Won't let go of syringe

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piggysqueaks

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Hi everyone! So my guinea pig has gone on medicine that I have to give to her in a syringe. She loves the taste of medicine and will not let go of the syringe and I often find myself fighting with her for it which can't be good for her neck (She is six years old and ridiculously strong). I have even tried taking her out of her cage and she's still chewing on the syringe. I tried giving her lettuce and she won't let go.
I was wondering if anyone else had this happen and knows of any trick to get her to let go. Thanks! 😁
 
I just wait until my Pili Pala (who is on a twice daily medicine cocktail) has finished chewing and exchange the syringes whenever they start getting frayed. It is not worth battling with her, as the syringe chewing is something she is really looking forward to and is making it is easier (although not quicker) to give her all her meds without any struggle.
 
If I am honest I would just be thankful she likes it! So many pigs hate it and it’s really difficult to get the syringe in their mouth so they won’t dribble it out lol
 
Emmamarie123 said:
If I am honest I would just be thankful she likes it! So many pigs hate it and it’s really difficult to get the syringe in their mouth so they won’t dribble it out lol
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Pili Pala (Welsh for 'Butterfly') loves most her meds, so she is usually cage rattling for being taken out for her top-up feed and meds session. Sometimes she is so enthusiastic that she jumps on me; I have on occasion spilt some of the med when she jumped on my arm during measuring out! :)
 
Wiebke said:
Pili Pala (Welsh for 'Butterfly') loves most her meds, so she is usually cage rattling for being taken out for her top-up feed and meds session. Sometimes she is so enthusiastic that she jumps on me; I have on occasion spilt some of the med when she jumped on my arm during measuring out! :)
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Wow, I certainly wish Maisie would be half as enthusiastic for her Metacam! She used to love it too, then we had the Thyronorm which she hated and I've since stopped, but she still doesn't trust me that it really is the nice meds this time!
 
Janey said:
Wow, I certainly wish Maisie would be half as enthusiastic for her Metacam! She used to love it too, then we had the Thyronorm which she hated and I've since stopped, but she still doesn't trust me that it really is the nice meds this time!
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I hope that she gets the hang of it again when you picture her loving the sweet metacam in your mind and focus on her.
 
Be grateful - my Jemimah has just finished a course of Baytril.
She hated the syringe with a passion and it made medication time stressful for both of us.
 
2 of my pigs so far wouldnt give the syringe back . I find if you roll it they lose grip of it
 
If they are in their nursing stage, you can try and put the tip against the side of their mouth rather than directly into their mouth, or what would qualify as a "cheek" on them. They should instinctively try and latch onto it. Gotta be careful though as you can actually direct them FORWARD i.e. touch their cheek, then move away slowly while still touching them and they'll follow it blindly like they are on auto-pilot or their nervous center overrides the thought process.

I was doing this with my finger tip while hand-taming some of my sow pups (started off by accident while petting sides of their faces, then realized what was happening) that were getting fussy while sitting in my hand. Two of my sow pups were "greedier" while nursing, and this "latching" instinct seemed more dominant with them vs. my smaller 2. I'd just gently touch their "cheek" and they'd quiet down and act like they were trying to nurse my finger tip. I intentionally kept the tip away from their mouth though. The very first time it happened, I almost though it was accidentally touching a nerve ending or something as their body would get rigid and would follow the tip left/right almost like I'd hooked them with a fishing hook. I'm assuming they'd do the same for a tip on a syringe.
 
My Ginny is on Metacam twice a day, she loves it. We get through a few syringes as the measurements get worn off with her chewing it. I have found a way of getting her to let go. When the medicine is finished gently tip the syringe up 90 degrees in front of their face, this way she can't carry on biting it. She does however keep on licking it, which gives you the added bonus of watching a cute little tongue.
 
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