Syringe Feeding a Guinea Piggy

Molly41

***UPDATE***
Hi.
Would really appreciate any advice and help from experienced piggy owners.

I have two lovely lady pigs who are very happy together. Currently my three year old has lost a dramatic amount of weight. She was at the vet on Monday and Wednesday - she has a mouth abscess from eating something sharp - I think it was a bad batch of hay. She had an anaesthetic and had it drained, pain relief and is on antibiotics and regular pain relief?. However she is still refusing to eat:( She is bright in herself, although not her usual feisty self.

So I started syringe feeding her but it is so difficult. Im very used to syringe feeding as am a midwife so syringe feed babies in my past life. It is much more difficult in a guinea piggy and wondered if anyone had any tips or techniques?

Her furry friend is absolutely devoted to her and wont leave her side and is also not eating as well either. I have to do something.

tru

When we first had to do this, it took two of us! One to hold him (I held him like a baby, but a bit more upright) and one to hold his head still. He would always turn his head into my arm and try to hide. After a few attempts, I managed to feed him on my own. I put the syringe into the side of his mouth and fed a tiny bit at a time. You'll know when her mouth is full, she'll start trying to chew the syringe. Give her time to swallow then squirt a bit more. It takes a while for each feed, so get comfy before you start

tru

Oooh Molly, I've just noticed it's you, hello

Meant to add, if she stops, syringe some water. That should get her swallowing again.

krlyr

Getting a smooth consistancy to the food is important as it'll allow for a slow but constant flow into the mouth. Blockages cause blocked flow and then bit spurts into the mouth which must be offputting to the animal!
I often had to syringe feed my Netherland Dwarf bunny as he had ongoing teeth issues so required regular dental work on them. Rather than the recovery sachets (which I found could be a bit grassy/lumpy) I would soak his regular pellets in warm water then blitz with a hand blender.
You could possibly add something to the pellets to make them a bit sweeter to encourage eating - maybe a bit of banana or apple?
I also regularly offered little bowls of soft food to encourage him to eat by himself inbetween syringe feeds. Grated carrots were often a hit, though I limited quantities because the sugar isn't great for their gut. Mushy peas were a favourite too (and led to him having a green beard at times!), I would pull up some fresh grass (don't leave down for too long as if it ferments it can cause tummy problems), some soggy porridge oats, things like that - he could lick them up with minimal chewing (he'd had his incisors removed so couldn't bite into anything anyway, but his lips became quite adept at picking up leafy veg etc. for him to chew with his molars!)

I found for syringe feeding, wrapping him in a small towel helped keep him still. Positioned on my lap, so he was sat comfortably, and then just positioning the syringe in the corner of his mouth and giving a slow but constantly flow of food worked. I used the larger syringes from the vet, I think they were about 30ml or so, as opposed to the 10ml ones.

It might be an idea to give some probiotics to help the tummy settle after the antibiotics too. You can get sachets which you could add to the syringe food.

calicocat

Do you think she would eat wet food herself ? It is early days if she's only just had it sorted monday and wednesday as it will be really painful still. When any of mine were ill they used to love bread and warm baby milk , or wheatabix and baby milk. Hope she feels better soon.

sistercas

thankfully ive never had to syringe feed my piggies , hope she is soon well.

incidentally i bought some hay from tesco once and there were loads of thorns in it id never buy from there again , i now get it from a proper pet shop . i should have complained about it looking back xx

pug_in_a_bed

I've had this issue, there is really good liquid food you can normally get from the vets called Supreme Recovery Rabbit & Small Animal Herbal.

They go absolutely nuts for it, and I find it helps stimulate their appetite for normal food.

Wrap the pig in a towel with just their head sticking out. Use the smallest syringe you can get, our vets will give a few for free, and pop it in the corner of the pigs mouth, holding their head. I've never met a pig who hasn't tasted recovery and not gone mad for it.

My 8 year old Betty pig passed on 2 weeks ago, and she was still trying to eat it the morning we had her put to sleep.

Molly41

Thank you all for your wise words x
I have the Recovery sachets and mix with warm water to get the consistency. Im really hoping she perks up soon

Molly41

Hello Again,

I feel like we have a small breakthrough this afternoon :T I gave her pain relief and she was definitely more resistant. Then I mixed up her recovery and she was sniffing the air and gulping it down. We then cut her a thin slither of cucumber and a piece of little gem and she instantly ate them - slowwwwly but she munched away sat on the kitchen table:rotfl: Really hoping she is turning a corner - I did send up a guinea piggy prayer earlier so here is hoping.

I have mastered syringe feeding - blood warm water to mix and a small syringe. So thank you :T:T:T

calicocat

Glad she's on the mend :T ,poor little thing , in a couple of days the pain will be much less hopefully and she will be on the road back to a glutten if she's anything like mine were. I had one called Fridge as it sat in front of the fridge screming for food just about 24/7.

Lovely little animals.

Molly41

Thank you x

They are lovely little critters. I have been watching her on Piggy Cam and she is much more active tonight. Fingers crossed xx