Alternative to syringing medicine

[Under the weather]

Hi everyone,

I have just had a fairly epic battle with one of my pigs to get her to take her Metacam. I tried a variety of methods suggested to get her to take the syringe, but she is a very determined wriggler. We got there in the end but I was wondering if there might be an easier way. She loves licking people's fingers, so could I give her the medicine by putting drops on my fingers and letting her lick it off? I tried it with a bit that was left on the end of the syringe, and she seems to like the taste!

Is this a feasible alternative to syringing, or should I just develop some sort of guinea pig wrestling hold? Is there a danger that, even if I measured the medicine out with the syringe, she might not get the full dose?

 

[ajb]

Maybe you can get her to lick/suck it from the syringe. Try her with orange juice or pureed veg first: suck some into the syringe, then squeeze the syringe a tiny bit so a drop is sitting on the end for her to sniff. With her sitting unrestrained, present her with the syringe and see if she goes for it. Then you can practice a bit and see if you can avoid dribbling. If it works, try the metacam.

A way of increasing the chances of success is to make sure she is thinking about food when you present the syringe to her. Just before presenting the syringe, give her a few pieces of veg. Don't just pop them in her mouth, make her sniff and stretch out her neck for a few seconds, so she is really into it. Ideally, it should not be her absolute most favorite veg, or a rare treat, because then she may reject the orange juice and keep sniffing round for the veg...

 

[slackalice2k]

I've never had a problem with metacam, my piggies tend to lick off the syringe, I know some members dilute it with a juice, to make it more palatable (sp?).

I've found with any animal that giving medicine can be a bit hit and miss, just find a way that works for you, and if she's licking it off your hand, she's getting some. Maybe she would lick it up off a spoon?

 

[nutmeg]

I have only had the one pig who was impossible for me to syringe feed, so as a last resort I squirted some pureed baby food on to a little dish, about a dessert spoon ful (Carrot, parsnip and apple) It was in a bright orange sachet from Asda I think, maybe Ella brand, no additives etc. Mixed it up, and she lapped it up no problem. It worked for me, but maybe you could check with your vet to see if they think this appropriate for your pig if you are really struggling. xx

 

[Piggyologist]

I used to wrap mine up in a towel, like a pig-inside sausage roll looks a bit like this (this one's from guinealynx site) http://kdaf.co.uk/GP-RestraintBags.aspx
after a while he just took the syringe normally, I don't need to fight him.