4 Reasons Why Water Medications Work
Antibiotics delivered via water as a route of administration (ROA) continue to increase in usage. From 2011 to 2020, water as an ROA grew 4%. In 2020, water as a ROA represented 30% of antibiotic administration.
Water-soluble medications offer producers effective and efficient ways to provide relief to an entire barn. Antibiotics administered via water are beneficial due to their speed, flexibility and effectiveness, says Pharmgate Technical Service Veterinarian Jeff Okones.
“Water-soluble medications minimize stress because they don’t require handling pigs, which means pigs stay calm, eating and gaining,” Okones says. “Employees mix the medication and it’s delivered through the pig’s regular visit to the waterer.”
He shares four reasons why producers should consider water-soluble medications.
1. Reduced labor
Water administration is less labor-intensive for staff and lower stress for pigs. One caretaker can medicate a specific barn, or all barns on a site quickly, which ultimately reduces treatment costs, Okones points out. Water-soluble medications do not require individual pig handling and require only on-site mixing of medications into your water medicator.
2. Rapid relief
Water-soluble products can be administered quickly to target specific pathogens, meaning pigs feel better faster. Most pigs will continue to drink water after they have stopped eating, so using water-soluble antibiotics can provide rapid relief for multiple pathogens, Okones says. Healthy pigs consume twice as much water as feed, making water the ideal channel for delivering medications, he adds.
3. Return on investment
Swine operations must be effective and efficient to realize a strong return on their investment (ROI) in pig health. Using water-soluble products to target specific pathogens can be important to maintaining animal health and improving a producer's ROI, he says. Not only can water products be less expensive on a per-pig basis but they can also lower labor costs.
4. Responsible dose
Water ROA supports the judicious use of antibiotics, ensuring the correct amount is delivered to the correct pig when needed. Okones says accurate dosing saves money and supports the responsible use of antibiotics since it minimizes excess use of drugs.
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