[Gpdd] HEALTH: Syringe feeding

[New Dominant II]

I just looked at the YouTube demonstration on syringe feeding.  I usually
try to read all responses before responding, but I'm way behind on piggie
mail and feel the need to add my two cents quickly (if this hasn't been said
already).

I think the lady on the video is giving way too much at a time.  Most of the
mash is coming out of the piggie's mouth and I'd worry about choking or
possibly getting it down an airway.

When I syringe (unfortunately this has been required too often in my
opinion), either meds or food, I let the pig either stand on their scale, on
a towel on a chair, or on a towel on my chest (this is usually the preferred
way for most of my piggies ... though it often means I need to change my
shirt), whichever they prefer.  Sometimes I'll loosely wrap a towel on a
more skittish piggie (or one that prefers being covered), but most of the
time this is not necessary.  Unless it's bad tasting medicine, I don't wrap
to restrain (and even then I try to use other methods like treats to get
compliance).

I like the pig to be relaxed during syringing, so I let them have all four
legs on the ground ... if it's bad tasting medicine, I lift up the syringe
at a 45 degree angle to make sure the meds go down, but I don't do it if I'm
feeding.  I also like to be relaxed during syringing, since some of my pigs
are slow eaters and take an hour or more (6-8 times a day if I can manage
it) for a sitting (which is the reason for changing my shirt :) ).

I only syringe in about 0.25 ml into an adult rookie hand-feeder (half that
for a juvenile or small adult), using a 1 ml syringe if possible.  If it
starts coming out, I stop syringing immediately.  My most experienced
hand-feeders would take 0.5 - 1 ml at a time.  When necessary (usually every
1-5 ml, depending on the pig), I'd slowly syringe in 0.2-0.5 ml of water.