Spaying a pet pig at CVC

SPAYING A PET PIG AT CUMMING VETERINARY CLINIC

Did you know that pet pigs need to be spayed or castrated? There are many reasons why we should have pet pigs spayed or neutered. First of all, there are already so many unwanted pigs. Piglets are very cute and small during the first year but can grow to be very large. Many pet pigs are given up because of behaviors resulting from not being spayed or castrated. Unwanted behaviors can make keeping a pig even harder, thus many pigs end up in rescue groups and pig sanctuaries. 

Spaying or castration really helps with this as females will jump on you, whine for hours, and forget their potty training during heat  (which will occur every 21 days for about 5-7 days); and males will have an unpleasant odor and will try to ride your leg or furniture all the time. The health benefits of spaying or castrating your pet pig also include the prevention of reproductive related diseases such as cancer and infection. In one study done on pet pigs ranging from 4 months to 19 years of age, 75% had cystic endometrial hyperplasia (CEH) and 62.5% of those had cancer. Aging is a risk factor and cancer was found in pet pigs of 5 years old or older.*

At CVC, we spayed yesterday Mimosa. As you can see in the images, we carry out all surgeries with proper monitoring equipment. Mimosa was intubated so that oxygen and the gas anesthetic can be properly delivered. She had an intravenous catheter for fluid administration during surgery and she was connected to a cardiac monitor so that we can monitor her heart rate, blood pressure, electrical heart activity (ECG), oxygen blood saturation at all times. Her rectal temperature was also monitored throughout the surgery to prevent hypothermia (low body temperature). Hypothermia is common during deep sedation or general anesthesia and it is associated with patient discomfort and shivering as well as it can have detrimental effects. To alleviate this, Mimosa was connected to a thermal blanket.  After surgery was performed, Mimosa received oxygen for about 10 minutes until she was ready to have her endotracheal tube removed. Her hoofs were trimmed and she was ready to go home in no time. 

Mimosa has her IV catheter in her right ear and she has been just intubated with an endotracheal tube for proper ventilation

She is now connected to a blood pressure monitor and her surgery site is being prepped for surgery

During surgery, she is connected to a cardiac monitor and fluids are delivered intravenously to help with blood pressure and blood supply to all body organs

She has a heating blanket device to help her maintained good temperature throughout the surgery

During recovery, she gets a pedicure!

Our lovely Mimosa is now fully awake and ready to go home!

* Ilha MRS, Newman SJ, van Amstel S, Fecteau KA, and Rohrbach BW: Uterine lesions in 32 female miniature pet pigs. Veterinary Pathology 2010: 47(6) 1071-1075.