Chapter 24
Porcine Management and Surgical
Procedures
The true measure of an individual is how he
treats a person who can do him absolutely no
good.
-- Ann Landers
Objectives
• Discuss the basic risks and possible
complications associated with anesthesia and
surgery.
• Implement preventive measures when
indicated.
• Endoparasites
• Ectoparasites
Reading Assignment
Chapter 24: Porcine Surgery
Castration
• Reason
– In the United States and Canada, intact males cannot be
marketed for meat
– Due primarily to “boar taint”
– ONSET OF PUBERTY
– Castrated after puberty: “stagging” odor disappears 34 wks. After castration
– Improve feed conversion
– Easy to handle
• Age: 2 to 4 weeks (some: 1-2 day old)
Castration (cont’d)
• Restraint
• 50 lb. – hind limb or V trough
• Procedure:
• Check for hernia
• Disinfectant
• Lidocaine: 2-3 ml, 25 gauge needle
• Bard Parker no. 3 scalpel handle - no. 12 blade
• The testicles are pushed cranially the incisions and pulled to expose
the spermatic cords.
• A longitudinal 1-cm incision is made directly over each testicle.
• Spermatic cords must be severed : “tease”/ piglet emasculator.
• Antiseptic – heal in 5 – 7 days
Castration (cont’d)
• Older pigs
– Open castration
– Heavily Sedated
– Lateral recumbency
– Aseptic preparation
– Cords ligated
– Complications:
seroma/ hematoma
complications
Questions???
Hernias
• Hereditary
• Age : 9 to 14 weeks, Elasticon, hernia clamp
• Types
– Umbilical hernias
• are common
• not easily seen
• Hard and painful: strangulation/ infection
– Scrotal hernia: larger
• Fix before castration
• Options
– Herniorrhaphy: pet or pure bred, antibiotics: 3 – 5 days, close: skin and SC tissues
– These animals are often destined for slaughter.
C-Section
• Dystocia
• Stabilize patient
– IV fluids (LRS or 0.9% saline) – ear vein; 30 – 40 ml/kg/hr, maintenance: 4 ml/kg/hr
– Dextrose, calcium
– Pre – op antibiotics: penicillin
• Various anesthetic regimens
– Local: L lateral recumbency, inverted L block
– Anesthesia: dorsal recumbency
• Clip and aseptically prepared
• SPF piglets
Detusking
• Reason: danger to other pigs and humans
• Canine teeth grow continuously
– Small in female stop growth – 2 yr.
– Male: grow continuously
• Tusk trimming/ Detusking
– General anesthesia or heavy sedation
with hog snare/ snubbing rope
– Every 10 – 12 months
• Trimming procedure
– Gigli wire: mm over gum, pulp not visible
• Detusking procedure
– Complete removal
– Risk: fractures
References
• K Holtgrew-Bohling , Large Animal Clinical
Procedures for Veterinary Technicians, 2nd
Edition, Mosby, 2012, ISBN: 97803223077323
• http://www.docstoc.com/docs/21337238/Swi
ne-Barn-Surgery