Effect of ‘combing’ on intramuscular sedation in pigs in a clinical setting—A randomised trial

Background Pigs pose distinct challenges to the anaesthetist due to their temperament, the limitations of manual restraint and species‐specific anatomical features. Despite the importance of minimising stress during clinical procedures, gentle handling techniques tailored for pigs in a clinical setting have yet to be clearly described or systematically investigated. Methods Sixteen healthy domesticated pigs were prospectively enrolled in a clinical study evaluating ‘combing’ with a fork as a gentle tactile handling technique in a hospital setting and randomly assigned to either a combing or a control group. Responses were evaluated by a non‐blinded, single observer using a seven‐domain sedation scale and a dichotomous response scale. Results Sedation scores were significantly higher for combing than control. The onset of peak sedation time was significantly faster for combing than control (5 vs. 10 minutes). Fewer (12.5%) pigs in the combing group moved away from the injection compared to 75% of control pigs. Limitations Limitations included the injectable drug protocol used, the lack of blinding with a single observer aware of group allocation, and more than one individual performing the ‘combing’ protocol. Conclusions ‘Combing’, a gentle handling technique performed prior to intramuscular sedation, resulted in pigs being less reactive to the injection, and faster sedation onset.