedation | |
| 0.022-0.044 mL (2.2-4.4 mg/kg) IM5 | Induction; maintain with 2.2 mg/kg IV prn | |
| 0.02-0.026 mL/kg IM14 | Heavy sedation | |
| 0.03 mL/kg IM19 | Heavy sedation | |
| Tiletamine/zolazepam (T)/xylazine (X) | — | Anesthesia; rapid induction; poor muscle relaxation; may have rough recovery |
| (T) 2 mg/kg + (X) 2 mg/kg IV5 | ||
| (X) 2.2 mg/kg, then (T) 2-6 mg/kg IM7,12 | Anesthesia duration of 30-40 min | |
| Xylazine | — | See guaifenesin, ketamine, tiletamine/zolazepam for combinations |
| 0.5-3 mg/kg IM4 | Sedation; tranquilization; deep sedation seldom encountered | |
| Yohimbine (Antagonil, Wildlife Laboratories) | 0.125-0.3 mg/kg IV7,22,23 | Xylazine and detomidine reversal |
a Not to be used in animals for human consumption.
b Alpha-2 agonist that is the active optical enantiomer of racemic compound medetomidine; ½ the dose of medetomidine but same volume due to concentration; although the same effects would be expected as with medetomidine (now commercially off the market, but can be obtained through various compounding services), there is limited data on the efficacy and safety of dexmedetomidine in miniature pigs, and, to date, appears to have been seldom used clinically in miniature swine; the effects of the two drugs may not be equivalent, so the dose of dexmedetomidine may need to be adjusted based on clinical response.
c No longer commercially available but can be compounded at various concentrations through select compounding pharmacies (i.e., Diamondback Drugs, www.diamondbackdrugs.com; Wildlife Pharmaceuticals, www.wildpharm.com).
TABLE 11-4 Analgesic Agents Used in Miniature Pigs.a
| Agent | Dosage | Comments |
|---|---|---|
| Aspirin | 10 mg/kg PO q6-8h20 | Also antiinflammatory and antipyrectic; use enteric coated tablets |
| Buprenorphine | 0.005-0.01 mg/kg IM q12h10, IV q8-12h17 | |
| 0.01-0.05 mg/kg SC, IM, IV q6-12h20 | ||
| Butorphanol | 0.05-0.2 mg/kg SC, IV q3-4h10 | |
| 0.2-0.4 mg/kg SC, IM, IV q2-6h20 | ||
| Carprofenb | 2.2 mg/kg q12h PO20 | |
| 2-4 mg/kg q24h SC, IV17 | ||
| 4.4 mg/kg q24h PO20 | ||
| Dexamethasone | 0.01-0.04 mg/kg IM, IV q24h20 | Antiinflammatory used in treating arthritis |
| 0.07-0.15 mg/kg PO q12-24h20 | Antiinflammatory used in treating arthritis | |
| Etodolacb | 10-15 mg/kg PO q24h20 | |
| Fentanyl | 0.02-0.05 mg/kg IM, IV17 | |
| Fentanyl, transdermal patch | 12 or 25 μg/hr/25-80 kg20 | Intense or prolonged pain or when oral or injectable analgesics are not an option; apply 12 hr before surgery;20 may last up to 72 hr |
| Flunixin meglumine (Banamine, Schering Plough) | 0.5-1 mg/kg SC, IV q12-24h10 | |
| 1.1 mg/kg SC, IM, IV q12-24h20 | ||
| Hydromorphone | 0.1-0.2 mg/kg IV q2h20 | |
| 0.2 mg/kg SC, IM q4-6h20 | ||
| Ibuprofenb | 10 mg/kg PO q6-8h20 | |
| Ketoprofenb | 1 mg/kg PO q24h up to 5 days20 | |
| 3 mg/kg SC, IM, IV q24h20 | ||
| Meloxicamb (Metacam, Boehringer Ingelheim) | 0.1 mg/kg PO q24h20 | |
| 0.4 mg/kg IM q24h20 | ||
| Meperidine (Demerol, Winthrop Breon) | 2-10 mg/kg IM q4h10 | |
| Morphine | 0.05-0.1 mg/kg IV prn19 | |
| 0.1-0.2 mg/kg (max dose 20 mg) IM q4h or prn10,19 | ||
| Oxymorphone | 0.1-0.2 mg/kg SC, IM, IV, re-dose at 0.05-0.1 mg/kg q1-2h20 | |
| Pentazocine (Talwin-V, Pharmacia & Upjohn) | 2-5 mg/kg IM q4h10,17 | |
| Phenylbutazone | 4 mg/kg IV q24h23 | Also antiinflammatory and antipyretic |
| 4-8 mg/kg PO q12h28 | ||
| Prednisone | 0.5-1 mg/kg PO q12-24h initially, then taper to q48h20 | Antiinflammatory used in treating arthritis |
| Tramadol | 2-4 mg/kg PO q6h-24h20 |
a Not to be used in animals for human consumption.
b Potential exists for gastrointestinal upset and gastric ulcers, but these are uncommon in the pet pig; should be given with food and gastrointestinal protectants.
TABLE 11-5 Miscellaneous Agents Used in Miniature Pigs.a
| Agent | Dosage | Comments |
|---|---|---|
| Attapulgite (Kaopectate, Upjohn) | 2.2 mL/kg PO2 | Gastrointestinal protectant; diarrhea |
| Dantrolene sodium (Dantrium, Procter & Gamble) | 1-3 mg/kg IV23 | Treatment of malignant hyperthermia |
| 2-5 mg/kg PO, IV q8h8 | Malignant hyperthermia | |
| 5 mg/kg PO23 | Prevent malignant hyperthermia | |
| Dexamethasone | 0.1 mg/kg IM, IV21 | Shock; laryngeal edema |
| Dextrose | — | Hypoglycemic neonate |
| 20 mL/kg of 5% solution IP5 | ||
| 10 mL/kg of 10% solution IP5 | ||
| Famotidine | 0.1-0.2 mg/kg PO, SC, IM, IV q12h19 | Reduce gastric acid secretion |
| Glucosamine (G)/chondroitin sulfate (C) | (G) 4 mg/kg + (C) 1.3 mg/kg q12h20 | Maintenance dose |
| (G) 12 mg/kg + (C) 3.8 mg/kg PO q12h for 4 wk20 | Initial dose | |
| Hydrogen peroxide | 1 mL/5 kg PO29 | Induces vomiting; some animals may require larger dose |
| Ipecac syrup | 7-15 mL/animal PO29 | Induces vomiting |
| Iron dextran | 25 mg/animal IM15 in first few days of life; may repeat in 2-3 wk5 | Iron deficiency in baby pigs; uncommon in miniature pigs |
| Metoclopramide | 0.2-0.5 mg/kg q6-8h PO, IM, IV19 | Prevent postoperative ileus; start with the lower end of the dose to prevent cramping |
| Oxytocin | 5-10 U/animal IM23 | Dystocia, if not obstructed |
| 10-20 U/animal3 IM | Dystocia, if not obstructed | |
| Pentobarbital | 1 mL/5 kg19 | Euthanasia |
| Polysulfated glycosaminoglycan (Adequan, Novartis) | 4.4 mg/kg IM once, then 3.3 mg/kg q4d × 7 treatments15 | May not see results until after 3-4 treatments; if good clinical results after first 8 treatments, then decrease frequency to weekly for 1 month, then 2× monthly, then monthly as needed for maintenance15 |
| Prostaglandin F2-α (Lutalyse, Pharmacia & Upjohn) | 5 mg/animal3 IM | Induces parturition in 24-30 hr when given within 3 days of expected parturition; causes abortion after 12 days of gestation |
a Not to be used in animals for human consumption.
TABLE 11-6 Hematologic and Serum Biochemical Values of Miniature Pigs.6
| Measurement | Mean (Reference Range)a |
|---|---|
| Hematology | |
| PCV (%) | 36 (22-50) |
| RBC (106/μL) | 5.7 (3.6-7.8) |
| Hgb (g/dL) | 12 (7.8-16.2) |
| MCV (fL) | 63 (55-71) |
| MCH (pg) | 21 (18-24) |
| MCHC (g/dL) | 33.5 (31-36) |
| Platelets (103/μL) | 310 (204-518) |
| WBC (103/μL) | 11.5 (5.2-17.9) |
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