[Anesthesia in swine]

Pigs are not only anaesthetized in case of operations but often also if diagnostic and therapeutic procedures are necessary. Choice of the anaesthetic and way of application depend on the size of the patient and the indication. The only important local anaesthesia in pigs is epidural anaesthesia. It is indicated in all longer lasting painful procedures in caudal regions. The technique of this anaesthesia is described. From the possible methods of general anaesthesias, in practice injection anaesthesia has been generally accepted for several reasons. Together with barbiturate anaesthesia neurolept-analgesia with Azaperone--Metomidate has become more and more important, because with this form of anaesthesia the technically easy intra-abdominal application is possible in pigs under 15 kg of body weight.