Physical Restraint[1]

• Snares are very useful, however, many pet pig owners may be averse to this method of restraint as they think it causes pain. At the very least, this method should be avoided when in the presence of the owners, as the pig will squeal loudly which will not only concern the owner, but may cause hearing damage. Ear protection is needed. It should also be noted that the use of a snare may leave a temporary mark/abrasion around their snout from the placement of the snare. Snaring pet pigs also presents another challenge since these smaller breeds often have shorter snouts.
• Hog panels are very useful in most situations and are much less likely to elicit concerns with the owner. Panels can be used as a sole means of restraint for physical examination or IM and SQ injections, and as a means to move the pig to a more secure area.
• Manual physical restraint is only practical in piglets or small pet pigs weighing less than 25lbs (11kg). Common methods of restraint included assuming a semi-squatted position the piglet upside down in your lap (ventrum up) while holding the front legs back long the abdomen. This method allows a second person to easily restrain the head and give them access to the jugular vein. Alternatively the piglet could be held laterally against the chest while restraining the limbs with one arm and restraining the head with the other. This method does not allow access to the jugular, but can be useful for many other things such as vaccination and physical examination.
• Forking does not work on all pigs, but is recommended on any pig that allows you to safely approach. Forking has been found to be very relaxing to pigs and can induce recumbency. This is generally performed by gentle tapping and scratching with a fork or back-scratcher, starting around the neck and slowly moving towards the dorsum and side as the pig lays down.
• Slings can be very useful for restraining the pig for prior to anesthesia, vaccinations, hoof trimming, and even tusk trimming. The idea with a sling is to have the pig walk into the sling while it is flat on the ground (this can be facilitated with treats or a hog panel). Once the pig has been walked in and is in position, the sling can be lifted so that the pig is completely suspended. Pigs will often relax once they are suspended in this manner. The sling should have holes for all 4 limbs and a place for the pig to rest its head. There should also be an easy way to raise the sling while the pig is in it, this can be accomplished with pulleys and ropes that can be tied off. The idea is that once the pig is suspended, personnel will not have to physically hold the weight of the pig.