Correct Methods and Operating Steps for Injecting Pigs

Injecting pigs is the main method for preventing and treating pig diseases. The commonly used injection methods include intramuscular injection, subcutaneous injection, intravenous injection, and intraperitoneal injection.

Intramuscular injection

Muscle tissue is rich in blood vessels, so the injected medicinal liquid is absorbed relatively quickly; in addition, there are fewer sensory nerves distributed in muscle, so the pain caused is relatively mild, making it the most commonly used injection method. The injection site is generally chosen at the well-fleshed buttocks or neck. During injection, first clip the hair and disinfect, then hold the syringe with the right hand and insert the needle vertically. The depth can be determined according to the size of the pig; under normal circumstances it is about 3 cm.

Subcutaneous injection

Inject the medicinal liquid into the loose tissue between the skin and the muscle. The injection site is generally chosen on the inner side of the thigh or behind the base of the ear. During injection, first disinfect the injection site, use the left thumb, index finger, and middle finger to lift the skin so that it forms a triangular fold, then with the right hand insert the syringe needle obliquely under the skin at the center of the fold at a 45° angle to the skin, release the left hand and push the syringe, and inject the medicinal liquid.

Intravenous injection

This is a treatment technique in which the medicinal liquid is injected directly into a blood vessel so that the medicinal liquid takes effect rapidly. It is mainly used to rescue critically ill pigs, and the site is generally chosen at the back of the ear or the great auricular vein. First wipe the great auricular vein at the back of the ear with an alcohol cotton ball to make the vein distend; an assistant presses hard on the vein at the base of the ear with a finger to make the blood vessel bulge, the injector grasps the pig's ear with the left hand, and with the right hand inserts the needle into the blood vessel at an angle of 10 degrees to 15 degrees; release the pressure at the base of the ear, the injector fixes the needle with the left hand, pushes the plunger with the right thumb to slowly inject the medicinal liquid, then presses an alcohol cotton ball tightly on the needle hole and quickly withdraws the needle to avoid hematoma.

Intraperitoneal injection

That is, injecting the medicinal liquid into the abdominal cavity. This method is often used for piglets. Injection site: for large pigs, the abdominal flank; for piglets, 3-5 cm below the anterior edge of the pubis, to the side of the midline. Injection method: for large pigs, lateral recumbency restraint is mostly adopted, use the left hand to pinch up the abdominal skin, insert the needle perpendicular to the abdominal wall, and inject after penetrating the peritoneum; for piglets, the keeper can lift the two hind limbs upside down, gently clamp the pig's front body between the two legs to restrain the pig, so that the intestinal tract moves downward, and the injector, facing the pig's abdomen, inserts the needle perpendicular to the abdominal wall below the anterior edge of the pubis and injects after penetrating the peritoneum. During injection, it should not be too deep or too far forward, so as to avoid damaging internal organs, nor should it be too far backward, so as to avoid damaging the bladder distended with urine.