Pre-emptive Panic

[AbiS]

Now, this might sound totally ridiculous however, I have been looking at other folks posts from when their piggies are ill and they are having to syringe feed them really regularly. This has just put me in a panic. Toby and Barney are completely healthy and there is nothing to worry about....at the minute. My concern is that if they are ever poorly and need regular syringe feeding, I just don't know what to do. I work 12 hour shifts and cant take days off at short notice. I work 3-4 days a week but the Law of Sod states that if the boys are ever poorly it will be when I am about to work 2 days together. MrS is out of the house from 8-7 so would struggle to help as well.

What would I do in this situation? I just don't know how I would give them the care that they need.

I cant believe I am already feeling guilty when the problem hasn't occurred!

 

[helen105281]

We have this issue too and I ended up taking a day off with Maddie. Luckily the OH can sometimes take pigs into work for feeding but it depends on the pig and if they would get too stressed as it means a commute into and right across London. You could always ask your vet if they would be able to step in if it ever happens?

Sadly if it came to it that my pig needed round the clock feeding and we weren't able to do it and it would result in their suffering then I would think that it would be time to make a decision on whether it would be fair on them to keep them going.

 

[MushiiPeas]

Hmm this is difficult, when ginger refused to move eat or drink after his neuter i had no choice but to phone in and ask my manager for a shift swapped as he needed syringe feeding as he'd lost 60g in two days, unfortunate tho it went down as sickness because nobody wanted to swap shifts with me.

I work in a small store to if someone is off it's a big problem but Gingers welfare was important to me and thankfully my boss understood.

It's difficult situation i also work 4 days a week and I'm out the house for six hours but my mum is recently retired now so she would be able to help me next time.

Do you have any other family members or friends you could take them to while they needed that care?

 

[AbiS]

It's just so awful isn't it, and something I didn't consider (know about) before I got the boys. But I suppose that it is really the same with all pets. At least with children it is a more acceptable to take a day off when they are ill. I hate to think what the response would be from my boss if I said I could come in because my guinea pig was poorly!

 

[AbiS]

Do you have any other family members or friends you could take them to while they needed that care?

My mum is nearby but always has lots going on and I don't think she would feel confident with them. The only other thing I can think of is seeing if the boarding place I use would be able to help at all.

 

[VickiA]

It's just so awful isn't it, and something I didn't consider (know about) before I got the boys. But I suppose that it is really the same with all pets. At least with children it is a more acceptable to take a day off when they are ill. I hate to think what the response would be from my boss if I said I could come in because my guinea pig was poorly!

Please don't worry yourself into a frenzy about this! I have only had to syringe feed one of my piggies in the last 15 years. If your boss isn't receptive, well perhaps you could just (coughs quietly behind her hand) be poorly yourself at the same time...

 

[Jerrybelly]

My mum is nearby but always has lots going on and I don't think she would feel confident with them. The only other thing I can think of is seeing if the boarding place I use would be able to help at all.

I'm sure the boarding place would help in an emergency. Perhaps you could sit down with your mum one day and run through some possible scenarios? You could print off some info from here for her to read through and keep handy, then IF one of the piggies were to become ill she may feel more prepared to help. There's also always the vets who could keep them in for the day to feed them.

Always keep your piggy first aid kit well stocked, which should include a selection of syringes. It'll help with the worry knowing that you have the basics to hand.

 

[AbiS]

Please don't worry yourself into a frenzy about this! I have only had to syringe feed one of my piggies in the last 15 years. If your boss isn't receptive, well perhaps you could just (coughs quietly behind her hand) be poorly yourself at the same time...

Lol! It is amazing how stomach bugs can just happen......

 

[jenniferanneharris]

Most good vets will do this for you i think, not sure what the fee would be..but i know mine will do this as i have myself called about a similar thing, although i am luck with my hours i come home for a few hours in between shifts and my hours are semi flexible most days if i needed to adjust...i am also lucky i have my mum and sister who are not as confident, but know they will try to do this and if not take my girls to the vets for me if they cant manage...
Maybe its worth calling the vets, explaining and finding out if this is a service they will offer? Also as mentioned there are a few boarding places, maybe worth calling round a few reputable boarders and finding out their fee's and procedure?

 

[AbiS]

I'm sure the boarding place would help in an emergency. Perhaps you could sit down with your mum one day and run through some possible scenarios? You could print off some info from here for her to read through and keep handy, then IF one of the piggies were to become ill she may feel more prepared to help. There's also always the vets who could keep them in for the day to feed them.

Always keep your piggy first aid kit well stocked, which should include a selection of syringes. It'll help with the worry knowing that you have the basics to hand.

I do have some syringes already so at least I wont have to try to locate them. I am going to take them to the vets for a health check when it gets a bit warmer so I will ask if it is the kind of thing they are able to help with.

 

[Wiebke]

Many vets can take animals in for hand feeding etc. if you are not able to do so, but it can be rather costly. Might be worth enquiring about at your vets?

So far, I have mostly had to hand feed only for a few days/nights until the piggy either pulled through and started eating again or sadly deteriorated and died or had to be pts.

It is always useful to have a few spare syringes floating around, as well as prebiotics and recovery food as many emergencies tend to happen in the evenings, weekends or just before the start of a bank holiday, in my own experience. We have tips for a first aid kit in our Caring for an ill piggy section.

 

[AbiS]

Most good vets will do this for you i think, not sure what the fee would be..but i know mine will do this as i have myself called about a similar thing, although i am luck with my hours i come home for a few hours in between shifts and my hours are semi flexible most days if i needed to adjust...i am also lucky i have my mum and sister who are not as confident, but know they will try to do this and if not take my girls to the vets for me if they cant manage...
Maybe its worth calling the vets, explaining and finding out if this is a service they will offer? Also as mentioned there are a few boarding places, maybe worth calling round a few reputable boarders and finding out their fee's and procedure?

I will start by speaking to the vets when I take them for their health check and if they cant help then I will find out if it is something the boarding place can help with.

 

[AbiS]

Thanks for all the replies. I think I feel a bit calmer about it now. I hadn't thought about the vet being able to help. Now I just have to keep my fingers crossed that I never have to have that experience!

 

[Midge&Panda]

I've had to do this once before with Midge to try and get her weight up. The vet actually told me to bring her to the practice and the nurses would feed every hour. She went in at 8 and I picked her up at 4.30 at a cost of 10.00. I would definately do it again, as you say if you're working all day it's not always easy to take time off.

 

[Amanda1801]

As already pointed out, your vet can help. Mine charges something like £12.05 for a day of syringe feeding. Most charges are for hospitalisation and overnight costs but if you dropped them off in the morning and picked them up at night it'd be much cheaper. There may be additional charges for medical checks eg if a nurse is concerned and the vet has to examine.

Where I work we charge £19 for care between 8am-8pm and then £19 for overnight care from 8pm-8am for small furries and that charge includes all their care so would include feeding too.

 

[AbiS]

Thanks for your reply. I do feel so much better that this is an option. If my vets do this then that would make life so much easier. It's not too expensive either - not that the cost would be an issue - I would pay anything to make sure they are looked after well.