Unless otherwise cited, the following tables are a modification of the tables found in The Veterinary Clinics of North America Exotic Animal Practice[1]
| Premedications & Sedatives | ||||
| Agent | Dose | Route | Notes | Precautions |
| Acepromazine | 0.05-1.1mg/kg | IM/IV/SQ | Extra-label use. No reversal, can stay on board for several hours | High doses can lead to low blood pressure and peripheral vasodilation |
| Atropine[2] | 0.025-0.04mg/kg | IM | Used to reduce saliva production and prevent aspiration | Appears to be safe in combination with alpha-2’s, but use caution |
| Butorphanol | 0.1-1.0mg/kg | IM/IV | Not labeled for swine. Reversed with buprenorphine | Safe, but short duration of pain control |
| Dexmedetomidine | 10-20ug/kg | IM | Not labelled for swine. Reversed with atipamezole | Do not use with atropine. May cause vomiting |
| Diazepam | 0.4-10.0*mg/kg | IM/SQ/IV/PO | Not labeled for swine. Reversed with Flumazenil | *Doses over 2mg/kg should not be given IV. IV administration should be slow. Diazepam is not recommended due to pain on injection and erratic absorption |
| Ketamine[3] | 4.0-33.0mg/kg | IM/IV | Muscle rigidity if used alone, pairs well with a benzodiazepine | No reversal |
| Medetomidine[4] | 0.01mg/kg | IM | Not labeled for swine. Reversed with atipamezole | Separate resource, less data. |
| Midazolam | 0.1-0.5mg/kg | IM/IV | Not labeled for swine. Reversed with Flumazenil. Better option than diazepam. | |
| Morphine | 0.1-1.0mg/kg | IM/IV | Not labeled for swine. Reversed with Naloxone | May cause undesirable excitation. High doses may cause respiratory depression |
| Xylazine[5] | 0.5-3.0mg/kg | IM | Extra label use. Reversed with atipamezole | May cause vomiting. More significant cardiovascular effects than dexmedetomidine |
| Tiletamine + zolazepam | 1-2mg/kg | IM | Extra label use. Useful for heavy sedation | May have rough or prolonged recovery |
Atropine is used to reduce saliva production and help prevent airway obstruction. Pigs have smaller airways relative to body size, so are at increased risk of this. Atropine was also administered during many anesthetic episodes to counteract bradycardia. While this is contraindicated in dogs given dexmedetomidine, no negative effects were noted in this study when used while medetomidine or xylazine was on board.[6] However, according to the Veterian Key[7], atropine is only partially effective at reducing salivary secretions, and it can actually thicken the secretions which may increase the risk of obstruction. Glycopyrrolate works in a similar fashion as atropine at a dose of (0.004-0.1mg/kg IM).
| Recommended Sedation Combinations | Dose | Route | Notes |
| Midazolam + Ketamine + Dexmedetomidine | M: 0.2mg/kg; K: 5-20mg/kg; D: 0.01-0.02mg/kg | IM | If pig cannot be intubated, higher doses may be needed. |
| Dexmedetomidine + Midazolam + Butorphanol ( | D: 0.01-0.04mg/kg; M: 0.1-0.3mg/kg; B: 0.2-0.4mg/kg | IM | Can substitute Xylazine (at 1mg/kg) for Dexmedetomidine |
| Ketamine + Butorphanol + Midazolam | K: 5mg/kg; B: 0.2mg/kg; M: 0.2mg/kg | IM | Piggy Magic |
| Telazol + Xylazine | T: 2.0-8.0mg/kg; X: 1.0-3.0mg/kg | IM | Works as premed and induction. Be ready to intubate! Recommended by ULAM[8]. Anecdotally, much lower doses of both Telazol(0.5mg/kg IV) and Xylazine(0.5mg/kg IV) can be used to induce recumbency and anesthesia in commercial swine. |
| Guaifenesin + Ketamine + Xylazine[9] | Induction: 0.67-1.0ml/kg
Maintenance: 2.2ml/kg/hr |
IV | Triple Drip: 2mg/ml ketamine + 1mg/ml xylazine in a 5% solution of guaifenesin. Rapid recovery. |
| Sedation Protocols used in the UMN LAH[10] | Dose | Route | Notes: These protocols are in addition to previously described protocols such as “Piggy Magic” and Telazol + Xylazine that the UMN LAH also uses |
| Ketamine + midazolam | K: 4mg/kg; M: 0.4mg/kg | IM | Excited pigs will need additional drug or inhalant. May have poor recovery. |
| Butorphanol + Midazolam | B: 0.2mg/kg; M: 0.2mg/kg | IM | Good for induction prior to inhalant. Allow at least 10 minutes to take effect. May cause vomiting during recovery.[11] |
| Induction Agents | Dose | Route | Notes |
| Alfaxalone | 2-6mg/kg | IV/IM | Not labeled for swine. Minimal analgesia, mild cardiovascular and respiratory depression |
| Propofol | 6-8mg/kg | IV | Not labeled for swine. Give slowly. No analgesia. Cardiovascular and respiratory depression |
| Telazol | 2-8.8mg/kg | IM | Extra label use in swine. Lasts 20-30 minutes |
| Reversal Agents | Dose | Route | Notes |
| Atipamezole | 0.05-0.1mg/kg or same volume as dexmedetomidine | IM | For reversal of alpha 2’s |
| Flumazenil | 0.02-0.05mg/kg | IM/IV | Reversal for diazepam and midazolam |
| Naloxone | 0.005-0.04mg/kg | IV | Opioid reversal. Start with this dose and repeat as needed. Initial dose could be as high as 2.0mg/kg |
| Yohimbine | 0.1-0.5mg/kg | IM/SQ | Reversal for xylazine and dexmedetomidine. IV use in emergency if diluted with saline. |
[2] Anesthetic agents and complications in Vietnamese potbellied pigs: 27 cases (1999–2006) in: Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association Volume 239 Issue 1 () (umn.edu)
[4] Anesthetic agents and complications in Vietnamese potbellied pigs: 27 cases (1999–2006) in: Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association Volume 239 Issue 1 () (umn.edu)
[5] Practical sedation and anaesthesia in pigs – Hodgkinson – 2007 – In Practice – Wiley Online Library
