Abstract
Simple SummaryPigs are notoriously challenging patients. They are difficult to handle so the use of predictable and safe sedation techniques is required for husbandry and surgical procedures. Various combinations of sedative and analgesic drugs have been previously investigated in this species, though the combination of midazolam and detomidine with either butorphanol or morphine has not been reported for sedation in pigs. The use of these combinations was investigated in the context of adequate sedation to allow castration of boars with the aid of local anaesthetic infiltration. The combination of midazolam, detomidine with butorphanol provided a more reliable sedation combination than that including morphine. It is proposed that this combination of drugs would be useful for sedation during painful husbandry procedures in pigs.Juvenile male pigs were sedated for castration. Eight five-month old boars were sedated twice (two weeks apart) with a combination of detomidine (0.1 mg/kg), midazolam (0.2 mg/kg) and either butorphanol (0.2 mg/kg) (Group MDB, n = 8) or morphine (0.2 mg/kg) (Group MDM, n = 8) intramuscularly. The boars were positioned in lateral recumbency and lidocaine (200 mg total) was injected into the testicle and scrotal skin. Castration of a single testicle was performed on two occasions. Sedation and reaction (to positioning and surgery) scores, pulse rate, respiratory rate, haemoglobin oxygen saturation, body temperature, arterial blood gas parameters and the times to immobility and then recovery were recorded. Atipamezole was administered if spontaneous recovery was not evident within 60 min of sedative administration. Data were compared with either a paired-sample t-test or a Wilcoxon-Signed Rank Test. There was no difference in sedation score, body temperature, respiratory rate and haemoglobin oxygen saturation between MDB and MDM. Mild hypoxaemia was noted in both groups. There was less reaction to castration after MDB. The pulse rate was higher after MDM sedation. The times to immobility and then recovery were similar. The combination of MDB provided more reliable sedation than MDM. MDB may be useful for sedation for short procedures in pigs, though oxygen supplementation is recommended to avoid hypoxaemia.
Highlights
Pigs are typically difficult animals to handle, and to examine and treat by veterinary personnel, in both research and clinical settings
The aim of this study was to investigate the combination of midazolam and detomidine with either butorphanol or morphine for sedation in pigs
The current study demonstrated that a combination of midazolam, detomidine and butorphanol provided better quality sedation for castration, with local anaesthesia, of growing boars when compared to a combination of midazolam, detomidine and morphine
Summary
Pigs are typically difficult animals to handle, and to examine and treat by veterinary personnel, in both research and clinical settings. Animals 2017, 7, 61 often required to enable the implementation of these procedures and are commonly administered by intramuscular injection [1]. The ideal combination of drugs for administration by this route to a pig should be small in volume, safe for both animals and personnel, provide predictable sedation, facilitate a smooth recovery, be antagonised and be readily accessible to veterinary practitioners. The requirement for such sedative or premedication drug combinations for husbandry procedures such as castration, tusk or claw trimming is increasing in veterinary practice. Several drug combinations are reported for such use and minimising injectate volume is a common aim given the difficulty of restraining the animal
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