Syringe feeding tips for antibiotics?

[Big Sky Piggies]

How do I trick my girl into taking her antibiotics? She’s so clever she spits out everything I try to mask it on and always somehow wiggles her mouth away if I just try to do the syringe straight into it.

She’s taking her syringe fed painkillers fine so she clearly just hates the taste of the antibiotics.

I genuinely think she’s only getting a lick of it each time which isn’t ideal when she needs 0.6ml! I’ve tried lettuce and broccoli (her absolute fav) and she’s having none of it. Thank you!

 

[Wiebke]

How do I trick my girl into taking her antibiotics? She’s so clever she spits out everything I try to mask it on and always somehow wiggles her mouth away if I just try to do the syringe straight into it.

She’s taking her syringe fed painkillers fine so she clearly just hates the taste of the antibiotics.

I genuinely think she’s only getting a lick of it each time which isn’t ideal when she needs 0.6ml! I’ve tried lettuce and broccoli (her absolute fav) and she’s having none of it. Thank you!

Hi

Just give it to her plain and no more than 0.3 ml at once (i.e. one small mouthful). Make sure that you get the syringe in sideways and deep enough. Follow it up with some water to wash away the bad taste - it doesn't matter if she spits that one out and then with something to eat she loves and plenty of fuss.
Use our piggy whispering tips to assert your authority by fondling her ears nand holding her ear firmly between two fingers.
Understanding Prey Animal Instincts, Guinea Pig Whispering and Cuddling Tips

If you have to give several meds at once, start with the favourite and end with the second favourite. Put the worst second last (with some water after) and follow up with a treat. This ensures the most cooperation but also that the exercise ends with a positive note.

Here is our very practical and comprehensive medication and syringe feeding guide, which has chapters on how to best deal with uncooperative piggies: All About Syringe Feeding and Medicating Guinea Pigs with Videos and Pictures

I hope that helps you?

 

[Big Sky Piggies]

Hi

Just give it to her plain and no more than 0.3 ml at once (i.e. one small mouthful). Make sure that you get the syringe in sideways and deep enough. Follow it up with some water to wash away the bad taste - it doesn't matter if she spits that one out and then with something to eat she loves and plenty of fuss.
Use our piggy whispering tips to assert your authority by fondling her ears nand holding her ear firmly between two fingers.
Understanding Prey Animal Instincts, Guinea Pig Whispering and Cuddling Tips

If you have to give several meds at once, start with the favourite and end with the second favourite. Put the worst second last (with some water after) and follow up with a treat. This ensures the most cooperation but also that the exercise ends with a positive note.

Here is our very practical and comprehensive medication and syringe feeding guide, which has chapters on how to best deal with uncooperative piggies: All About Syringe Feeding and Medicating Guinea Pigs with Videos and Pictures

I hope that helps you?

Perfect thank you! She took it like a champ this evening and was very happy with her lettuce reward!

 

[Big Sky Piggies]

Hi

Just give it to her plain and no more than 0.3 ml at once (i.e. one small mouthful). Make sure that you get the syringe in sideways and deep enough. Follow it up with some water to wash away the bad taste - it doesn't matter if she spits that one out and then with something to eat she loves and plenty of fuss.
Use our piggy whispering tips to assert your authority by fondling her ears nand holding her ear firmly between two fingers.
Understanding Prey Animal Instincts, Guinea Pig Whispering and Cuddling Tips

If you have to give several meds at once, start with the favourite and end with the second favourite. Put the worst second last (with some water after) and follow up with a treat. This ensures the most cooperation but also that the exercise ends with a positive note.

Here is our very practical and comprehensive medication and syringe feeding guide, which has chapters on how to best deal with uncooperative piggies: All About Syringe Feeding and Medicating Guinea Pigs with Videos and Pictures

I hope that helps you?

Sorry, I’m at a loss, I couldn’t get a single bit of antibiotics into her today… swoop in method worked yesterday, now she’s clocked on and starts wiggling the instant I try to hold her still .
I’m getting worried now because she does actually need the medication but she’s not had any since yesterday and even then I recon she spat out most of it.

I saw on the post you tagged that I can mix it with ribena? Does that still stand? I had no idea piggies could have any sort of juice? If so is there a specific brand/ ingredients I need to look out for, I would hate to accidentally give her something she can’t eat. I think it’s my last hope, she just hates the taste so bad! Thanks!

 

[Piggies&buns]

Sorry, I’m at a loss, I couldn’t get a single bit of antibiotics into her today… swoop in method worked yesterday, now she’s clocked on and starts wiggling the instant I try to hold her still .
I’m getting worried now because she does actually need the medication but she’s not had any since yesterday and even then I recon she spat out most of it.

I saw on the post you tagged that I can mix it with ribena? Does that still stand? I had no idea piggies could have any sort of juice? If so is there a specific brand/ ingredients I need to look out for, I would hate to accidentally give her something she can’t eat. I think it’s my last hope, she just hates the taste so bad! Thanks!

You can add some ribena but the issue then is that you have even more volume of liquid to try to get into her so it can be harder

 

[Wiebke]

You can still use ribena (it's a UK berry cordial). We do not recommend it because you have to get more volume into her, it is quite a sugar load and because guinea pigs have double the amount of tastebuds compared to humans. Some medication is truly horrible.

Try to restrict her head movement as much as possible. It can be a fight; I've had piggies like that as well and then it is a matter of patience and persistence to find the right moment to get the syringe well enough into the mouth that she cannot push it out. Only then can you squirt the med in.

All the best. Medicating, like syringe feeding, is a matter of practice but it cn also come down to a battle of willpower.

 

[Big Sky Piggies]

Thanks both, I got someone less familiar to hold her this morning instead. She’s not so comfortable with them so froze just long enough to get the medicine in At least she’s had one proper dose! I’ll keep trying