Injecting pigs

[Cgilchrist]

Hi I have had some antibiotics from the vet for 2 of my boars and I watched how the vet made the 'skin tent' but I can't seem to get enough skin to inject. I am trying a bit behind the ears do i need to go closer to the shoulders? any hints on calming found it difficult when wrapped in a towel? ?/

 

[MemberX]

I'm not sure its wise to inject, usually antibiotics are given orally?

Hope someone can advise better, welcome to the forum.

 

[Cgilchrist]

Thanks, the vet said they are easier on the tummy if injected and work a bit quicker? I will try agin tommorrow as I don't want to risk an overdose but if not I'll go back and get oral tablets.

 

[Missbonbon]

I have injected one of my piggies with antibiotics for the last 2 weeks (Sadly it was too late and I lost her on Weds).
Pull the skin up at the scruff of the neck, just behind the ears and inject as quickly as possible. Its a good idea to give your piggie a little bit of their fav veg, so they are not concentrating on what you are doing.
I have to say though, the sow I was injecting soon realised what I was going to do and no amount of veg or treats took her mind off it.
You do not actually need that much skin to inject, just try to stay central and if you pull the skin tight, the piggie tends to stay still.

If worse comes to worse, wrap the piggie up in the towel with only their head out, at least this way they can not use their legs to try squirm away.

It is quite difficult to get to grips with first, but soon you will find a way that works.

I find injecting piggies is actually alot less stressful that trying to syringe it into their mouths (As it must taste horrible), also by injecting you are bypassing the gut therefore reducing the risk of tummy upsets and reducing the risk of killing off good bacteria.

 

[Wiebke]

I was crap when I had to inject Minx on the weekends - during the week I'd rather make the trip to the vets and ask one of the nurses to do it for me!

 

[Cgilchrist]

I only have tommorrow left for one pig (only had 3 days worth) but for the other I might do just that! :-)

 

[Missbonbon]

I was crap when I had to inject Minx on the weekends - during the week I'd rather make the trip to the vets and ask one of the nurses to do it for me!

I guess it depends on your working hours and how close you live to your vets practice.
I work 9-6 and my vets is about 30mins from where I live, so trying to rush home from work then drive the 30mins to the vets was never going to be an option on a week day!
I told myself I had to do it and that was that

 

[Cgilchrist]

Thanks for this sorry MissBON BON you lost a piggie. these are my first ones (somehow have 7 now bit of an obsession I think) It must be really hard losing one. :-(

 

[Missbonbon]

Thanks for this sorry MissBON BON you lost a piggie. these are my first ones (somehow have 7 now bit of an obsession I think) It must be really hard losing one. :-(

Thanks, to be honest she was the 1st adult piggie I lost, and I cried for hours, but I know she is at peace now.
She was ill for a long time and I was trying various medications with no improvement, I had to make the heartbreaking decision to have her PTS, as she had kidney failure and was in alot of pain.

You are right though, they are addictive and I have another 8 piggies who need me!rolleyes

 

[Cgilchrist]

Thanks, to be honest she was the 1st adult piggie I lost, and I cried for hours, but I know she is at peace now.
She was ill for a long time and I was trying various medications with no improvement, I had to make the heartbreaking decision to have her PTS, as she had kidney failure and was in alot of pain.

You are right though, they are addictive and I have another 8 piggies who need me!rolleyes

Yeah i had to PTS my dog I really miss her but don't feel really sad because i knew it was for the best did cry for 2 days though! still hard to make the decision, I'm worrying about the 2 boys on the antibiotics *** if I don't get it right the abcess could get worse but if I get it wrong I could make them ill! difficult really! I think my vet is pretty good though so fingers crossed. thanks

 

[Missbonbon]

If you are that worried take them into the vet for the injections.

After the injection if the scruff of the neck is still dry and the syringe empty you know they got the full dose of meds.

 

[Cgilchrist]

Yeah the first attempt on smokey he had a slightly wet neck but i think some went in so I didn't try again. When I did frosty it wasn't damp but did scratch him a little first by mistake poor little boy. They seem bright and have only been given a small dose so I'll try tommorrow and if not pop back to the vet.

 

[Cgilchrist]

I'm probably just being a whimp and i'll be ok doing it tommorrow! LOL

 

[MemberX]

Well you learn something new everyday! Good luck with it, I don't envy you I'm a complete wimp around needles!

Louise

 

[Cgilchrist]

Needles don't worry me thank god just try not to stab my fiance whilst he's holding them still! LOL probably do him good though because he has an infected bite from breaking up the scrap! he didn't listen to what I read on the forum about throwing towels etc silly boy! hehe

 

[alcesterpigs]

Take a pinch of skin over the shoulder and pull away from the body.
With the other hand inject the antibiotic.

It is a little unwise to inject too close to the neck:
1 There is not so much loose skin to get hold of.
2 There are a number of vital structures in the neck, which are best avoided.

Guinea pig skin is quite tough. It is easy to think the needle has penetrated the skin whilst, in fact, it is still on the surface. This mistake is soon noticed when the pig's hair and your hand get covered in the solution meant to be going into the pig!

Baytril must be injected well into the skin. If it is injected superficially it can cause localised necrosis (death) of the surrounding skin, which can cause problems that are best avoided.

"Injection skill" is well worth having. Practise injection techniques on an orange, you will get the "feel " of handling a syringe before trying it on a pig.