How to inject a pig on your own and what is needed, possible mistakes
Owners of private pig farms often face a problem when four-legged pets get sick and require careful care. Many go to veterinarians right away, but sometimes home treatment is necessary. Vaccination of an animal is considered the most difficult process, especially for people without veterinary education. Let's figure out how to give an injection to a sick pig, and what needs to be prepared for this.
What do you need?
Before giving your pig a shot, you need to prepare a number of auxiliary instruments. For vaccination you will need:
- sterile gloves;
- syringe and needle;
- necessary medications;
- alcohol;
- cotton wool.
Before self-vaccination, pay attention to the expiration date of the drug. If this is not done, then you can inadvertently inject the expired drug into the piglet. The results of such an error would be fatal.
Note! Novice owners of domestic pig farms who are faced with a vaccination problem for the first time are advised to consult with a veterinarian or give an injection under his supervision.
How to inject a pig yourself
If a pig appears on your farm that urgently needs to be given an injection, try to adhere to the following algorithm of actions:
- determine the age of the pig;
- if it is an adult, the inner thigh or sirloin is considered the best area for the injection. The injection is given intramuscularly, no problems should arise with this;
- small pigs are given injections behind the ear. This method is the safest, both for the owner and for the pet itself. It is enough to pull the skin in the indicated place, and then insert the needle into its base.
Try not to overdo it, otherwise the animal will feel pain and start to pull out. This will complicate the vaccination process, and in some cases can lead to traumatic situations. When injecting the drug intramuscularly, try to choose places with the most developed muscles. The needle is inserted at right angles to the base of the skin and is inserted with one quick, firm push.
Remember to prepare the animal before injection. Preparation consists in securely fixing the pet's body so that it does not break free and cause a pogrom. To do this, do the following:
- a young, small pig to hold firmly enough in his hands. Any acquaintance who is not afraid to help you in this matter will cope with this;
- an adult cannot be fixed by human force. This will require a strong rope to be passed through the patient's mouth. The ends of the rope are tied to a massive object that the animal cannot move by its own efforts.
Possible mistakes
Often, piglet owners are not serious about the vaccination process, which is why they make a lot of mistakes. This can cause injury to both the "veterinarian" and his "patient". Among the most common mistakes are:
- the injection site is chosen randomly, as a result of which the needle enters the nerve or large blood vessels. This is extremely painful for the animal, and its behavior in such situations dramatically gets out of control;
- the animal is in an excited state, and the injection only adds aggressiveness to its behavior;
- old syringes or needles are used for vaccination, which is unacceptable in any case;
- the injection site is not disinfected with alcohol, as a result of which harmful bacteria enter the pet's body;
- the animal is injected with a drug not agreed with the leading veterinarian. This behavior is unacceptable, because you will not be able to calculate the correct dosage.
To avoid such mistakes, vaccinate after careful preparation. Do not be lazy to spend a couple of minutes on this matter, because the consequences can be extremely unpleasant. Try to plant the animal in the presence of the owner or the person bringing him food. The animal will feel safe, and the vaccination will go smoothly, without excesses.
Remember that a pig is a living being that feels pain and fear just like an ordinary person. Treat her with love and she will reciprocate you.
