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Urgent help with syringe feeding

  • Thread starter Thread starter eddieiscool
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eddieiscool

Hello,

I am hoping that someone might be able to give me some tips on how to syringe feed a sick pig. Eddie went to the vet today because he was off his food and had lost a lot of weight. She said that he had a lump by his jaw, which could be an abscess or something more sinister. He's going back next week for an exploratory operation but in the meantime, he needs to be fed as quickly as possible. I have some critical care and I have tried holding him and feeding him with a syringe but he will not eat it! I've tried gripping his head but I think this hurts him because it's obviously squeezing the abscess as well. So if anyone could help me with an alternative method, I would be really grateful.

Thanks!
 
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There is a very good thread with tips on syringe feeding here http://www.theguineapigforum.co.uk/showthread.php?t=36533

It takes both of us to do it with Athena. We find if you cover there eyes so they don't know whats coming ( sounds cruel I know ) then they get less distressed. Steven holds her on his knee whilst I sit so I'm at the same level as her and syringe her that way as its what works best with her. Others I've held so they're kind of sat on there bum with there backs to my chest and syringe it that way ( go in at the side of the mouth behind the teeth and you have to put the syringe in a fair way to make sure they're definitely getting whats in the syringe ). I hold the front paws down so they can't get there paws up and push the syringe or your hand away.

I know it's distressing, especially if they kick up a fuss, I sometimes think it's worse for us then them! But just try a few different ways and find what works for you.
 
I wrap elvis in a small towel and hold him like a baby not all the way back though, this way you can see his mouth, I feed burgess blackcurrant pellets [PAH] soak for 20 minutes and then mush up, they are very easy to syringe up with a 1 mil syringe [no need to cut end off].<P>Rinse the mouth after with a syringe of water.
 
I do as Ruth suggests, same food as well, although I don't wrap the pigs unless they really put up a fight.

I do have an article all written up specifically about syringe-feeding, will get it posted and see if I can find a mod to approve it today. I can email it to you in the meantime, might help a bit? PM me if you're interested.
 
Elvis hates being on his back he is a right wriggler but he is fine wrapped up it makes him feel secure.
 
I have a pig here at the moment who will struggle with me over the Critical Care, but will take the Burgess Blackcurrent & Oregano from the syringe without needing any encouragement. Needless to say we're sticking to that one! I like the convenience of not taking the tip off the syringe too, which is necessary with the ones like Critical Care.
 
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