Is force drinking cruel

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Claire W

Claire W

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As some of you may no, my Connie is having some bladder issues at the minute. We think that one of her problems is that she doesn't drink enough water so have been syringing water in to her. I have learned that 40 ml a day is what a pig should ideally drink. The problem is that she doesn't like being syringed and I'm not sure how much water at a time and how many times a day I should be giving her? Am I being cruel for forcing her to drink? :(
 
Oh no Claire I would keep trying. Do you wrap her in a blanket? I do this and it helps. :)
 
Not cruel at all Claire, but I know it feels like it when the pig is very reluctant. It's just more tricky as water is so fluid that it's very easy for it to run into the lungs. Generally if something is put in a pigs mouth, they are supposed to swallow it - but I've found that is only the case if you put things as far back as the buccal pads (fleshy cheeks) or molars! The hard part is putting water far back enough in the mouth without putting too much in. I prefer to just put 0.1ml in per mouthful - increasing to 0.2-0.3ml if the pig is very willing to drink.

Subcues would be far easier in terms of getting fluids into a piggie, but as it is injections you'd need training on how to give them. Subcues are usually given in 10ml doses, but they're best saved only for severe cases where dehydration was a risk/diagnosed.

Plenty of cucumber and leaving the veggies wet tend to be enough water for most piggies. :)
 
Yep like Laura said can you try cucumber or wetting the veg and leaving it wet?

It is tricky trying to 'force' something down a pig, but sadly it has to sometimes be done in order for the pig to recover.
 
well that's good. I hope she takes some more fluid on...such a worry aren't they! x
 
Have you tried boiling pearl barley and giving the liquid from that? It is supposed to coat the bladder thus lessening irritation. Have you tried adding a little unsweetened cranberry juice to the water you are syringing-she may be more inclined to drink it and it wont do any harm.

I wonder if anyone on here has tried uriflow? It is supposed to dissolve small stones and any sludge in the bladder. I personally have not tried it but I have read some articles about it...it may have been on Gorgeous Guineas information on her site...I will try to dig it up for you.

When Sunny was ill and my vet and I were baffled, I emailed Chrissie at GG (she is a rodentologist as well as a qualified aromatherapist) and I asked her for any info she had-she was fantastic and spent so much time helping me. It could be worth a try although she is away until 5th Jan. Vedra at the CCT is another option.

I am still inclined to think that starting her on a course of septrin as well as getting her to drink more is the way to go :)
 
CCC4 said:
Not cruel at all Claire, but I know it feels like it when the pig is very reluctant. It's just more tricky as water is so fluid that it's very easy for it to run into the lungs. Generally if something is put in a pigs mouth, they are supposed to swallow it - but I've found that is only the case if you put things as far back as the buccal pads (fleshy cheeks) or molars! The hard part is putting water far back enough in the mouth without putting too much in. I prefer to just put 0.1ml in per mouthful - increasing to 0.2-0.3ml if the pig is very willing to drink.
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If you use a 1 mL syringe (the thin ones), it's a matter of getting it into the right part of the mouth (behind the front teeth, from the side, angled slightly to the back and pointing to the opposite side of the mouth), then just give 0.1 mL at a time. They've no choice really, but to swallow it, and angling the syringe so it's pointing more towards the back side of the mouth, rather than the throat, keeps them from aspirating the fluid into their lungs. It's a sad skill to have, but very useful.

Another trick that might help is to get some pure fruit juice (cranberry, maybe?), and mix a tiny little bit (maybe 1 tablespoon / 1 cup of water) into some water and make ice cubes with it. I'd give Pigglywink one ice cube in a bowl, while she was sitting on my lap, and she'd actually lick away at it. Viewed it as a little treat.
 
I like the idea of the ice-cube but sounds too organised for me! ;)
 
furryfriends said:
I've got mine to drink more by using their normal water bottle. I sit them on my lap and put the bottle into their mouth and they drink from it.
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I do this too Debbie, much less mess than with a syringe & doesn't seem to stress them out as much
 
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