1. Jugular Vein Puncture:
a. Restrain the piglet gently, either by holding it securely in your arms or using a piglet restraint device.
b. Locate the jugular vein on the side of the neck. It is the large vein that runs parallel to the trachea.
c. Prepare your blood collection materials, including a sterile needle and syringe, blood collection tubes, and alcohol swabs.
d. Clean the puncture site on the piglet's neck with an alcohol swab to reduce the risk of infection.
e. Insert the needle of the syringe into the jugular vein at a shallow angle. You should feel a slight resistance as the needle enters the vein.
f. Gently pull back the plunger of the syringe to draw blood into the syringe. Collect the desired amount of blood, as per your requirements.
g. Once the blood is collected, remove the needle from the vein and apply pressure to the puncture site with an alcohol swab to stop any bleeding.
2. Ear Vein Puncture:
a. Restrain the piglet safely, as mentioned earlier.
b. Locate a suitable ear vein. In piglets, the ear veins are typically visible on the outer surface of the ear.
c. Prepare your blood collection materials, including a sterile lancet, microhematocrit tubes or blood collection tubes, and alcohol swabs.
d. Clean the puncture site on the ear with an alcohol swab.
e. Use the lancet to gently prick the ear vein. Allow the blood to flow into the microhematocrit tube or blood collection tube by capillary action.
f. Once the tube is filled, gently remove it from the ear and seal it properly to prevent leakage.
Remember that handling piglets and collecting blood requires proper restraint techniques to ensure both your safety and the well-being of the piglets. If you are inexperienced in blood collection, it is advisable to consult with a veterinarian or a trained animal technician for proper guidance.