Medicine

[Rivervixen]

Hi all, what are methods people use to give piggies their medicine via syringe? A vet showed me how to hold them and slowly release it into the side of their mouth but no matter how I hold him it always proves difficult, takes ages because he flails and screams and ends up climbing into my hair

 

[VickiA]

I’m afraid I adopt the tough love stance with medicine. I hold them (and their head) firmly, put the syringe behind the front teeth and aim towards the side of the mouth. I’ve only had to wrap one guinea pig who was so wild I couldn’t hold her still enough. I used to swaddle her in a towel so she couldn’t wriggle free and get those pesky paws to bat the syringe away.
Have you had a look at the syringe feeding guide?

 

[Rivervixen]

Will take the look at the guide, going to try your no nonsense method with him, may have to try the towel as well. I’ve had him try climbing up my face to get away from it, just too scared of hurting him. Thank you

 

[Lady Kelly]

I usually have them on my knee while I'm sitting down or on the kitchen counter and facing away from me. I am like Vicki with the tough love stance. I use my body to stop them backing up and then hold their head firmly to make sure it goes in. Unless it's metacam which most piggies will willingly lap up but I have had one where even metacam needed this method as he wouldn't touch it lol

 

[Rivervixen]

I usually have them on my knee while I'm sitting down or on the kitchen counter and facing away from me. I am like Vicki with the tough love stance. I use my body to stop them backing up and then hold their head firmly to make sure it goes in. Unless it's metacam which most piggies will willingly lap up but I have had one where even metacam needed this method as he wouldn't touch it lol

Tough love stance is definitely what I need to do, I feel bad if they’re making a fuss (I have two drama queen boars for sure) and usually just try readjusting them. The medicine is baytril which neither of them have ever liked, I think this one is the foul tasting one

 

[Lady Kelly]

Tough love stance is definitely what I need to do, I feel bad if they’re making a fuss (I have two drama queen boars for sure) and usually just try readjusting them. The medicine is baytril which neither of them have ever liked, I think this one is the foul tasting one

Haha yes baytril is particularly disgusting. If you have been prescribed any metacam I usually give that first so the nice taste is in their mouth and then do the baytril. It works sometimes but some piggies are too clever.

 

[Bill & Ted]

It depends on the meds, if it’s Metacam then Bill run off with the syringe!
For anything else then it’s their bum and back into my tummy and hand firmly over head and thumb gently opening gap behind the front teeth, goes in a treat generally although never had to give Baytril only ranitidine, so that’s an unknown