California Potbellied Pig Association, Inc

Euthanasia Formula

POTBELLIED PIG

FORMULA FOR EUTHANASIA

Telezol :     I vial powder

Ketamine:    250 mgs ( 2.5 ml or cc )

Xylazine:    (large animal )    250 mgs ( 2.5 ml or cc )

Inject Ketamine and Xylazine into a bottle of powdered Telezol.

Total volume in vial should be 5 mls.

Administer 1 cc or ml per 100 lbs of body weight.

Once sedated, administer 1 ml of euthanol for every 10 lbs of body weight, diluted, using butterfly needle into ear vein.

To get a good ear vein place a tourniquet (rubber band) around the ear at the base.  Rubbing alcohol on the outer ear will also help to get a vein to appear.  

Having assisted experienced veterinarians on many euthanasias (four in the first 6 months of this year, alone), I would like to add a few observations.  On the initial anesthetic injection, don't underdose.  The animal is going to die, let it go peacefully.  Also if a large (4") needle is available an injection into the heart is much easier than the ear vein.  It is very hard to find veins on a pig, and a vet unfamiliar with pig anatomy may have difficulty with the heart injection, which is why the ear vein is suggested.  (Editor-Chris Christensen)

“Grief...It’s just love that has no place to go.” 

Ira Marlowe