Prevention of anaemia by oral administration of iron dextran to newborn pigs
Baustad, B.M.
Bulletin of Epizootic Diseases of Africa 22(2): 145-149
1974
ISSN/ISBN: 0007-487X PMID: 4471435 Document Number: 73206
Eight litters totalling 84 piglets were divided so that some received 200 mg iron as iron dextran orally within 12 hours of birth, while others received this dose i/m at 3 days, and the remainder were controls. Hb values were highest in the i/m treated group. Many control pigs had anaemia at 3-5 weeks, whereas none of the treated pigs became anaemic. Hb levels and weight gains were not related, but both were correlated with individual litters. Orally treated piglets showed a peak of 15000 mu g iron/100 ml serum 12 hours after dosing; PM examination a day after oral treatment revealed black-coloured intestinal lymph nodes; serum iron concentration declined to normal during the following 2-3 days.