Medication via the water supply

It is common to utilize the water supply as a means of supplying medications to the pigs

Vaccination through the water supply – Oral route Enterisol example

Examples of on-farm water medication

Medication routines
Follow all medication advice provided by the veterinarian and instructions provided on the data sheet
Ensure that the water supply is adequate to provide an excellent supply to the pigs
Ensure all drinkers work – always check any dirty drinker.	Check drinkers are accessible to the pigs	Ensure that water is well distributed around the farm – check any pressure issues
Ensure that the water supply is clean and suitable for drinking	Ensure no drinkers leak – wasting any medication	Ensure that there are sufficient drinkers and that the pigs can reach the drinkers
Mixing medications with the water supply
Vaccines – note live vaccines require any chlorine etc to be removed from the system	Mix the concentrate with a small amount of water before preparing the final solution – do not just pour into the tank	Check the ph of the water some products will sediment quickly with acid or alkaline water
Ideally use rain water to make up the original mixture	Monitor the water being consumed – visually and using a water meter
	The following compounds will sediment in an acid water: Aspirin, Amoxycillin, penicillin’s, Sulphamethoalone-trimethropim. Note citric acid may be added to the water at weaning and this can compound the sedimentation	The following compounds will sediment in an alkaline water: Tetracycline’s Tiamulin Note tetracycline will react with high calcium, iron, magnesium – called chelate
Sedimentation issues
Avoid mixing medicines aspirin and tetracycline’s do not mix together
Mixing problems
To make the water more alkaline add soda ash (Na2CO3)– at a ratio of 3 to 8 g per 10 litres of water Add one or two drops of washing up liquid per 10 litres water to reduce surface tension Keep the solution mixing using a dedicated mixer or modify a fish tank water aerator
Post-medication
Ensure that all water lines and well flushed after the medication time to remove all medication compounds