Problems with syringe feeding

[pigglelover]

Hey everyone,
I'm new to forum and would like to first of all introduce myself!
My name is Abigail, i'm 18 and I have 3 beautiful female piggies (Mibbs, Mabel and Cally).

One of my guinea pigs, Mibbs, has recently had surgery in her paw due to an infection in it. The vet has given 2 courses of antibiotics and an anti-inflammatory, all to be fed by syringe.
Problem is, it's proving really difficult to get Mibbs to take it. I'm having to put the antibiotics onto her lettuce leaves or brocolli - but even at that she is very fussy and hardly ever eats it all because she can taste it on it.

I've tried taking the vet's advice and mixing it with baby food but she just won't take it.

Does anyone have any experience with this and have any advice they'd be willing to share? I'd be so grateful!



Thanks,


Abigail x
xoxo​

 

[flintstones]

Hi Abigail,

I'm happy to show you how to syringe and medicate if you'd like I'm also in Glasgow.

What I find helps me is have the piggy on my lap with there head facing to the left, I cup their head with my left hand and place the syringe behind the incisor's to the left side of there mouth with my right hand.

Always place the syringe in the side of the mouth to prevent aspiration.

If you email [email protected] - she will pass on your email to me as I can't pm you on the forum as you don't have enough post's for me to pm .

 

[pigglelover]

Thank you so much!

I'm about to try this just now and I will let you know how I get on. I just hate feeling like i'm hurting her

 

[flintstones]

Thank you so much!

I'm about to try this just now and I will let you know how I get on. I just hate feeling like i'm hurting her

If you have any problems, I'll happily come round and show you or speak to you on the phone.

Can I ask is she still eating on her own? Are you weighing her daily? Sometimes after an operation a guinea pig will need syringe fed food to keep there weight up.

My piggy had major surgery a month ago and he just didn't eat enough to keep his gut going I had to force feed him quite a bit to get him though it.

My first piggy that refused to eat, had me in tears as I just couldn't get the food into her as it was so difficult to do but once you master the technique's it does get easier.

Wishing your little one a speedy recovery - any concerns just ask as we between us all we maybe able to help.

 

[pigglelover]

She is getting weighed at the vets on Wednesday, I'll probably start weighing her daily now that you've mentioned it!

And yes her eating is fine, i'm giving her extra vegetables everyday. The surgery was on Friday and she didn't start eating independently until Sunday morning, she seems to be back to her lovely self!

I think I will need your help, i'll send that e-mail to the person you said and we can get in touch?

Thank you so much, I really can't tell how much i appreciate it!

 

[flintstones]

She is getting weighed at the vets on Wednesday, I'll probably start weighing her daily now that you've mentioned it!

And yes her eating is fine, i'm giving her extra vegetables everyday. The surgery was on Friday and she didn't start eating independently until Sunday morning, she seems to be back to her lovely self!

I think I will need your help, i'll send that e-mail to the person you said and we can get in touch?

Thank you so much, I really can't tell how much i appreciate it!

Ok dokey - send your number and I'll phone you.

 

[flintstones]

I've emailed you.

 

[Wiebke]

There are different positions that you can use to medicate a piggy; mostly I use Joanne's way, but if I have a piggy that is very uncooperative, I sit it on my lap, facing away from me and then lift I lift it up against my chest using my right hand to control it - that position limits the head movement of a wiggly piggy. I can also lean back for better control if needed.

Or you can use your thighs to (gently) control a piggy laid on it back, so you have both hands free to control its head and get the syringe in. Make sure that the piggy's head is still above the chest, though!

Always stick the syringe in sideways behind the front teeth, about to the 0.2 ml point in a 1ml syringe - that is far enough that the meds can't be spit out but not too far to choke a piggy.

 

[flintstones]

How did you get on medicating Mibbs last night?

 

[pigglelover]

It went really well joanne! My mum held her and i popped it in. It was definitely tough love!
I managed to get 4 out of 5 of her medicine but by the time i tried to get the 5th one in she'd had enough so I just put it on her lettuce and she ate it right up! Just about to give her her morning dose!

Thanks so much Joanne! x

 

[flintstones]

That's great news, remember to keep a note of her weights to . X

 

[pigglelover]

Joanne!

She took her morning dose with no bother at all I am so pleased!

 

[sport_billy]

Great news! Lots of love to Mibbs x

 

[flintstones]

Hiya Abigail,

Oh this is great news, I forgot to ask how did the bandage change go? Great news about the medicine sometimes I only log on with my phone and miss updates, if you need any further advice you have my number to!

Hopefully she's on her way to recovery!

 

[Abi_nurse]

Hello,

Welcome. I seem to have missed all this, havent been on here for a day or so. Glad your piggie is taking meds better now. Hopeshe continues to make an improvement. To add, I'm an Abigail too, but i tend to always be called Abi. Hope you enjoy your time on the forum.

x

 

[pigglelover]

Hiya Abigail,

Oh this is great news, I forgot to ask how did the bandage change go? Great news about the medicine sometimes I only log on with my phone and miss updates, if you need any further advice you have my number to!

Hopefully she's on her way to recovery!

Hey Joanne the bandage change went really well - she was quite reluctant but i held her still while the vet put the bandage on!

She has been taken off the emprid as she's eating fine now!

I've also changed her to vetbed which she seems to love it's much softer on her feet!


Also to Abi_nurse, thanks very much for your kind words! x