Refusing Syringe Feed

[Carlie137]

Hello, everyone.

I have a very poorly piggy who is refusing to eat or drink, but somehow finds the energy to give the fight of her life when I need to give her meds or food via syringe. By the time we're finished she's exhausted, covered in goo, and I'm in tears because she looks like she could drop dead at any minute from the ordeal.

She has a moderate respiratory infection and her weight is down from 1050g to 750g. Her little body feels skeletal under her fur.

I need her to take the following (not necessarily at the same time): Baytril (super bitter), Meloxaid (not bad, sweet), Fibreplex (yummy) and her favourite soaked pellet, which is thin enough to syringe feed. I've tried mixing in a bit of blended banana and cucumber to sweeten the goo, but she's having none of it.

She's 6.5 years old and has been very well up until now. I suspect the RI is stress induced after introducing young sows to join her and her sister.

Does anybody have any tips or advice for better assist-feeding success? Have any of your piggies been as uncooperative? Suggestions of what I can try to put weight on her also welcome.

 

[Gem789]

Hello, everyone.

I have a very poorly piggy who is refusing to eat or drink, but somehow finds the energy to give the fight of her life when I need to give her meds or food via syringe. By the time we're finished she's exhausted, covered in goo, and I'm in tears because she looks like she could drop dead at any minute from the ordeal.

She has a moderate respiratory infection and her weight is down from 1050g to 750g. Her little body feels skeletal under her fur.

I need her to take the following (not necessarily at the same time): Baytril (super bitter), Meloxaid (not bad, sweet), Fibreplex (yummy) and her favourite soaked pellet, which is thin enough to syringe feed. I've tried mixing in a bit of blended banana and cucumber to sweeten the goo, but she's having none of it.

She's 6.5 years old and has been very well up until now. I suspect the RI is stress induced after introducing young sows to join her and her sister.

Does anybody have any tips or advice for better assist-feeding success? Have any of your piggies been as uncooperative? Suggestions of what I can try to put weight on her also welcome.

Oh bless you,do you have someone to hold her while you're syringe feeding? I find that the easiest way.Ive had some very uncooperative piggies in the past.If not then wrapping them in a towel is the next best way.Will she eat any oats? They're good for helping put some weight on.Keep going,I know how stressful it can be x

 

[fluffysal]

If she's not eating enough hay then she really needs recovery food rather than mushed pellets as they don't replace the fibre.
Big hugs and healing rumbles from my boys

 

[piggieminder]

You might find some helpful tips here

Thread 'All About Syringe Feeding and Medicating Guinea Pigs with Videos and Pictures'

Mar 9, 2022

Introduction
1 Choosing the right place to medicate/feed your piggy
2 Guinea pig whispering and asserting your authority
3 Recovery products and emergency improvisation
4 Syringe recommendations
5 Weight monitoring: your biggest ally
6 Weight loss guidelines and when to step in with feeding
7 Syringe feeding amounts/frequency advice
8 Practical medication and syringing tips
9 Medicating and feeding cooperative guinea pigs (videos)
10 Medicating and feeding uncooperative guinea pigs (hold pictures and tips)
11 The line between life and...

• Wiebke
• Replies: 0
• Forum: Health & Illness Support Corner

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[Claire W]

Aw bless her I’m so sorry she’s uncooperative at taking her syringe food. I’ve been through it myself and know how stressful it is

Do you have someone who can hold her while you syringe feed? If not, wrapping her like a burrito in a towel may help as she won’t be able to push the syringe away with her paws

Recovery food would be better than mushed pellets as recovery food contains fibre and added vitamin C and other nutrients they need. Science Selective Recovery plus, Emeraid and critical care are all ones I’ve tried. You may be able to get them from your vets or you can buy them online

I hope she feels better soon x

 

[Carlie137]

Thank you for the replies.

Yes, you're right. I found a willing accomplice to help. Her latest avoidance tactic is to tuck her head between her front legs, but we still had more success.

She's stopped pooing completely now. I have both Protexin Fibreplex and Bio-Lapis for her gut. Is there anything else I can buy to help?

Emeraid is on its way.

I've had to constantly battle to keep terror nibbles from chewing the polypropylene base to her C&C-type cage. Is eating plastic a possible aggravating factor? I might add that all 5 hides are made from willow that she's more than welcome to gnaw, but much prefers to chew / eat anything that's definitely inedible. Would the plastic have shown up on the x-ray?

Does anybody know if there are any antibiotics that can be administered via nebuliser these days?

Sorry, there's a lot to unpack there. Advice much appreciated.

 

[Carlie137]

I forgot to say, I'll be on the vet's doorstep when they open tomorrow. It's an hours drive so I hope they can accommodate us.

The articles linked above were very helpful, thank you.

 

[Qualcast&Flymo]

Sorry your piggy is unwell. If she isn't pooping, it sounds like she will need gut motility drugs, to prevent gut stasis.
Regarding nebulising meds for URIs, I had a piggy who was prone to URIs, on one occasion when his usual meds (zithromax) didn't work, one of the others he was prescribed was Baytril via a nebuliser.