Syringe Feeding

[Kylie80]

There is nothing wrong with my piggies and this is just a general question and I hope that I have asked it in the right forum. What size syringe needs to be used to syringe feed piggies? I am thinking of getting some syringes so that if my piggies do need syringe feeding at any stage that I have the items ready to do this.

 

[eileen]

I ml syringes are best,there is a guide on syringe feeding.i give my piggies syringed water once aweek ,so they are familiar with the proceedure.when poorly and need medication or critical care piggies are much more co operative and compliant .

 

[Kylie80]

Oh that's a good idea actually. My piggies will hate me but it's for their own good.

 

[Tim]

I'm not sure if it is in the guide or not, but I find it better to snip the tip of the syringe off to make it easier to draw the food into the syringe. I find the syringes without the rubber plunger on are better. They can sometimes fall out when the tips have been cut off.

These ones are better






This is one with the rubber plunger

 

[Kylie80]

I'm not sure if it is in the guide or not, but I find it better to snip the tip of the syringe off to make it easier to draw the food into the syringe. I find the syringes without the rubber plunger on are better. They can sometimes fall out when the tips have been cut off.

These ones are better
View attachment 63935
View attachment 63936




This is one with the rubber plunger
View attachment 63937

Thanks Tim, that is very helpful.

 

[Swissgreys]

I also keep a supply of syringes and a bag of critical care at home, because knowing my lot, if someone gets sick they will decide to do it when all of the local vet are closed!

 

[Kylie80]

Yeah thats what I was thinking.

 

[DM030819]

I've seen a few feeding videos where they use a larger syringe, say 10ml. They'll fill that will food with a spoon and then use that to fill up the 1ml syringes. I've tried that and it can be a bit awkward but it sometimes helps if the food needs to be quite thick and the little 1ml syringe won't suck it up (even without the end).

Getting them used to a syringe is a great idea. My two love Pro C probiotic so I give them a bit of that every now and then, so they are more used to the syringe.