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Using Syringes

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Barrett Bonden

Barrett Bonden

Junior Guinea Pig
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I've just got back from the vets and have been given two different medications to give to Boris. Having just done this for the first time it was quite traumatic - for me and for Boris! He was not impressed. So I'm just wondering, are there any tricks-of-the-trade with regards to using syringes with uncooperative guinea pigs. Thanks.
 
I was a complete novice when I needed to give one of my guinea pigs antibiotics and I found a few clips on you tube which were very helpful.
 
Barrett Bonden said:
Thanks PiggieOwner. I will take a look and see what I can find.
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I have had to syringe medication to my guinea pigs before. She took it very very well but all pigs are different. what I do is GENTLY lift up her to lips with me left hand and have her on a table while I'm doing so. Then I take the syringe in my right hand and place the tip on her tounge but not to close to the outside or to far it, then I give her mouth full by mouth full until she has her dosage. Hope I helped and good luck!
 
I always place them on something comfy like a pillow, then put the syringe in the side of the mouth so the tip goes behind the front teeth and dispense slowly. If they are being naughty, I put my hand gently over the face so my fingers are either side of the mouth and this makes them open it slightly so I can put the syringe in. This is shown in the photos in the guide above.
 
I've just had 3 weeks of this and the only way I managed to do it myself was to swaddle him in a towel! And then put him on his bum wrapped up between my belly and my arm in front of him.

Also If my sister was home she would hold the pig on his bum and I would slide the syringe in the side, definatley easier if there's 2!

After about 3/4 days my pig became used to the syringe and wouldn't struggle to avoid it anymore, I now just stick it through the cage bars and he will take his medicine like that in the morning! Although I don't think metacam tastes particularly bad you might struggle if whatever he has tastes bitter.

Although I'm not very experienced like some here I felt uutterly useless when I first started but it gets easier :)

Hope your pig feels better soon
 
Holding Boris isn't proving too much of a problem, although he does squirm a little, he can be quite placid at times. But he does not like having the syringe put in his mouth. But that said, I am coping with it as the syringe I have to use for the Baytril has a very narrow end and is relatively easy to get in his mouth. But I am concerned about administering the Metacam. The syringe I have to use for that has a much broader end and very difficult to insert. And I'm not even sure that there is any medicine still held in the syringe when I use it as I have yet to see Boris move his mouth to swallow it. Where as I always see him do this when I have given him the Baytril.

Tomorrow I will try to have everything right next to me, Boris, syringe and medicine. And will pay very close attention to see that the Metacam is administered correctly - I hope!
 
I'm pleased to hear that you are managing to give Boris his medicine.

I have bought both sizes of medication pockets from Chucklebunnies and, just like @GloriousGuineaGirl , I hope I never need to use them.

I love all the Chucklebunnies products.
 
I've just done it for the first time on my own with Jedward too! It's quite distressing, for both you and the piglet but I found Jeddy cooperated MOST when I held her head still (not hard, I was gentle of course) with my forefinger and thumb circled around her muzzle and covering her eyes with the rest of my hand. The darkness seemed to calm her a bit, I think she felt hidden. I got the idea from watching mum giving tablets to the cats...
 
Beckit said:
I've just done it for the first time on my own with Jedward too! It's quite distressing, for both you and the piglet but I found Jeddy cooperated MOST when I held her head still (not hard, I was gentle of course) with my forefinger and thumb circled around her muzzle and covering her eyes with the rest of my hand. The darkness seemed to calm her a bit, I think she felt hidden. I got the idea from watching mum giving tablets to the cats...
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Glad to her you are managing and hope Jedward gets well soon.
 
I am not the best role model .

I remember when poor Monty was ill - having to set my alarm 1/2 hr earlier than normal and having a wrestling match despite wrapping him up like a Burrito.

I never lost my wrag with him but it wasn't easy.

That's one reason why I bought the medication pouches.
 
It took me about half an hour to get Jed to finish two syringe fulls. lol I don't think there's anything wrong with struggling to get a piggy to take from a syringe, the either love it or will fight you EVERY step of the way. My sister's pigs like to show off and take full syringe doses in one go and then ask for more. lol
 
PiggieOwner said:
I am not the best role model .

I remember when poor Monty was ill - having to set my alarm 1/2 hr earlier than normal and having a wrestling match despite wrapping him up like a Burrito.

I never lost my wrag with him but it wasn't easy.

That's one reason why I bought the medication pouches.
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Oh I can relate to this. I usually get up a 5.30 am. But I have set my alarm 30 mins. earlier at the moment! I have to allow time to catch him of course. He is very quick around his hutch.

@Beckit I like the idea of carefully covering his eyes. I will certainly try that.
 
Hi again, I went to my chemist and asked for a 1cc syringe! I think they use them for babys? Or a eye/ear drop dropper. failing that do you have a vets near you ( doesn't have to be the one your pig is under) they should also carry 1cc syringe in stock!

Glad you have a pig who's happy to sit still! I was feeding every 2 hours my pig even through the night and it took me 25 minutes to get 5cc into him at first because he was a wriggler!
 
I have always held their head gently and put the syringe in the gap between their front teeth and molars and they instinct ly chew they can't help it and if you slightly tilt the head up it goes down very easily. I've managed it with most my piggies with no issues at all, hope that's helpful Hope boris gets better soon xx
 
Just an update on this situation. I thought I would try putting the Metacam on a slice of cucumber, he started to munch away at this until he got to the Metacam. That was it, no more, he was having none of it. But there has been substantial progress. Simply by trial and error and as Shirley mentions in her above post, by slightly tilting his head up the medicine really does go down very easily. Nice one Shirley :clap:

Although I am beginning to wonder how ill Boris is. I know the vet said he thought there was a slight infection but Boris seems perfectly happy. he eats like a trooper and as I type this he is in his Run with Eddie quite happily munching away on the grass. The only thing that concerns me is when he is resting it is as if the back half of his body is pumping out at the sides as he breaths. I did read on a post somewhere that this could be where the abdomen is being used to help breathing. This being the inspiration for me taking him to the vet. But he continues to do this and always has done since I have had him. I will of course continue with the medication as instructed, but I do hope I'm not putting poor Boris through this for nothing.
 
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